Renewable fuel is key to the economic future of northwest Oklahoma, and Enid Regional Development Alliance plans to be part of that future.
Brent Kisling, executive director of the alliance, said Enid actively is recruiting wind energy companies and the area has a lot to offer. A map of the general Enid area shows the community is on the edge of what Kisling refers to as the “class A wind corridor.”
Enid is the major workforce center and is located on a four-lane highway, placing it in a good position geographically to recruit wind energy manufacturing companies.
“Most places where there are wind farms are where there aren’t many people. That’s a huge plus for us,” Kisling said.
Maps also show Enid is not competing with wind energy communities such as Woodward or Guymon. Whenever those communities get a new wind farm, Enid businesses receive calls from manufacturers to contract with local machine shops not available there, he said.
Another advantage for Enid is Port of Catoosa, which is 130 miles east of the city and accessible by four-lane highways. Port of Ca-toosa is the largest inland port in America, and Kisling said many items could come into that port and be brought to Enid for further assembly in the wind fields.
Reaching out for business
“We’re also letting them know we exist,” he said.
Kites over Enid in 2009 — an attempt to set a record to fly the most number of kites over Enid simultaneously and showcase northwest Oklaho-ma’s windy conditions — was partnered with a wind energy summit.
The alliance also will have a booth at American Wind Energy Association in Dallas May 24-27. The alliance has partnered with local machine shops to attend the conference expected to draw 40,000 to 50,000 industry officials.
“Anyone interested in being part of the wind energy supply chain or land owners wanting more information are welcome to go,” Kisling said.
Work force ready to go
Another aspect of Enid’s wind energy exposure in-volves the alliance meeting with wind energy site selection representatives, especially those in renewable energy. Kisling said they notify those representatives about Enid’s industrial parks, rail service and work force.
Enid is within two hours of Wichita, Kan., an area that has seen 17,000 people laid off, 11,000 in the aerospace industry, Kisling said.
“We’re on the edge of the work force drawing area.”
Companies looking at Enid see those people and understand they could commute temporarily, then move to Enid. Most of the companies Kisling is trying to recruit will have 300 to 400 employees, which will make a significant difference in Enid’s economy. He said they will be well-paying jobs that require many of the skills as those in the aerospace industry.
Garfield County has 100,000 acres leased to wind energy companies Trade Winds and RES. If the area gets a power contract it will make a tremendous economic impact. Currently each wind turbine generates $20,000 annually in property taxes.
Still, Kisling is cautious. This is an odd time for economic development, he said.
“There are few large companies in expansion. Many are waiting for the credit market to open up again. We are doing our due diligence so we will be ready,” he said.
Kisling said discussion of wind energy cannot be done without discussing natural gas. Wind energy cannot be sent down power lines by itself, and Kisling wants natural gas electric plants. He said there are not enough natural gas power plants in this area.