Aug 14 - Tulsa World, By TOM LINDLEY

The wind is free, but the cost of harnessing its power doesn't come cheaply. Each wind turbine can cost more than $1 million.

Transporting the power from western Oklahoma to the population centers is even more expensive. Texas, for example, is investing almost $5 billion to create its own transmission system.

In the first phase of its transmission line project, OG&E will spend $211 million to build a 345,000 volt line between Oklahoma City and Woodward. It will eventually connect to a 765,000 volt line that will be built by AEP-PSO and OG&E between Woodward and Guymon in the Panhandle.

AEP-PSO is already under contract to purchase about 393 megawatts of wind energy, and is evaluating proposals to purchase another 200 megawatts, which would expand its wind portfolio to about 12 percent of its electricity capacity, said Howard "Bud" Ground, manager of state governmental and environmental affairs for AEP-PSO.

To meet demand, he said AEP-PSO is shopping for another 450-600 megawatts of power and will ask the Legislature to consider incentives that could pave the way for nuclear power plants in Oklahoma.

At 5 p.m. on Tuesday, AEP-PSO set an unofficial peak record at 4,216 megawatts, passing the old record set Aug. 13, 2007, by 41 megawatts, Ground said.

"Wind is not going to solve all the generation problems," Ground said. Because it isn't, utilities have been reluctant to rely too heavily on wind because it can't compete with natural gas or coal as being a reliable source of power.

However, wind speculators are spending more than ever to sign leases to allow them to construct wind towers across northwestern Oklahoma, primarily north of Interstate 40 and west of Interstate 35.

"If you get a turbine on your farm, it will bring the average of $5,000 to $8,000 a year, and the price is going up," Greene said. "It used to be one developer might be knocking on the door. Now it's several developers, and a farmer can replace $10 in hay with a $5,000 turbine."

Wind turbine facts

About two wind turbines can fit on one acre of land.

At maximum speed of 20 revolutions per minute, the tips of blades are moving at 180 mph.

A 1-megawatt turbine can power 300 Oklahoma homes.

The average wind turbine:

Total weight: 187,000 pounds

Tower height: 260 feet

Base diameter: 14 feet

Length of blades: 121 feet

Source: Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative

Originally published by TOM LINDLEY World Capitol Bureau.

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