Oklahoma residents rally at state Capitol for renewable energy ban

Oklahoma, one of the nation’s leading states in renewable energy, is now seeing a push to bar the expansion of clean power sources. On Tuesday, Jan 7, hundreds of residents gathered at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City to urge Gov. Kevin Stitt to issue an executive order banning the construction of new wind and solar facilities.

Nearly half of Oklahoma’s electricity comes from renewable energy. This makes the state the third-largest generator of wind energy in the United States and a hub for a growing solar industry.

However, attendees at the recent rally against renewables have cited economic, environmental and human health concerns as reasons for opposing further development of clean power infrastructure.

Some argue the ample job opportunities that project developers promised have not materialized. Others have expressed concerns about how clean energy infrastructure is impacting both people and wildlife living nearby.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond addressed the crowd. He pledged to collaborate with legislators on a potential ban.

The state’s Secretary of Education Ryan Walters also voiced support for moving away from renewable energy initiatives. Gov. Stitt, however, has instead emphasized that the government should not force a shift away from certain energy sources, signaling reluctance to implement a ban.

Oklahoma is an oil and gas state through and through, but we also generate about 47% of our electricity from renewable sources. I just don’t think the government should pick winners and losers or force us to choose between one or the other.

Let the free market rule!

— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) August 23, 2024

“Oklahoma is an oil and gas state through and through, but we also generate about 47% of our electricity from renewable sources,” Stitt previously wrote on X. “I just don’t think the government should pick winners and losers or force us to choose between one or the other.”

The debate over Oklahoma’s energy policy comes as the state approaches its gubernatorial elections next year. Some policymakers are using opposition to renewables as an early element of their potential campaign platforms, indicating the issue could play a significant role in shaping the state’s political future in 2026.