OMRF turns on rooftop wind farm

At more than 18 feet tall, the helical-shaped wind turbines will provide more than 85,500 kilowatt hours of electricity per year to the energy-hungry research facility.

“We believe that we'll be the only research institute anywhere that generates a lot of its energy by wind power,” said Dr. Stephen Prescott, OMRF's president. “Research buildings are notorious energy hogs.”

Prescott said the 18 rooftop turbines play a dual role in symbolizing the foundation's efforts to sustain life through medical research and the building's efforts to be energy efficient. Along with the wind turbines, the research tower features a “living roof” of native Oklahoma prairie plants and grasses.

“Wind turbines are a symbol of what we do, but the important thing is the scientists that are inside our buildings carrying out our experiments,” Prescott said.

Part of the funding for the $1 million wind turbine project came from McAlester's The Puterbaugh Foundation. J.G. Puterbaugh, a coal magnate in Eastern Oklahoma for much of the 20th century, was the first president of OMRF.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Taylor, chairman of the Puterbaugh Foundation, said he thought J.G. Puterbaugh would enjoy seeing the foundation's coal money being used for renewable wind power.