A proposed wind energy development in Osage County is now off the table. So are others down the road, at least for the foreseeable future.
On Monday night, the Osage County Commission unanimously accepted a recommendation to not allow wind farms or solar energy developments in the county borders — including a proposal on the table for the so-called Auburn Harvest wind development.
County Commission Chair Jay Bailey says Osage County’s 12-month moratorium on alternative energy projects for commercial use ended early this year. The county’s Planning and Zoning Board had several public meetings before unanimously recommending no such projects should move forward. County commissioners, meanwhile, had their own research period. At the same time, commissioners were concerned about the process.
The Auburn Harvest plan was to build nearly 60 wind turbines for a capacity of over 250 megawatts, or enough to 75,000 homes a year with the 30,000-acre project. Steelhead Americas, the development arm of Vestas, is managing the proposal and had estimated $330 million in capital investment, $50 million in tax revenue and 150 construction jobs for the county.
Bailey says an exact location for the wind farm was not announced, although some paperwork indicated potential development near Burlingame or Overbrook. Instead of using alternative energy as an economic driver, Bailey says Osage County is focusing on building residential housing.
Steelhead Americas has not commented on the Osage County decision.
Part of the Southern Power wind farm near Reading is in western Osage County. That project is not affected by Monday’s decision.
