This year saw the construction of the state's first large-scale wind farm, with wind turbines in excess of 400 feet installed southeast of Winslow between Heber and Holbrook, to power Salt River Project.
The project was launched due to the efforts of a rancher who took wind measurements on his land, using equipment and help from Northern Arizona University.
Closer to Coconino County and the western Navajo Nation, no major wind or solar projects are under construction, though a number have been proposed, and one large wind farm is proposed to break ground west of Flagstaff next year on the Navajo Nation.
A residential pilot project through APS proposes to add solar panels to 200 Doney Park homes, however.
Wind developers proposing a wind farm east of Flagstaff near Interstate 40 have no agreement to sell power to a utility, as utilities can still buy subsidized power cheaper out of state. That project has the permitting it needs, but no buyer.
Another proposed wind farm closer to Meteor Crater needs further studies, and others have been proposed on the Babbitt Ranches and near Cameron.
Two national companies are vying to install large wind turbines near Cameron, but the Navajo Nation so far has approved neither.
"The project is -- it's not dead, it could still happen -- but there's been no decision as to who the developer should be," said Ben Axelman, of Citizens Energy, one of the two companies proposing the wind turbines.
As for solar power, Arizona Public Service is required by the state to add more renewable energy to its supplies, including from residences.
Partly to study solar energy would affect the local electricity distribution system when concentrated in one area, APS proposed this year to add solar panels to 200 Doney Park household rooftops, at no cost to customers.
APS needed state approval for the idea, estimated to cost $14.7 million; if received, customers would have a portion of their electricity bill locked in for 20 years, and the power flowing from their roofs would feed back to the grid.
Environmental groups, including Grand Canyon Trust and the Sierra Club, began some efforts this year to pressure owners of Navajo Generating Station in Page into cleanup, or closure regardless of cleanup.
The power plant discharges tens of thousands of tons of nitrogen oxides, and other particulates that air monitoring specialists working for the National Park Service say degrade air quality at the Grand Canyon.
The Page facility and another coal-fired plant near Holbrook could be further affected by federal legislation that proposes to cap greenhouse gas emissions.
Cyndy Cole can be reached at 913-8607 or at ccole@azdailysun.com.
Posted in Local, Science on Monday, December 28, 2009 5:00 am
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