Oklahoma continues to support wind-generated electricity. But, as StateImpact Oklahoma reports, that support is drawing criticism as the state’s budget balloons and crude prices remain at historically low levels.
Most of the critics are lined up behind oil billionaire and Continental Resources founder and CEO Harold Hamm. They want to kill wind incentives and impose a production tax like the one oil and gas companies pay. But wind energy proponents say the incentives are essential, and effective. Still, these incentives are using up a growing share of the state’s tax revenue. And there’s insufficient evidence as yet to determine how effective these incentives will be in the long run—both for the state’s economy and the environment.
Economists from Oklahoma State University concede that more study is needed. In the meantime, the question remains whether this money should continue to go to wind farms, or would it be more effective going to the state’s schools and hospitals.