Osage Nation Asks Federal Judge To Stop Wind Turbine Farm

Russell Hulstine, NewsOn6.com

PAWHUSKA, Oklahoma -- Claiming Osage County would "suffer great harm" if it's built, the Osage Nation filed a lawsuit in Tulsa federal court Tuesday asking a judge to issue a preliminary and permanent injunction against a proposed windmill farm.

In the complaint, the Osage Nation says construction of a "massive industrial wind farm" on land above the tribe's mineral estate violates federal law and would cause the tribe to suffer imminent, permanent and irreparable harm.

Read the Osage Nation complaint filed in federal court.

The Wind Capital Group is proposing to build the wind farm in the northern part of Osage County near Burbank and Foraker.

As part of that proposal, the Osage Nation says Wind Capital Group plans to build about 100 wind turbines, underground transmission lines and other structures over the tribe's mineral estate.

The Osage Nation announced in June 2011 it is opposed to the wind turbine project.

6/13/2011 Related Story: Osage Nation Opposes Wind Farm Development In Osage County

The Nature Conservancy, which runs the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near the proposed wind turbine farm, says the farm could scare away species like the Greater Prairie Chicken.

Some Osage County ranchers also say they are opposed to the proposal as well.

9/7/2011 Related Story: Osage County Ranchers Fight Wind Farm Development