Federal officials seek halt to Oklahoma wind farm

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Federal authorities are seeking an immediate halt to wind farm development in Osage County.

The Osage Nation has long opposed the Osage Wind project and said that the U.S. government’s lawsuit against it wouldn’t stop construction in time.

Each of the more than 90 turbines planned will stand over 400 feet high. Court records say each turbine’s foundation requires a large hole. Construction would remove more than 60,000 cubic yards of limestone and other rocks.

According to a preliminary injunction request filed by federal officials Tuesday, U.S. law says the minerals belong to the tribe. If a judge approves the request, it would stop mining activities.

The Tulsa World reports that developers say building a turbine foundation doesn’t count as mining activity.