"We are pleased with the positive response to our request for proposals for additional wind farms," says Pete Delaney, chief executive of OGE Energy Corp. "Successful negotiation of these short list projects will result in a significant step toward achieving our renewable goals."

Edison Mission, based in Irvine, California, was chosen to build the proposed 130MW Taloga wind project in Dewey county. Chermac Energy, located in Norman, Oklahoma, north of Oklahoma City, was selected to build the 150MW NoMans Land wind farm in Texas county.

The utility named Competitive Power Ventures in Silver Springs, Maryland, to build the 150MW Keenan Wind Project in Woodward County.

The NoMans Land project is build-transfer, meaning OG&E has the option to purchase it, while the other two are purchase-power ventures in which the wind farm operators will sell electricity to the utility, OG&E spokesman Brian Alford tells Recharge.

OG&E under Delaney earlier announced a program to develop an additional 600MW of wind power and called for proposals in December to develop half that amount. The utility hopes to develop the balance in 2010.

Oklahoma is located in the so-called Midwest Wind Corridor that stretches from North Dakota to north-central Texas, the onshore region with the most US wind energy potential, according to the US Energy Department.

Two wind farms now supply electricity to OG&E: 50MW Sooner Wind Farm near Woodward and 120MW Centennial Wind Farm near Fort Supply. Both sites are in northwestern Oklahoma near the border with Kansas.

The 100 megawatt OU Spirit Wind Farm south of Woodward is under construction, with completion expected in December.

OG&E in May offered residential and business customers the opportunity to sign up for wind power for 25%, 50% or all of their monthly electricity usage at a slightly higher cost per kilowatt hour. At that time, more than 250 business customers agreed to take part as a sign of support for growing renewable energy..

OG&E serves more than 772,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas.