Osage Nation files lawsuit to block wind farm construction

Wednesday, October 19, 2011  

The Osage Nation of Oklahoma filed a lawsuit in federal court in hopes of blocking a wind farm in Osage County.

The tribe owns the mineral estate below the county. The lawsuit claims the 8,300-acre Wind Capital Group project interferes with its trust rights.

The mineral rights "provide essential income for Osage citizens who share in the mineral revenue distributions, comprising the sole source of income for some citizens of the Osage Nation," the tribe said in the lawsuit, The Tulsa World reported.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs had urged the developers to work with the tribe to address trust issues.

Get the Story:
Osage Nation files lawsuit in opposition to wind farm (The Tulsa World 10/19)

Related Stories:
BIA warns wind developers about Osage Nation mineral estate (9/20)
Editorial: Osage Nation puts up brick wall to wind farm projects (6/20)
Editorial: Osage Nation shouldn't oppose wind farm projects (6/17)
Osage Nation raising objections about proposed wind farms (6/14)