As crisp white wind turbine blades rotated gently against a clear blue Northern Arizona sky, more than 100 people, representatives from Salt River Project, NextEra Energy Resources, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Coconino County and Babbitt Ranches, along with dignitaries, business owners, consultants and scientists, gathered to celebrate the completion of Arizona’s newest wind energy center and the meaning behind the steel. “When I consider the future of … [Read more...] about Babbitt Ranches Calls Wind Farm a ‘Promise for the Future’
Coconino County
Andy Bertelsen Brings Experience, Perspective, Love for Parks and Open Space to Coconino County
It’s hard to believe that Coconino County is larger than Switzerland, but according to Coconino County Manager Andy Bertelsen, it is! Bertelsen recently stepped into this position with the retirement of long-time Coconino County Manager Steve Peru, to oversee county services across more than 18,600 square miles, from Grand Canyon to Sedona. “This is a dream in the making,” he said. Bertelsen is not new to Northern Arizona. He served as an intern for the Coconino County Board of Supervisors 25 … [Read more...] about Andy Bertelsen Brings Experience, Perspective, Love for Parks and Open Space to Coconino County
Growing Your Business with City’s Retention, Expansion Incentive
Thirty thousand dollars are up for grabs to expand your business. The Business Retention and Expansion Incentive competitive grant program is open. Applications will be accepted until Aug. 31. Find the program and the application at ChooseFlagstaff.com, then submit your application to jsaltonstall@flagstaffaz.gov. The program is designed to provide businesses with additional funding that will result in an expansion of the business’s facility, market share, or employment – or all three – and … [Read more...] about Growing Your Business with City’s Retention, Expansion Incentive
Construction Underway on Babbitt Ranch Energy Center North of Flagstaff
With a passion to move the state forward with renewable energy while protecting open space, creating jobs, boosting the Northern Arizona economy and planning for generations of Arizonans to come, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, SRP, Babbitt Ranches and the Arizona State Land Department have announced that construction is underway for the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center. The 161-megawatt (MW) wind project, featuring 50 wind turbines across 669 acres on the CO Bar Ranch about 25 miles north of … [Read more...] about Construction Underway on Babbitt Ranch Energy Center North of Flagstaff
Lowell, Scientists, Community Celebrate Pluto
Lowell Observatory, scientists and guests officially dedicated the Tombaugh Telescope during the fourth annual I Heart Pluto Festival, Feb. 18-20. Two pre-festival events – a Cheers to Pluto/Astronomy on Tap program at Mother Road Brewing Company and a Pluto Pub Crawl involving 10 bars and brewhouses – also received strong participation. The keynote Night of Discovery event at the Orpheum Theater featured Astronaut Nicole Stott and a space art display by the International Association of … [Read more...] about Lowell, Scientists, Community Celebrate Pluto
NAU Working on Mutually Beneficial Community Engagement
NAU is also on a bold mission to expand access to higher education and close achievement gaps throughout our state.In this, my inaugural column, I want to tell you what a privilege it is to serve as president of NAU and live every day in this beautiful community. Since my arrival nearly a year ago, I have learned that NAU has a strong foundation, a community that embraces the value of higher education, an incredible alumni network, and dedicated faculty and staff. I am thrilled by the … [Read more...] about NAU Working on Mutually Beneficial Community Engagement
Contractors Frustrated with Forest Thinning Process
Ten years of the Four Forests Restoration (4FRI) Phase I ends across Northern Arizona in May. After a decade of missed targets, frustration increased among local forest thinning contractors when 4FRI’s two-year Phase II Request for Proposals process was canceled last fall. “It was decided to change the approach to a blended one. Instead of awarding one big contract to a single company (NewLife Forestry), the new 4FRI Phase II will leverage funding with partner organizations and timber … [Read more...] about Contractors Frustrated with Forest Thinning Process
Monsoon Mess
With 2020’s monsoon season dubbed a “nonsoon” and this year’s seasonal storms delivering historic rainfall, Northern Arizona hardly seems like the same place as it was a year ago. Pockets of flooding have caused damage to homes, reported City of Flagstaff Public Affairs Director Jessica Drum, as the city and Coconino County have been working together to address the issues. The hardest hit area was downstream from the Museum Fire scar behind the Museum of Northern Arizona, which the Rio de … [Read more...] about Monsoon Mess
Coconino County and Partners Face the Challenge of Broadband
Internet service. For most of us it is either too slow, too spotty, too expensive, or too far out of reach. Reliable internet service has become increasingly important to life and work in last 18 months. In this month’s article, we are going to share some of the solutions that are out there and what is happening at the county to bring forth those solutions, especially for those not-connected or under-connected to the internet. A quick disclaimer here: we are not going to be talking about what … [Read more...] about Coconino County and Partners Face the Challenge of Broadband
Governor Ducey, Local Leaders Continue Work for Coconino County
Governor Doug Ducey, state agencies and local leaders in Coconino County are working together to address the significant damage caused by post-wildfire flooding that has devastated the area. “Extreme weather has taken a severe toll on many areas of Arizona so far this year, especially Coconino County,” said Governor Ducey. “Communities in the Flagstaff area have been hit hard by post-wildfire flooding, and Arizonans have truly come together to overcome the many hardships brought about by … [Read more...] about Governor Ducey, Local Leaders Continue Work for Coconino County