2 GW Wind Catcher project fails to gain state government approval

The Texas Public Utility Commission has unanimously rejected the Wind Catcher project proposed by American Electric Power. The utility was proposing to acquire a 2,000 MW wind farm currently being constructed by Invenergy in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and construct an approximately 560km dedicated power line to transport the wind energy to the Tulsa area, where the existing grid would deliver it to customers.

The Texas Public Utility Commission is one of four state regulatory bodies, plus the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, whose approval is required to proceed with the project. The project was approved by the Public Service Commissions of Arkansas and Louisiana early this year. Nevertheless, the Texas commission believe that the current structure of the project doesn’t offer enough benefits for ratepayers.

American Electric Power is reportedly evaluating its options.