Report: Wind power saves $1.2 billion each year

(Information in the following story is from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A trade association says wind power saved electricity customers in Oklahoma and surrounding states more than $1.2 billion last year.

The Oklahoman reports that the American Wind Energy Association analyzed hourly data from the Southwest Power Pool in 2013 and calculated when wind turbines were used to generate electricity.

The pool operates the electric grid and plans transmission for 6.2 million households in parts of nine states.

Since wind is free after the turbines are installed, most of the consumer savings came from avoided fuel costs at coal or natural gas plants. But the association says wind power also saved water and reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Oklahoma has 29 wind projects that represent about $6 billion worth of capital investment from the last decade.