ENID, Okla. – With roots deep in the wheat fields of Garfield County, Tanner Roberts carries forward a true Oklahoma legacy. Responsible for NextEra Energy Resources’ community engagement in the state, Tanner embodies the intersection of his family's proud past and Oklahoma’s burgeoning energy future.
Raised in Enid, Tanner’s family history is quite literally the city’s history, with roots stretching back to the land run and a centennial farming ranch that still thrives today. His grandfather and ancestors before him tilled the fertile soil of “Queen Wheat City,” a testament to Enid’s heritage of having the world's largest grain storage capacity at one time.
Tanner now lives in Stillwater, just an hour from those formative fields, and he’s found his calling bridging the gap between innovative energy projects and the communities that have shaped his life.
“Being local means I get to see the impact of my work every day,” Tanner says with a keen sense of responsibility and pride.
Tanner started his career as a field rep for a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, and his work has only continued to keep him in the Sooner State.
"My career progression has grounded me here with my family and heritage," he recalls. Today, his work takes him deep into community engagements, forging relationships that promise generational benefits.
A NextEra Energy Resources project currently in construction near Tanner’s family’s centennial farm will not only generate power but also provide crucial tax support to the Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Schools attended by four generations of Tanner’s maternal lineage.
“The project will create a generational impact for a school that's been significant to my family’s history. It's going to have a massive impact,” he said.
For Tanner, wind energy is more than just an industry; it's a symbol of resilience woven into Oklahoma’s identity.
“It's on our license plate, a wind turbine,” he points out. “It's made such a big impact. Fifteen years ago, no one here knew anyone in the renewable energy industry. Now, you look at a place like Garfield County and everyone knows someone who is benefitting.”
Tanner’s commitment to community is far reaching. He actively participates in initiatives like the United Way of Northwest Oklahoma.
"During NextEra Energy’s Power to Care initiative, I join my colleagues, and we give back to my community. I appreciate that my employer supports organizations that are making a difference where I grew up,” shares Tanner.
Through hard work and enduring family values, Tanner Roberts is sowing the seeds of change in Oklahoma, ensuring that the future is just as prosperous as the past.
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