Wind turbines being positioned into place on Babbitt Ranches.
“When I think back to the enthusiasm we had about the first anemometer being set up on Babbitt Ranches to measure the wind 20 years ago, it’s just incredibly powerful to see these wind turbines taking shape,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco. “The Babbitt Ranches Community was so excited about the possibilities. We really appreciate and acknowledge Northern Arizona University and engineering professors Bill Auberle and Tom Acker for their pioneering inspiration and foresight, and collectively with Babbitt Ranches pursuing the future of renewable energy.”
Auberle, NAU professor emeritus of engineering, says working with landowners to place anemometers in Northern Arizona was part of a research and education program from the U.S. Department of Energy. “Babbitt Ranches expressed real interest and together, we were able to install towers on their land,” said Auberle. “As technology improved, wind turbines became more efficient. We also learned a lot more about how to mitigate impacts on the environment. Now that the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center has become a reality, we’re really excited about that.”
“We went from not knowing where to look for viable wind energy to having a reasonable prediction of where the windy places are in Northern Arizona,” said Acker, NAU emeritus professor of mechanical engineering and Salt River Project senior principal research engineer. “I really like how Babbitt Ranches has proceeded through the project with NextEra. They didn’t rush through, they took the time to understand the ecological, economic and community aspects of the project and did a really nice job of cultivating relationships and an excellent project.”
Signing Up for Wind Power
On Friday, Sept. 15, the dream of creating one of the country’s largest centers for wind and solar power became very tangible for the 138-year-old land company. More than 30 members of the Babbitt Ranches Community toured the site between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon and ceremoniously signed one of the blades that will soon be harnessing the wind that blows across the open spaces of Northern Arizona for the next 30 or more years.
“This is extraordinary and meaningful,” said Cordasco. “This is bigger than all of us. We are grateful for the hard work of the many terrific businesses and government entities who have participated. We appreciate the valuable input from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona State Land Department, Coconino County and everyone involved in the Western CO Bar Legacy Conservation Community for the benefit of future generations.”
Throughout the summer, large equipment including wind turbine blades have been trucked along U.S. Route180 to the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center as Coconino County is becoming one of the largest concentrations of renewable energy operations in the nation.
The 161-megawatt wind project is being developed by NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of wind and solar energy and a world leader in battery storage. The electricity is being purchased by Salt River Project.
Solar Power to Be Operational in 2025
Earlier this year, SRP and Clēnera, an Enlight Company, announced a power purchase agreement for an additional 394 megawatts (MW) of clean energy at CO Bar Solar on Babbitt Ranches outside of Flagstaff. This is the second agreement executed between Clēnera and SRP at the CO Bar Solar complex, and with both agreements, SRP has now procured nearly 1,000 MW, or 1 gigawatt (GW), of power from the project.
Once operational in 2025, CO Bar Solar will offset more than 4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
“This is not only the largest solar plant in Arizona and one of the largest in the United States, but it will also be the most significant solar resource in SRP’s energy portfolio,” said SRP CEO Jim Pratt. “SRP will be quadrupling the amount of utility-scale solar on our power system in just the next two years, with CO Bar Solar as a key part of this. Nearly half of all energy delivered to SRP customers will come from carbon-free resources by the end of 2025.”
Benefits from the wind and solar projects include employment opportunities, increased business activity for local businesses and millions of dollars in additional tax revenue for the county to help enhance roads and public services. FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Photo by Bonnie Stevens: More than 30 members of the Babbitt Ranches Community line up in front of a 220-foot wind turbine blade as the 138-year-old family land business moves forward into an era of renewable energy.
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