Wind farms will not be allowed on the state's public wildlife management areas.
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The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously Monday to prohibit wind energy development on all of the state's public wildlife management areas.
Earlier this year, OG&E wanted to build a wind farm on the Cooper Wildlife Management Area near Woodward, property owned by the state Wildlife Department and used primarily for hunting.
After public opposition from sportsmen, OG&E withdrew its request to the state Wildlife Department.
State wildlife commissioners voted 8-0 at their monthly meeting Monday that wind turbines would not be allowed on any of the agency's wildlife management areas.
State wildlife commissioners said wind farms could damage wildlife and conflict with the state Wildlife Department's mission.
The primary objectives of these lands is wildlife management and to permit hunting, fishing, trapping, etc, commissioners said.
Public use of WMAs would decline "both in quantity and quality” if wind farms were present, commissioners said.
By Ed Godfrey
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