Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wind Turbine Siting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to involve state in wind-turbine siting near military sites, adds fines to enforce compliance
Summary
A committee moved a PCS for bill 2142 that would increase state oversight of processes that determine whether wind turbines pose hazards to military operations, bring state military department review into federal 'no hazard' proceedings and create a fine structure intended to deter noncompliance.
Representative Kennedy introduced a proposed committee substitute for bill 2142, saying the measure would insert state review and enforcement into processes that determine whether wind turbines and similar structures interfere with military operations.
Kennedy said significant recent investment in Oklahoma National Guard facilities, including a new joint operations center in Chandler, prompted the changes. “We have a lot of conversations about setbacks with, wind turbines,” Kennedy said, adding the bill is intended to ensure the “law is followed and the appropriate certificates are filed and there is no, interference with military operations within the state.” He described the change as “belt and suspenders” layered over federal review processes such as the federal "no hazard" or aeronautical study process.
The PCS would bring the state and the military department into the review process to ensure federal clearances are obtained and to create a fine structure to discourage noncompliance; Kennedy told the committee the fines are intended to make it “cost prohibitive” to ignore the law. He also said the National Guard would not “go out and arrest people who erect wind turbines within the area,” but that the statutory enforcement mechanism would impose penalties.
The transcript records no extended debate beyond questions and clarifications. The committee adopted the PCS as the working draft and moved bill 2142 out of committee with a do-pass recommendation; the transcript does not show a roll-call tally or the identities of the motion mover and seconder.
