Oklahoma tribes partner on Chilocco property wind farm



NEWKIRK, Okla. – Four tribes celebrated Earth Day April 22 by breaking ground on a new eco-friendly business enterprise at a former Indian boarding school.



Representatives from the Kaw Nation, Otoe-Missouria Tribe, Pawnee Nation and Ponca Nation met in Newkirk at the northern edge of the First Council Casino parking lot to bless the ground for a new wind farm. The four northern Oklahoma tribes partnered with Chicago-based PNE Wind USA to launch the endeavor at Chilocco Indian Agricultural School, an old Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding institute near Newkirk in northern Kay County.



“The Otoe-Missouria Tribe is excited to be a part of this endeavor along with PNE and the other tribal partners,” Otoe-Missouria Tribe chairman John Shotton said. “This project has been in the planning stage for years and will finally come to fruition.”



Once completed, the wind farm will generate power from 45 turbines and employ 12 people. Work is expected to start in mid-July with road stabilization and other preliminary projects, creating an additional 200 jobs in the area. The wind farm is expected to come online in early 2014 and offset the annual fossil fuel usage of about 31,000 households.



“Today is important both in recognition of Earth Day and moving forward in what has been a 12-year development,” PNE Wind USA managing director Andre de Rosa said. “We are proud to have members of each tribe present here today and for offering up thanks to the Creator for allowing us to get to this point and for the safety of all those involved. This project will bring economic development to the area and revenue for the tribes. It will also provide clean, renewable energy for the region at a price comparable to conventional energy.”



There are more than 20 wind farms across Oklahoma, including another one in Kay County near Blackwell.



Opened in 1884 in what was then the Cherokee Outlet, Chilocco closed in June 1980 after educating more than 17,000 Native students. The 165-acre property was leased to a drug rehabilitation program from 1989 to 2001 and has been closed to the public for several years. The land is held in trust for five northern Oklahoma tribes.







Four northern Oklahoma tribes have partnered with a Chicago-based firm to launch a wind farm on the former Chilocco Indian School property.



FILE PHOTO