Payne County passes resolution urging decommissioning bonds for wind, solar, data centers

Payne County commissioners approved a resolution Thursday urging state lawmakers to require bonding for decommissioning emerging technology infrastructure and signed an agreement joining the state's emergency radio network.

The Board of County Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve Resolution 2026-04, which encourages the Oklahoma Legislature to mandate financial assurance for decommissioning wind and solar facilities, battery storage systems, data centers, high voltage transmission lines and recycling facilities. The resolution requires developers to post performance bonds equal to construction costs before beginning projects.

"This resolution is essentially to encourage our state legislature to enact requirements and bonding and things for the decommissioning of all of these infrastructures that is being installed throughout our state," Chairman Zach Cavett said.

Kathy Adkins, speaking on behalf of Payne County Save Our Sunsets, said her group strongly supports the resolution.

"We think that decommissioning might be a topic people want to listen to this year," Adkins said referring to lawmakers.

The resolution calls for comprehensive exit strategies that include environmental restoration, requiring sites to be returned to their pre-development ecological state. It mandates biennial audits to ensure bond amounts keep pace with inflation and technological changes.

Enforcement mechanisms in the resolution include permit revocation for non-compliant entities, daily fines starting at $10,000, asset liens on project property and equipment, and disqualification from future state-funded projects or tax incentives.

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Commissioners modified the resolution's title during the meeting to add "decommissioning" for emphasis. The final title reads: "Resolution Encouraging the Oklahoma State Legislature to Support Bonding Requirements and Enforcement Mechanisms for Decommissioning of Emerging Technologies."

Cavett said he plans to share the resolution with other counties through the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, which represents 231 county commissioners across all 77 counties. The resolution will also be distributed to area legislative representatives, committee chairs and media.

Adkins presented a legislative tracking document showing bills related to wind energy, decommissioning and other topics her group is monitoring this session.

In separate action, commissioners approved the OKWIN LMR Service Agreement with the State of Oklahoma. The agreement connects Payne County to the Oklahoma Wireless Information Network, the state's emergency radio communications system.

"This is a document that had been signed by the board previously, but since it had been signed, it was never signed by the leadership of OKWIN," Cavett said. "And there is new leadership now, so it will need to be re-signed."

The agreement grants Payne County access to multiple tiers of land mobile radio services. Under the contract, the county receives 1,000 Radio IDs and 24 Talkgroup IDs for its emergency communications equipment.

OKWIN provides a digital trunked radio communication system dedicated to public safety for state and local government entities. The network allows for interoperable communications during emergencies and planned events.

Commissioner Seth Condley confirmed the agreement contained no changes from the previously signed version before voting to approve it.

Commissioners Cavett, Rhonda Markum and Condley all voted in favor of both items.