Proposed Lithium Battery Facility Sparks Concern in Oologah within the Cherokee Reservation

By Cara Cowan Watts

Cherokee 411

OOL0GAH, Okla. — The Iron Horse Saloon has issued a public statement

alerting residents to a proposed 300-megawatt lithium Battery Energy

Storage System near Highways 169 and 88. The notice was shared with

Cherokee 411 after a local Cherokee Nation citizen raised concerns

about the project’s scale and potential impact.

The proposal from Public Service Company of Oklahoma requires a

Special Exception to override existing agricultural zoning. If

approved, the facility would mark a major shift in land use in a

community long defined by rural and agricultural activity.

Oologah sits inside both Cherokee Nation and United Keetoowah Band

jurisdictional boundaries. As of publication, neither tribe has issued

a public comment or advisory on the proposal.

Concerns Raised by Iron Horse Saloon

According to the business, residents face several risks tied to the

project. Those include the erosion of agricultural zoning protections,

possible declines in property values, and fire and public safety

concerns near homes and school routes. Additional questions have been

raised regarding long-term environmental effects and the potential for

further industrial development once a precedent is set.

The saloon also referenced PSO’s recent $730 million investment in the

Green Country Power Plant. State regulators approved rate increases to

cover that cost, which are expected to raise residential bills by an

estimated seven to ten dollars or more per month. The business noted

that large industries and data centers typically secure lower power

rates while PSO profits from selling stored electricity during peak

demand.

Public Hearing Scheduled

The Special Exception request will be heard at the Rogers County

Courthouse in Claremore on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Iron Horse

Saloon said the hearing represents the final guaranteed opportunity

for residents to speak before PSO seeks zoning approval.

“We support responsible growth, not projects advanced at the expense

of rural communities,” the business said in its statement. “We urge

residents, families, and local businesses to attend the hearing and

make their voices heard.”

Cherokee 411 Note

This issue was brought forward by a Cherokee Nation citizen who

expressed concerns about zoning, safety, and environmental impact.

Cherokee 411 has not found any public statements from Cherokee Nation

or the UKB on the matter. Coverage will continue as new information

becomes available.

#Oologah #RogersCounty #PSO #CherokeeNation #UKB #CommunityAlert

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