NextEra seeks interim permission to repair turbines while Pratt County finalizes road-use agreement

Adrian Harrell, regional insight manager for NextEra, told the board the company's operations-and-maintenance work is distinct from repower projects and said the company is proposing to use the original construction-haul routes for the Pratt Wind site without adding roads. "Our proposal is just to keep those exact same routes that were identified for that site," Harrell said, adding that he would be open to removing routes but did not want to add new ones.

Harrell explained two turbines (Pratt 65 and Pratt 29) have been down roughly six weeks and asked whether NextEra could proceed with repairs under the same practical protections and preconstruction route-inventory steps used for repower moves. He asked the board to permit immediate work under existing route provisions while staff and NextEra finalize a full site agreement.

County staff and commissioners discussed vehicle-weight language and notification timing. Harrell said he favors separating light-duty service trucks from heavy-haul vehicle limits and urged flexibility on notification windows so repairs can proceed quickly, noting some repairs can be planned and completed within seven days to limit lost generation revenue.

Commissioners emphasized they want written contract language and clear billing procedures with Kirkham (the county's engineering firm) before the board finalizes a road-use agreement. Staff said they could approve a draft as soon as it is received and encouraged NextEra to coordinate with Luke and county engineering to expedite the agreement and a potential vote.