SB 1514 amends Oklahoma's Wind Energy Development Act to clarify definitions and strengthen decommissioning requirements for wind energy facilities. It shortens the abandonment period from 24 months to 180 days (without power generation) and mandates removal of equipment upon abandonment or end of a facility's useful life. The bill also adds requirements for financial security, permit applications, public notice, and restoration of land after decommissioning, directly affecting wind energy facility owners and operators. These changes aim to ensure responsible end-of-life management of wind projects while maintaining clarity in regulatory processes.
SB 2123 amends Oklahoma's Wind Energy Development Act to clarify and strengthen decommissioning requirements for wind energy facilities. It shortens the abandonment period from 24 months to 180 consecutive days (excluding certain exceptions like curtailment), requiring owners to remove all equipment - including turbines, towers, foundations, and cabling - upon abandonment or end of a facility's useful life. The bill also modifies definitions (e.g., "abandonment," "useful life"), updates permit application criteria, and mandates public hearings for facility expansions. These changes directly affect wind energy facility owners and operators, ensuring clearer accountability for site restoration after operations cease.
SB 2183 modifies Oklahoma's Wind Energy Development Act by updating key definitions and requirements for wind energy facilities. It shortens the abandonment timeline from 24 months to 180 consecutive days (excluding curtailment or regulatory actions) and mandates the removal of wind turbines and infrastructure upon abandonment or end of useful life, as specified in amended Sections 160.13 and 160.14. The bill also adjusts definitions for terms like "commercial wind energy equipment" (500kw+ capacity) and "wind energy facility" (5MW+ capacity), while adding new requirements for financial security, permit applications, and public notification. These changes directly affect wind energy facility owners and operators who must comply with the updated decommissioning and operational standards.
SB 1606 modifies Oklahoma's wind energy decommissioning rules by changing the deadline for removing wind facilities from "within 12 months after abandonment" to "within 12 months after the end of the useful life of the commercial wind energy equipment." This affects wind energy facility owners, who must now complete decommissioning (removing turbines, towers, and restoring land to pre-construction conditions) within 12 months of equipment reaching end-of-life, not just when operations stop. The bill maintains existing decommissioning requirements (removing equipment to 30 inches below grade and restoring land) and allows landowners to request road restoration in writing. It takes effect November 1, 2026.
SB 1012 establishes a formal process for wind energy developers to request waivers from setback distance rules near airports, schools, and hospitals in Oklahoma. The bill requires written waivers approved by school boards or hospital governing bodies to be submitted to the state energy agency (Corporation Commission) before construction begins. Developers who fail to provide required waivers or military airspace clearances (via FAA Form 7460-1) face daily penalties of up to $1,500 per violation. The law, effective July 1, 2025, updates existing rules to clarify compliance requirements for wind energy facilities while maintaining distance standards. It directly affects wind energy project developers and local school/hospital boards responsible for granting waivers.
SB 2 establishes new setback requirements for wind energy facilities in Oklahoma, effective November 1, 2025. It requires wind turbines to be at least one-quarter nautical mile from homes and neighboring property (previously 1.5 miles from schools/hospitals), and mandates that projects near military installations must obtain a Federal Aviation Administration "Determination of No Hazard" and resolve Department of Defense impacts before construction. Developers who fail to comply face daily penalties of up to $1,500 per violation. The bill directly affects wind energy developers, landowners, and communities near proposed sites, with specific rules for military compatibility and dispute resolution.
HB 2747 allows Oklahoma electric utilities regulated by the Corporation Commission to recover specific costs through rate adjustments. It creates mechanisms for utilities to seek recovery of costs for: (1) transmission upgrades supporting wind generation (approved by Southwest Power Pool before 2013), (2) capital expenditures needed to comply with environmental laws (like Clean Air Act), and (3) new generation facilities or power contracts after considering reasonable alternatives through competitive bidding. The bill requires the Corporation Commission to review these cost recovery requests within set timelines (180-240 days) and mandates a rate review within 24 months of cost recovery initiation. This directly affects regulated utilities and impacts electricity rates for Oklahoma consumers.
HB 1989 modifies Oklahoma's wind farm setback requirements by allowing landowners to waive minimum distance rules between turbines and properties through direct agreement with wind farm operators. The bill specifically applies to landowners in affected counties and changes the existing setback restrictions for wind energy projects. Key provisions include adding "in an affected county" to the bill's language and enabling landowners to consent to relaxed setback distances via written agreement. This change shifts some decision-making power to landowners while maintaining the requirement for written consent from both parties.
HB 1093 requires wind energy facilities to pay equal royalties to all landowners whose properties lie within 1,800 feet of any operational wind turbine base, regardless of whether their land is directly used for turbine construction. Landowners with subdivided or transferred properties within this radius receive royalties proportionally based on how much of their land falls within the 1,800-foot zone. The law applies only to new wind energy facility construction or expansions completed after November 1, 2025. It does not affect existing leases or facilities built before that date.
