Wind industry proving it’s valuable to schools
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As superintendent of Fort Supply Public Schools, I am concerned to see education used as a platform for anti-wind energy activists to criticize an industry that has been nothing but positive to us and, I suspect, many other rural districts across Oklahoma. To disparage an industry providing tremendous economic benefit to not only local schools, but county governments and Oklahoma landowners, is unfair. I know the benefits of the wind industry because I live it every day in my school district.
Since 2003, the wind industry has invested well over $7 billion in Oklahoma and established itself as a vital contributor to education funding in numerous rural school districts. Millages for the support of local school districts comprise the majority of ad valorem tax revenue paid by wind developers. Last fall the State Chamber of Oklahoma Research Foundation released a study, authored by Oklahoma State University economists, indicating over the entire 25-year average span of current and future wind development projects, the wind industry is predicted to pay nearly $1.2 billion to local and county school districts and to Oklahoma CareerTech. The additional revenue allows districts to provide students with new classrooms, stateof-the-art technology, innovative science labs, safe rooms and athletic facilities to name a few. The additional funds also can be used for districts to increase teacher salaries, which is essential to keeping our best teachers in Oklahoma.
Another major benefit the wind industry provides to local schools is the ability for some districts to exceed the statebased per-pupil expenditure of 150 percent, freeing state funds for allocation in nonwind development districts. Without wind power, this extra revenue stream would not be possible.
Educators across Oklahoma are rightfully concerned about the current and future state of education funding. However, the wind industry isn’t to blame for Oklahoma’s budget challenges. Wind power is providing a much-needed extra layer of funding, a “windfall” so to speak, for local schools to use for a variety of capital and personnel needs. Because of the long-term power purchase contracts under which wind power is sold, and the 20-year minimum duration of wind energy assets, a long-term extra source of revenue for many Oklahoma school districts has been made available.
Before the arrival of the wind industry, the budgets of many small districts such as Fort Supply only provided the bare necessities. To use an overused cliche, the wind industry has been a godsend in my district and many others. Policymakers at the state Capitol, and those in the private sector not familiar with the industry, need to know how fortunate educators and children are who have the opportunity to teach and attend school in an area that has been graced by the positive economics of the wind industry.
I have faith the Legislature and Gov. Fallin will continue to support the wind industry and recognize its enormous value to Oklahoma schools and the future leaders we are educating.