The Osage Nation, historically intertwined with the oil industry, is now embroiled in a legal dispute with Italian utility Enel over a wind farm constructed on their tribal land in Osage County, Oklahoma. A federal judge ruled that Enel trespassed by building the Osage Wind Project without obtaining a mining lease necessary for the excavation required to erect the wind turbines, thus violating the Osage’s mineral rights. Enel, facing an order to remove the 84 turbines at a cost nearing $259 million, plans to appeal, citing benefits to the community and misunderstanding of legal requirements. This contemporary conflict underscores the complex intersection of renewable energy development, indigenous rights, and environmental stewardship, reflecting broader issues of respect for indigenous sovereignties in energy projects.

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/for-the-osage-this-centurys-fight-is-over-wind-turbines-c7c3e922