2016 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 17. Corporation Commission
§17-160.15. Required filing - Evidence of financial security.

A. The owner of a wind energy facility shall submit to the Corporation Commission evidence of financial security to cover the anticipated costs of decommissioning the wind energy facility. For a wind energy facility or portion thereof which reaches the commercial generation date prior to December 31, 2016, the evidence of financial security shall be submitted after the fifteenth year of operation of the facility. For a wind energy facility or portion thereof which reaches the commercial generation date on or after December 31, 2016, the evidence of financial security shall be submitted by the fifth year of operation of the facility. Evidence of financial security may be in the form of a surety bond, collateral bond, parent guaranty, cash, cashier's check, certificate of deposit, bank joint custody receipt or other approved negotiable instrument as established in rules promulgated by the Commission.

B. 1. For a wind energy facility which reaches the commercial generation date prior to December 31, 2016, the evidence of financial security shall be accompanied by an estimate of the total cost of decommissioning, minus the salvage value of the equipment, prepared by a professional engineer licensed in this state. The amount of the evidence of financial security shall be either:

a.the estimate of the total cost of decommissioning minus the salvage value of the equipment which shall be submitted to the Commission in the fifteenth year of the project and every tenth year thereafter for the life of the wind energy facility, or

b.one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the estimate of the total cost of decommissioning which shall be submitted to the Commission in the fifteenth year of the project.

2. For a wind energy facility which reaches the commercial generation date on or after December 31, 2016, the evidence of financial security shall be accompanied by an estimate of the total cost of decommissioning and an estimate of the salvage value of the equipment prepared by a professional engineer licensed in this state. The amount of the evidence of financial security shall be one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the estimate of the total cost of decommissioning, minus the salvage value of the equipment, which shall be submitted to the Commission by the fifth year after reaching the commercial generation date and thereafter upon request by the Commission.

C. If the owner of a wind energy facility fails to submit the information with the Commission as is required by this section, the owner shall be subject to an administrative penalty not to exceed One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per day.

D. In the event of a transfer of ownership of a wind energy facility, the evidence of financial security posted by the transferor shall remain in place and shall not be released until such time as evidence of financial security meeting the requirements of this section is posted by the new owner of the wind energy facility and deemed acceptable by the Commission.

E. The provisions of this section shall apply to any wind energy facility or portion thereof entering into or renewing a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the energy generated by the wind energy facility on or after January 1, 2011. If a wind energy facility does not sell its energy under a power purchase agreement, the provisions of this section shall apply to the wind energy facility or portion thereof which construction commences on or after January 1, 2011.

Added by Laws 2010, c. 319, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2011. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 92, § 1.