State OKs lease for solar energy facility

The governing board of the Commissioners of the Land Office voted Thursday to lease nearly 4,350 acres of property southeast of Lawton to a company for construction of a solar energy facility.

The 55- year lease was awarded to EDF Renewables, which was the winning bidder at a public auction, officials said.

EDF is planning to build a 250- megawatt facility that would produce enough energy to potentially power 100,000 homes.

About 2,500 acres are expected to be found suitable for solar energy production, and the company will return the remainder of the land back to the Commissioners of the Land Office for its agricultural lease program, officials said.

The project is expected to take five years to develop with the Commissioners of the Land Office slated to receive $67,720 the first year and increased amounts in future years.

The agency expects to receive $ 1.2 million a year once production begins, which is considerably more than the agricultural rate of $87,800 per year it had been getting for the same 2,500 acres.

Revenue earned by the Commissioners of the Land Office goes to support Oklahoma's common schools and higher education institutions.

“This project is a win for all Oklahomans,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt, chairman of the Commissioners of the Land Office. “It will bring valuable jobs and economic development benefits to Comanche County and the substantial gain in rental income will benefit students in public schools across the state.”