Louisiana officials approve wind project

Plans for Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and Southwestern Electric Power Co.’s Wind Catcher Energy Connection have been approved by a second state regulatory body, Southwestern announced Wednesday.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities in that state, approved plans Southwestern put before it to buy and operate the 2,000 megawatt wind farm that’s being built in Oklahoma’s Panhandle.

The project also includes a plan to build and operate a 350-mile power line to carry electricity from the farm into grids operated by both Southwestern and PSO.

The line would terminate on Tulsa’s north or southwest sides.

The plans approved by Louisiana’s commission include commitments Southwestern made to cap construction costs, capture 100 percent of federal Production Tax Credits, guarantee a minimum annual production from the project and others.

Southwestern, which along with PSO is a subsidiary of American Electric Power, still needs approval of its plans from regulators in Texas and in Oklahoma. Arkansas utility regulators approved its plans in May.

In Oklahoma, PSO has a pending settlement agreement before the commission that’s been agreed to by numerous parties, excluding the commission’s Public Utility Division and the Oklahoma Attorney General.

The state officials have submitted their own proposed settlement for the case, which would strengthen guarantees included in what PSO submitted for approval.

Utility officials say Wind Catcher Energy Connection will bring low-cost, clean, reliable energy to American Electric Power customers in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

PSO would own 30 percent of the $4.5 billion project if its plans to participate are approved in Oklahoma.