How One State Is Making It Easier and Cheaper to Use Wind Power

Wind power is one of the cleanest sources of renewable energy on the planet, and now it’s more affordable than ever. An Oklahoma utility company is offering its customers a chance to buy Oklahoma-produced wind power for a lot less money. The Public Service Co. of Oklahoma (PSO) has cut the price of its WindChoice program by 40 percent, allowing its half-million customers the choice of buying wind power for part or all of their energy needs, the company announced in a news release. All told, a customer can allot half of their energy needs to wind for an extra $5 a month.
MORE: This Is What Happens When a County Bands Together to Get Cleaner Power
“By providing a lower price and greater flexibility, we’re making it easier than ever for our customers to take advantage of and promote the tremendous energy resource that is our Oklahoma wind,” said Bobby Mouser, PSO’s director of customer services and marketing.
Although wind energy can be costlier in the short term, it’s has actually caused the overall price of electricity to drop in several high-wind states. According to a report from the American Wind Energy Association, in the past five years, Texas, Wyoming, Oregon, Oklahoma, Idaho, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa saw their price of electricity fell 0.37 percent. Every other state, in contrast, saw their electricity go up by 7.79 percent. That should be energizing news to proponents of wind power.