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Once the electricity is produced, moving it from a wind farm to homes can be difficult. Transmission infrastructure may not be available in areas where the wind blows best, and building new transmission lines takes time, money, and a lengthy governmental approval process. Before turbines go up, studies must be done to judge the wind’s variability in a given area. And although the sight of a tall, white wind tower may not be as intrusive as other types of power plants, environmental and economic impacts must be assessed. Will the turbine kill songbirds and bats, or disrupt their migratory patterns? Will shipping routes be affected by an offshore wind farm?


Investing in local communities In Oklahoma, generation and transmission cooperative Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) based in Anadarko recently signed a Renewable Energy Purchase Agreement with Apex Clean Energy, through its subsidiary Balko Wind, LLC for 100 megawatts (MW) of wind energy from Apex’s Balko Wind Project based in the Oklahoma Panhandle. With this agree- ment, Apex has sold the remaining 100 MW of the 300 MW capacity proj- ect, which will produce enough electricity to power over 110,000 U.S. homes. The project is expected to come online in 2015. For WFEC, this new site represents the fifth wind farm development in


Oklahoma that is a part of a solid, ongoing commitment to diversify WFEC’s portfolio of generation sources. The generation and transmission cooperative is also participating in the development of wind farms in New Mexico. The output being purchased from these projects will total a 466 MW nameplate rating, once the Balko Wind Project is completed. These purchases are made through long-term power purchase agreements.


WFEC’s Wind Farm Projects in Oklahoma: 3 Blue Canyon Wind Farm located northwest of Lawton,


Okla. Capacity of 74.25 megawatts. 3 Buffalo Bear Wind Farm located near Fort Supply, Okla.


Capacity of 18.9 megawatts. 3 Red Hills Wind Farm located near Elk City, Okla. Capacity


of 123 megawatts. 3 Rocky Ridge Wind Farm located in Kiowa and Washita


counties in southwest Oklahoma. Capacity of 150 megawatts. 3 Apex’s Balko Wind Project located in the Oklahoma


Panhandle. Capacity of 100 megawatts.


“WFEC continues to support additional wind resources, but also believes a blend of all fuels (renewable, coal, natural gas, and nuclear) supports stable, affordable electric rates for consumers,” said WFEC CEO Gary Roulet. “Wind is an important part of WFEC’s diverse mix of generation, and plays an integral part in our overall commitment to renewable energy, as well as enabling the ability to reduce fossil fuel emissions.”


Electric co-ops working for you While great strides have been made to incorporate renewable energies like wind power into America’s electricity generation portfolio, making wind work as a reliable, affordable energy source will take time. Electric cooperatives have long been on the forefront of new technologies, and Oklahoma’s co-ops are no different. We will continue to evaluate and implement renewable energy opportunities that work for Oklahoma consumer-members.


Price Bonus Bucks¹ After Bonus Bucks: SALE $1,249   SALE $2,499 


$1,399* $150





ALL NEW! ‘14 RANCHER 4x4


‘13 TRX420TM RANCHER


2WD,


Manual Shift;


Red or Green


Price


 


  


 


‘13 TRX420FM RANCHER


4WD,


Manual Shift;


Red or Green


Price Bonus Bucks¹ After Bonus Bucks:


SALE $4,999 ‘13 CRF50F


 


$5,499* $500


Bonus Bucks¹ After Bonus Bucks: SALE $3,999  


‘13 TRX500FE FOREMAN


4WD,


Electric Shift;


Red or Green


Price Bonus Bucks¹ After Bonus Bucks: SALE $5,999  


‘13 NPS50 RUCKUS


$6,499* $500


$4,499* $500


                                                             


                                                


DECEMBER 2013 7


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