Oklahoma § 17-160.12 - Legislative findings

§ 17-160.12. Legislative findings

The Legislature finds that:

1. Oklahoma’s wind energy resources are an important asset for

the continued economic growth of the state and for the provision of

clean and renewable power to both the people of the state and the

nation as a whole;

2. Promotion of the development of wind energy resources is

important to the economic growth of the state;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 17. Corporation Commission

3. The prudent development of wind energy resources requires

addressing the relationship of the needs of wind energy developers

with those of the mineral estate owners who have the historical

right to make reasonable use of the surface estate, including the

right of ingress and egress therefor, for the purpose of exploring,

severing, capturing and producing the minerals as reflected in the

Exploration Rights Act of 2011, Sections 3 through 7 of this act,

and balancing the needs of wind energy developers with those of the

landowners who provide access to the wind energy resource, including

assurances that wind turbines and wind energy facilities will be

properly decommissioned, that they will have access to adequate

information to verify the accuracy of their payments, and that they

will be adequately protected against hazards and accidents that may

arise from the wind turbines or wind energy facilities;

4. The conversion of wind energy into power for utility-scale

systems frequently requires large wind energy systems consisting of

wind turbines, electrical substations, electrical lines, and other

supporting systems;

5. Wind energy facilities, if abandoned or not properly

maintained, could pose a hazard to public health, safety, and

welfare through mechanical failures, electrical hazards, or the

release of hazardous substances; and

6. To protect the public against health and safety hazards,

standards for the safe decommissioning of wind energy facilities

should be established and assurance of adequate financial resources

should be given so that the wind energy systems can be properly

decommissioned at the end of their useful life.

Added by Laws 2010, c. 319, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011. Amended by Laws

2011, c. 197, § 2.