[JACK AYLMER]
THIS WIND FARM IN OKLAHOMA STRETCHES ACROSS MORE THAN 8,000 ACRES OF LAND.
BUT SOON, IT COULD ALL BE GONE.
THESE TURBINES WERE BUILT ON TRIBAL LANDS, AND NOW THE OH-SAGE NATIVE AMERICAN NATION WANTS THEM REMOVED.
[Geoffrey Standing Bear, Principal Chief of the Osage Nation]
“We’re tired of this. Just we’ve been tired of this. My father’s generation was tired of it. My grandparents, my great grandparents. And here we are. So we’re gonna keep pushing.”
[JACK AYLMER]
IT’S WHAT’S BELOW THE GROUND THAT HAS BECOME A SOURCE OF CONFLICT.
FOLLOWING A more than decades-long LEGAL FIGHT, A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ORDERED ENERGY COMPANY ENEL TO DISMANTLE THE WIND FARM.
IT’S A REMOVAL PROJECT WITH A $300-MILLION COST AND WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR ABOUT 50,000 HOMES.
THE RULING IS A RESULT OF AN APPELLATE COURT’S PREVIOUS DECISION. THE COURT DETERMINED BUILDING THE TURBINES WAS A FORM OF MINING, AND A LEASE FOR THAT WORK WAS NEVER OBTAINED FROM THE OSAGE MINERALS COUNCIL.
WHILE THE WIND FARM’S DEVELOPERS DID BEGIN LEASING SURFACE RIGHTS FOR THE PROJECT BACK IN 2013, BUILDING EACH OF THE FACILITY’S 84 TURBINES REQUIRED INDIVIDUAL UNDERGROUND BASES – TEN FEET DEEP AND 50 FEET WIDE.
THE OSAGE NATION ARGUED THIS ACTIVITY IMPACTED THE TRIBES ABILITY TO UTILIZE THE SUBTERRANEAN RESOURCES THEY’RE ENTITLED TO, INCLUDING MINERALS, NATURAL GAS AND OIL.
ULTIMATELY A FEDERAL JUDGE AGREED WITH THE TRIBE – SAYING THAT WITHOUT A MINING LEASE – THE ENERGY COMPANY WOULD NEED TO UPROOT.
THE JUDGE CONCLUDING ENEL’S ACTIONS AMOUNTED TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE OSAGE NATION.
THE TRIBE’S MINERAL COUNCIL SAYS IT EXPECTS ENEL TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE COURT’S SUBSEQUENT ORDER TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE WIND FARM.
THE TWO SIDES HOWEVER WILL LIKELY BE BACK IN FRONT OF A JUDGE NEXT FALL.
THAT’S WHEN THE OSAGE NATION PLANS TO PURSUE DAMAGES, SUCH AS COMPENSATION FOR HARM DONE TO THE LAND, LEGAL FEES AND ALL PROFITS AND TAX INCENTIVES FROM THE STATE.