EGP-NA celebrates 1 GW of wind capacity in Oklahoma

?What Does 1 GW Mean?

EGP-NA's journey in Oklahoma began just four short years ago with the construction of the 150 MW Rocky Ridge wind farm. Now, it is the second largest owner and operator of wind in Oklahoma.

At the end of 2016, EGP-NA will complete its 7th and 8th wind projects in Oklahoma, the Drift Sand wind farm and Chisholm View II. With these additions, EGP-NA will achieve more than 1 GW of wind capacity in Oklahoma. This is equivalent to enough wind energy to power nearly 400,000 Oklahoma households and help avoid the emission of more than 2 million tons of CO2 annually. 

"The achievement of 1 gigawatt of wind capacity in Oklahoma is attributable to the thousands of EGP-NA employees and contractors, Oklahoma community leaders, landowners, and residents that worked on constructing and supporting our eight wind projects in the state," said Rafael Gonzalez, EGP-NA's Chief Executive Officer. "Oklahoma has been a great home to EGP-NA and we will continue to return the favor through ongoing community support and development. We appreciate our partnership with the great citizens of Oklahoma." 

Oklahoma is Home

The benefits of EGP-NA's wind development in Oklahoma extend far beyond producing clean, renewable wind energy. The 1 GW milestone also represents nearly $2 billion of investment in the state, the creation of over 1,600 construction jobs and over 80 high-quality full-time positions and millions of dollars of increased tax revenue for each of the communities where the projects are located.

"Oklahoma consistently ranks as one of the top places in the country to do business," said Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, who spoke during last night's celebration to mark EGP-NA's milestone. "Oklahoma now ranks 4th in the nation for wind capacity, thanks in part, to EGP-NA's $2 billion investment in Oklahoma's energy economy."

Wind has been the foundation of economic development and growth for many rural Oklahoma communities and EGP-NA is proud to be a long-term investor and partner in these regions. This stewardship has included scholarship programs for local high school students, development of local infrastructure including roads and transmission lines, and new income streams for landowners.

"I've seen first-hand the transformation that new revenue sources from projects like the Goodwell wind farm in Texas County are having on local economies, landowners and schools," said state Representative Casey Murdock of District 61. "Because of these wind projects, we are seeing more and more schools come off of the state funding formula and strive on their own, freeing up education dollars for the rest of the state."

Statewide, EGP-NA's community commitment has included work with the state's leading research institutions and partnerships like the company's work with the University of Oklahoma and Rome's Capitoline Museum that brought 20 busts from the Capitoline to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on the OU campus for all residents to enjoy.

Locally, EGP-NA is supporting education in the communities where it operates. This past year the company provided scholarships to six students in Osage County through its sustainable scholars program and sponsored two area educators to attend a renewable energy academy in order to bring their training back to the classroom and communities. 

"We recognize that?? we are a long-term member of the communities where we operate and that means being a good neighbor and addressing pressing needs in the community," said Rafael Gonzalez. "From education to technology, we have a unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with local schools, community groups and research institutions to create sustained value for all of the regions where we operate."

EGP-NA celebrated its 1 GW milestone with an event at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City on September 22nd. In attendance were Governor Fallin and the many EGP-NA employees, landowners, community leaders and others that made this 1 GW achievement possible. ?

EGP-NA's eight wind projects in Oklahoma include:???

• Rocky Ridge Wind Project, Kiowa and Washita Counties
  • Start of Operations: 2012
  • Total Installed Capacity: 148.8 MW
• Chisholm View Wind Project, Garfield and Grant Counties
  • Start of Operations: 2012
  • Total Installed Capacity: 235.2 MW
• Origin Wind Project, Carter, Garvin and Murray Counties
  • Start of Operations: 2014
  • Total Installed Capacity: 150 MW
•  Wind Project, Osage County
  • Start of Operations: 2015
  • Total Installed Capacity: 150 MW
• Goodwell Wind Project, Texas County
  • Start of Operations: 2014
  • Total Installed Capacity: 200 MW
• Little Elk Wind Project, Kiowa and Washita Counties
  • Start of Operations: 2015
  • Total Installed Capacity: 74 MW
• Chisholm View II Wind Project, Garfield and Grant Counties
  • Anticipated Start of Operations: 2016
  • Total Installed Capacity: 65 MW
•  Drift Sand Wind Project, Grady County
  • Anticipated Start of Operations: 2016
  • Total Installed Capacity: 108 MW??