SWEPCO looks to buy up to 2,400 megawatts in wind, solar farms

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), a utility of Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power (AEP), wants to purchase up to 1,900 megawatts of wind resources and up to 500 megawatts of solar resources, according to a Thursday (Sept. 29) news release.

Wind resources must be at least 100 megawatts, and solar resources must be at least 50 megawatts. All projects must interconnect to the Southwest Power Pool and be located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas or Missouri.

According to the proposal request, the commercial operation for the solar and wind resources would be no later than Dec. 1, 2026, with a preference of being operational by Dec. 1, 2025. The projects would need regulatory approval in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. However, like in previous projects, if one state doesn’t approve the project, the other states could increase the amount of generation allotted for them, according to a presentation on the new proposal request.

Link here for more information on the proposal request.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/swepco-looks-to-buy-up-to-2400-megawatts-in-wind-solar-farms/

Two Arkansas men sentenced in connection with failed Washington County wind farm

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

A federal judge on Tuesday (March 8) sentenced two Arkansas men to federal prison in connection with the development of a wind turbine that was never operational and a proposed wind farm project in Washington County that was never constructed.

U.S. District Judge Tim Brooks sentenced Jody Davis of Searcy to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Phillip Ridings was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both men were also ordered to pay $1.13 million in restitution.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/03/two-arkansas-men-sentenced-in-connection-with-failed-washington-county-wind-farm/

New SWEPCO Wind Farm in Oklahoma Powers Arkansas

By JACQUELINE FROELICH

A new wind farm in Oklahoma, owned by Southwestern Electric Power Company and sister utility, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, recently began to generate renewable electricity to SWEPCO customers in Arkansas. Two more additional wind facilities under construction will also go on-line in the near future. Peter Main, spokesperson for SWEPCO, details the North Central Energy Facilities project, in light of SWEPCO's clean energy goals.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/new-swepco-wind-farm-oklahoma-powers-arkansas

This wind turbine is part of the new Sundance wind facility recently completed in north central Oklahoma.

COURTESY / SWEPCO