Attorney General announces extension for ongoing negotiations between NextEra, DOD

 OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter on Monday announced the state has agreed to again extend the deadline for NextEra Energy Resources and the Department of Defense to reach an agreement on a mitigation plan for a wind farm along a route of airspace the military uses for training.

Earlier this month, Hunter announced an agreement between NextEra and the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission that temporarily halted construction of the company’s wind farm west of Hinton in order for the DOD to work with the company to resolve the issue. The new deadline is Oct. 29.

The OSMPC, being represented by the attorney general, contends the wind farm violates an amendment to the Wind Energy Development Act that took effect earlier this year.

The changes to the law require a determination by the federal government that planned wind turbine construction has no military impact, or the company must have an approved mitigation plan from the DOD, before a wind farm is constructed or expanded.

This is the second time a deadline extension has been granted as the NextEra and the DOD work toward a resolution.