State Representative Tim Turner (R-Kinta)
By Rep. Tim Turner
The House this week passed legislation that would create setback requirements for industrial wind turbines in affected counties.
House Bill 2751 is a culmination of hours of negotiations between people on both sides of the issue – advocates of setbacks and those who argue the issue is about preserving private property rights. This bill represents good collaboration. Not everyone was happy with it, but it’s a good first step toward protecting all property owners.
I appreciate the work that went into the bill and will continue to work to hear the concerns of my constituents and to protect their interests. This gives some local control back to our counties while at the same time helps set some state standards.
HB2751 would create setback requirements of 1.5x the windmill tower height from the point on the property line of the windmill parcel nearest to the point on a property line of any parcel of real property affected; or 1/2 nautical mile away from the nearest point of a “dwelling,” which is defined as a structure that is occupied by at least one person for at least half of the year in counties with a population density greater than 8.5 people per square mile, and those with an average wind speed of less than 9.5 miles per hour.
The bill now moves to the State Senate where it is authored by Ally Seifried, R-Claremore.
Also this week on the House floor, I got to give a shout out to the Connors State College Cowboys men’s basketball team who are preparing to play in the Final Fourt as I write this. This game comes after the team beat No. 1-seeded Snow College at the buzzer and No. 8 Daytona State 66-65 to advance to the Final Four in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball Championship tournament. I also recognized Coach Bill Muse who has reached an incredible 800 career wins.
Also this week, I was privileged to recognize Manuel Dale Ballard, of Stigler, as the Veteran of the Week in the House. Ballard served in the Army in Vietnam, earning a number of medals, including a Purple Heart, before being honorably discharged in 1974. Then he served 30 years in law enforcement, first as a police officer and later police chief in Stigler and then two terms as sheriff in Haskell County. It was a great honor to recognize Sheriff Ballard on the House floor. He came to the Capitol with his wife and daughter and several fellow law enforcement officers from our House district. He’s truly an inspiration.
In the meantime, if I can help you in my capacity as your representative, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Capitol. My office phone is (405) 557-7375, and my email is tim.turner@okhouse.gov.
Rep. Tim Turner, a Republican, represents House District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Haskell County and portions of McIntosh, Muskogee, Le Flore and Pittsburg counties.
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