While Oklahoma has abundant supplies of wind power that could give the state an economic boost, policy makers say there is little political will to mandate the use of renewable energy.
During a forum this week on energy policy at Oklahoma Christian University, House Speaker Chris Benge described renewable portfolio standards as a “nonstarter” in the Oklahoma Legislature.
Such standards, in place in more than 30 states, require electric utilities to obtain some of their power from solar, wind and other renewable sources.
Benge, R-Tulsa, said those types of industry mandates are never popular in the Oklahoma Legislature, but he acknowledged the important role that renewable sources will play in Oklahoma’s energy future.
Benge said he supports an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy, which includes promoting renewable sources as well as the state’s domestic production of oil and natural gas.
“We ought to be using all of our assets,” Benge said. “As an energy-producing state with a lot of expertise in the energy arena, we have an opportunity to inject ourselves nationally into that discussion.”
Oklahoma’s new energy secretary, Robert Wegener, said while many individual states have passed renewable portfolio standards, little movement has been made at the federal level to implement such standards nationally. (AP)
