Woodward, Okla. — Beginning Oct. 9, Clean Line Energy will conduct a series of public hearings across the state to discuss its $3.5 billion wind energy proposal for the Plains & Eastern transmission line project.

The proposal includes erecting a pair of 3,500-megawatt direct current transmission lines that will carry power from a wind farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle across the state, into and across Arkansas, with the final destination of electrical markets in the southeastern United States.  The lines, which will traverse about 750 miles, are also expected to transmit power from natural gas-powered electrical sources in Kansas and Texas, according to Sarah Bray, director of communications for Clean Line.

In an effort to share the energy company's plans with those who will be impacted by the construction of the transmission lines, the Houston-based Clean Line Energy has scheduled a series of 10 public hearings to be held in communities near where the lines will be built.  This includes Woodward and other communities in Northwest Oklahoma.

The following is a schedule of the public meeting dates, listing times and locations:

Oct. 9 - Guymon, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Pickle Creek Center, 822 NE 6th Street.

              Beaver, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Beaver County Fairgrounds-Commercial Building.

Oct. 10 - Woodward, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Convention Center, 3401 Centennial Lane.

                Fairview, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Northwest Technology Center. 801 Vo-Tech     

                Drive.

Oct. 11 - Enid, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Cherokee Strip Conference Center, 123 W. Maine.

                Stillwater, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., "Mediations" Catering and Banquet Center,

                 1205 N. Country Club Road.

Oct. 12 - Bristow, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Elks Lodge, Hwy. 66 and Country Club Road.

Oct. 15 - Okmulgee, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Fairgrounds.

Oct. 16 - Muskogee, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Civic Center, Room C, 425 Boston Street.

                Sallisaw, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Indian Capital Technology Center, 401 E. Houser Industrial Blvd.



CLEAN LINE STAFF TO ATTEND MEETINGS

A number of Clean Line officials are expected to attend the public meetings.  These officials will be representing different areas within the company, providing expertise in matters ranging from legal concerns to environmental aspects to engineering factors.

Clean Line wants to assure there is someone from the company available to address any question that may be asked, whether the attendance at the meetings is 20 or 200, Bray said.

In addition to Bray herself, other Clean Line officials who will be attending include: Mario Hurtado, executive vice president of development; Max Shilstone, director of business development;  Kim Randle and Phillip Teel, regional outreach managers;  and Jimmy Glotfelty, executive vice president.

Also planning to attend will be Kathy Patton, general counsel and vice president; Deral Danis, engineering and transmission manager; John Kuba, Environmental Specialist; Ty White, environmental/GIS analyst; Keith Sparks and Mark Lawlor, directors of development;  and Analysts Alexandra Landon and Daniel Hodges-Copple.



WHAT'S PLANNED FOR THE SESSIONS

During the upcoming meetings, Bray said community leaders, landowners and the public will have the opportunity to not only learn more about the project, but also to ask questions and give input.

"Clean Line has worked with conservation and governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as with environmental and engineering organizations, for more than 2 years regarding the project," she said. "And additionally, we believe the public involvement aspect is a crucial portion of the transmission lines' development."

For instance, Hurtado said the public meetings will affect the federal Department of Energy (DOE) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which is slated to start soon on the project.

He said that public input gathered at the "open house" meetings over the coming weeks "can have a lot of impact on (the content of) the EIS."

An Environmental Impact Statement is a detailed written document that outlines what kind of impact a major project will have on surrounding land, water, air, structures, and living organisms, as well as outlining what might be done to mitigate any potentially harmful impact.

"We expect the EIS to begin late this year or early next year, and take 18 to 24 months to complete," he said.

He said DOE itself plans to conduct additional public hearings on the EIS' progress sometime early in 2013.



$1 BILLION BENEFIT TO OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma is expected to receive some $1 billion out of the estimated $3.5 billion in total construction expenditures which Clean Line plans to spend on the Plains & Eastern transmission line project, according to a Clean Line press release.

Construction was preliminarily set to begin in 2014, with completion slated for 2017, but Hurtado said that schedule has been adjusted. That is due to the conducting of the EIS.

"The results (of the EIS) will help us determine when we can begin our project," said Hurtado."We now hope to start in 2015 or 2016, with completion still set for 2017, or perhaps in early 2018."

For more information on the project, visit to www.cleanlineenergy.com/projects and click on the link for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line.