New developments in the Sooner State are building wind power confidence and lobbying. The state recently held a wind energy conference and will soon be home to a sustainably powered research tower.

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is building a research tower that will have 24 new wind turbines on its roof. The 20-foot tall double helixes are expected to generate 58,000 kilowatt hours, powering the facility.

They will also offset the footprint of 300 new OMRF staff, and the project is expected to be LEED gold certified. The total project cost is $125 million, and $50 million has already been raised, including a grant from the Oklahoma Opportunity Fund.

This week at the Oklahoma Wind Commerce 2009 conference, the state's Department of Commerce estimated the state could provide almost 10 percent of the nation's electricity by 2030.

The state also plans to take advantage of its natural gas, which could be used jointly with wind. "Natural gas and wind are perfect partners. They are perfect energy solutions for Oklahoma. Because we all know that wind is intermittent. We have to have backup generation capabilities," Oklahoma Energy Secretary Robert Wegener said at the conference.

Vying for the state's lush wind energy market is Acciona Energy.

The company recently dedicated a new wind farm and has plans for two more. Acciona VP, Adrian LaTrace, said that there have been no significant changes in the wind energy market in the past three months-- though, "the market remains kind of sluggish at the moment."

The two new Acciona wind farms are each expected to produce 100 to 200 megawatts of power. Oklahoma is seeing significant wind development, with local tribes getting involved as well.

The Kaw Nation of North Central Oklahoma is working to develop a 30-megawatt farm in Chilocco.

With the growing trend towards "living buildings" entering into the market, self-powered structures could very well be the wave of the future. Wind power manufacturers are also being thrown large incentives by many U.S. companies to confront high unemployment rates.