Is there something shady in a deal for an Eastern Oklahoma coal-fired power plant?
We recently received a tip via the Ogle Mole Network suggesting we look into OG&E’s proposed purchase of the AES Shady Point power plant in Eastern Oklahoma. The proposal made the news toward the end of 2018, when nobody was paying attention.
Via The Journal Record:
Oklahoma Gas & Electric announced Thursday plans to purchase two power plants for $53 million, a move that will save customers money and lower power plant emissions, the company said.
Pending approval from state regulators in Oklahoma and Arkansas, the state’s largest electric utility will acquire the Shady Point power plant near Poteau in LeFlore County and the Oklahoma Cogeneration plant in western Oklahoma City. The 360-megawatt Shady Point plant is fueled with coal and natural gas and is owned by Arlington, Virginia-based AES Corporation. The natural gas-fired cogeneration plant in Oklahoma City can produce up to 146 megawatts and is owned by Oklahoma Cogeneration LLC.
The acquisitions will replace capacity now supplied to OG&E under contracts set to expire next year.
One of the biggest proponents of the purchase is freshman State Representative Lundy Kiger (R-Poteau). Not surprisingly or coincidentally, Kiger is the former Vice President of Government Relations for AES Shady Point. He retired at the end of January, just before taking office. According to Kiger he worked for AES Shady Point for 27 years and his last day was January 30, 2019, which just happened to coincide with the plant's shutdown.