A skyline dotted by giant wind turbines may soon become a common sight in Oklahoma.

Wind power production in Oklahoma has grown to over 500 MW this year, and since 2003 Oklahoma has grown from being last in the nation to the sixth largest producer of wind power, said Kylah McNabb, OU graduate student and member of the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative.

The Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative was created in July 2000 as a joint project of OU and Oklahoma State University, according to the OWPI Web site. Since then, it has worked to study the potential for wind power in Oklahoma and provide advocacy and technical expertise for its development.

The most recent and largest addition to Oklahoma wind power is the Weatherford Wind Energy Center, declared operational on April 30. The center will soon be expanded to produce 147 MW, or enough to power 45,000 Oklahoma homes, according to the most recent Wind Power Initiative newsletter.

Weatherford economic development director Bill Shonley said by the end of December the center will contain 98 turbines covering 25-30 miles. He said it will be a big enhancement to the local economy and provide at least a third of Oklahoma's wind power production.

"The wind is not going to stop blowing here," said Shonley.

Steve Sadler, OSU geography professor and member of the Wind Power Initiative, said wind power has already attracted half a billion dollars of investment in Oklahoma.

"We're in a place where this can only grow," Sadler said.

Sadler said developing wind power in Oklahoma will have several economic and environmental benefits.

Wind power does not add carbon to the atmosphere and it also benefits energy security, reducing the need for fuel from abroad.

Currently, most of Oklahoma's electricity is produced by coal purchased from Wyoming. By being cheaper than natural gas, wind power will help keep energy money in Oklahoma.

"The problem with wind power is the big up-front investment," Sadler said. "After that, operation and maintenance is fairly small and the price of fuel is nothing."

While the Wind Power Initiative mostly concentrates on larger turbines, Sadler said Norman is also home to Bergey Wind Power, the largest manufacturer of small wind turbines in the world.

Sadler said another benefit of the Wind Power Initiative is it provides opportunities for OU and OSU to work together.

Most of the information on wind power potential in Oklahoma has been obtained through the Oklahoma Mesonetwork, comprised of 115 weather observation sites across the state, with one in every county. The Mesonetwork is jointly run by OU and OSU.

Sadler, who works on the committee of the Mesonetwork, said it is used to help make weather forecasts, ensure public safety.

"It is another example of how two universities can get beyond the rivalry and work together," Sadler said.

Sadler said the Mesonetwork creates the "working relationship and infrastructure background to do things with wind power resources in the state."
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