Oklahoma history is a tale of two giants, wind energy and oil energy. In the nineteenth century, explorers like Josiah Gregg and Washington Irving charted and wrote about the vast areas of western Oklahoma and dubbed it the Grand Prairie. Many found the land was of little value until the discovery of two great resources that would transform the land.

In 1854, Daniel Halladay developed the first successful, self-governing windmill. This windmill became a standard among the early settlers of the Grand Prairie. Sitting atop vast reservoirs of ground water, the aspiring prairie farmer discovered an abundance of crop varieties and animals would flourish in the area if only the land had a reliable source of water.

At about the same time as Halladay’s commercialization of his windmill, oil deposits were discovered accidentally in Oklahoma. As the appetite of the nation tended towards petroleum, oil and natural gas production became a mainstay of the early economy of the new state.

Today, as we embark into the 21st century, Oklahoma again plays its role as a frontier of exploration. As traditional oil deposits are depleted and reliance upon imported oil becomes more politically fraught with turmoil, Oklahoma is breaking new ground with old, familiar resources, wind and oil. Oklahoma is among the nation’s leaders in the construction and deployment of commercial wind generators. Oklahoma is also literally breaking new ground in exploration of the Anadarko region of oil and natural gas. This region of Oklahoma is home to some of the deepest and most productive natural gas sites in the world.

High school and college graduates in Oklahoma today are confronted with a robust job market for qualified and capable employees in energy production. The qualifications for employment in the energy field are grounded in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.