Times they are a changing, and here at OEC we are no exception. OEC and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) located in Anadarko have teamed up to provide co-op members/owners the opportunity to participate in the WindWorks program by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are not energy purchases; they are based on environmental advantages created when energy is produced from renewable resources as opposed to fossil generated energy. A REC is a receipt issued when 100 kilowatt-hours (kWhs) of power from Blue Canyon Wind Farm is delivered to the transmission grid. RECs are available for purchase to co-op members.

In January of 2003, WFEC along with OEC signed Oklahoma's first power purchase agreement for energy produced by wind. North of Lawton is an area made up of 16,000 acres and 45 wind turbines known as Blue Canyon Wind Farm. These state of the art turbines stand 328 feet high and have a wing span of a 747 jet. The blades on the turbines start turning clockwise with winds of 5 miles per hour.

Each kWh of energy purchased from the wind project will offset a kWh of fossil fuel such as coal, oil or natural gas and as we know once fossil fuels are gone they are truly gone.

Wind energy is clean, safe, and compatible with agriculture and ranching. Within months of construction, wildlife and livestock was able to return to their natural grasslands.

For more information contact Jack Ferrell, OEC's marketing and member services director, at (405) 217-6703. You may also register online by clicking here.