
Wind Capital Group, a Saint Louis, Missouri wind energy developer, recently announced that an agreement has been signed between its Osage County Wind Energy Facility and Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. The power purchase agreement will provide 150 megawatts of electricity to Associate Electric Cooperative Inc. from an Oklahoma-based wind farm.
The Osage County Wind project is expected to help boost the local economy, through lease payments to landowners and an estimated $1.5 million in regional business revenue during the construction of the plant. The farm is also projected to create 250 jobs during construction and at least 12 permanent operating positions.
The project does have opponents however. Osage Nation, a Native American tribal group, is against the construction of the wind farm due potential impact on the environment, according to the Tulsa World. Wind Capital Group is aware of these concerns and is working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent any negative impact the farm may have, reports the news source.
Wind Capital Group aims to begin construction on the 8,300 acre wind farm in the fall. The company hopes the farm will be operational by June 2012.

