Years of planning culminated in more than three and a half hours of discussion as the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-2 to approve a conditional use permit for a wind farm located 25 miles north of Flagstaff.
Texas-based RWE Clean Energy out of Austin began planning for the project in 2019 on land owned by Babbitt Ranches and the Arizona Department of State Lands. The application for the conditional use permit requested approval for the development of the Forged Ethic Wind Energy Project, a 324-megawatt renewable energy project with a 35-year operational lifespan that includes up to 100 wind turbines, with one permanent meteorological evaluation tower, an aircraft detection lighting system and other supporting facilities.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmp7E6C DA6?5:?8 C@F89=J d_ >:?FE6D 5:D4FDD:?8 E96 AC@;64E 5FC:?8 2 DEF5J D6DD:@? @? yF=J b`[ A=2??:?8 2?5 K@?:?8 925 E96 AF3=:4 962C:?8 @? pF8] ag[ 762EFC:?8 AC6D6?E2E:@?D 7C@> 3@E9 4@F?EJ DE277 2?5 #(t r=62? t?6C8J :ED6=7] |F49 @7 E96 5:D4FDD:@? F=E:>2E6=J 7@4FD65 @? E96 :>A24E E96 AC@;64E H@F=5 92G6 @? H:=5=:76 :? E96 2C62[ E96 492?86D E@ E96 G:6HD 2=@?8 E96 C@25H2JD :? E96 2C62 2?5 H96C6 E96 6?6C8J H@F=5 6?5 FA @?46 4@==64E65]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@;64E :D E96 7:7E9 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J AC@;64E E@ 36 56G6=@A65 :? r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ 2?5 E96 E9:C5 56G6=@A65 @? r~ q2C #2?49[ H9:49 :D A2CE @7 q233:EE #2?496D] %96 q233:EE #2?49 t?6C8J r6?E6C Wq#trX 2?5 :ED d_ H:?5 EFC3:?6D 3682? @A6C2E:?8 :? |2J[ H9:=6 $@=2C z :D A=2??65 E@ :?4=F56 `a[___ 24C6D @7 D@=2C A2?6=D 3FE 92D ?@E 368F? 4@?DECF4E:@?]k^Am
kAm!6CC:? #2?49[ H6DE @7 $E2E6 #@FE6 ec 36EH66? (:==:2>D 2?5 '2==6[ 3682? @A6C2E:?8 :? a_a`j r96G6=@? qFEE6[ =@42E65 2AAC@I:>2E6=J a_ >:=6D D@FE9 @7 (:?D=@H :? 3@E9 r@4@?:?@ 2?5 }2G2;@ 4@F?E:6D[ 3682? :ED 7:CDE A92D6 @7 @A6C2E:@?D :? a_ab]k^Am
Forged Ethic Wind Energy Project location north of Flagstaff.
Coconino County, courtesy
k9cm(:=5=:76 2?5 G:6HD965 :>A24Ek^9cm
kAm!=2??:?8 2?5 K@?:?8’D AC:?4:A2= A=2??6C q@3 $9@CE AC@G:565 E96 4@F?EJ DE277’D AC6D6?E2E:@? E@ E96 4@>>:DD:@? 2?5 56E2:=65 E96 AC@E64E:@? A=2? E92E H@F=5 36 AFE :? A=246 7@C H:=5=:76 :? E96 2C62[ 2D H6== 2D H9:49 DA64:6D 4@F=5 36 2E C:D< @?46 E96 H:?5 72C> H2D @A6C2E:@?2=]k^Am
kAmtIA=2:?:?8 E92E #(t 925 366? H@C<:?8 H:E9 3@E9 E96 pC:K@?2 v2>6 2?5 u:D9 s6A2CE>6?E 2?5 E96 &]$] u:D9 2?5 (:=5=:76 $6CG:46 D:?46 a_a_[ $9@CE D2:5 E96 4@F?EJ’D C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J @C5:?2?46 W#t~X C6BF:C6D 2AA=:42?ED E@ 7@==@H 7656C2= 2?5 DE2E6 8F:56=:?6D 7@C AC@;64ED @7 E9:D ?2EFC6] }@ @77:4:2= 7656C2==J =:DE65 DA64:6D H6C6 56E6C>:?65 E@ 36 2E C:D<[ H:E9 @?=J >@?2C49 3FEE6C7=:6D A@DD:3=J @44FCC:?8 2E E96 D:E6 H9:=6 ?@E 36:?8 @77:4:2==J =:DE65 7656C2==J]k^Am
kAmu@C G2C:@FD C62D@?D[ r2=:7@C?:2 4@?5@CD[ |6I:42? 8C2J H@=G6D[ |6I:42? DA@EE65 @H=D 2?5 u:4<6:D6? A=2:?D 424EFD H6C6 2== 4@?D:56C65 E@ 36 F?=:<6=J E@ 36 5:DEFC365]k^Am
kAmp E@E2= @7 af DA64:6D 56D:8?2E65 2D >66E:?8 E96 8C62E6DE 4@?D6CG2E:@? ?665 3J pC:K@?2 H6C6 =:DE65 2D A@DD:3=J @44FCC:?8 @? E96 D:E6[ H:E9 `b @7 E9@D6 <?@H? E@ @44FC] |F49 @7 E96 =:DE 7@4FD65 @? 3:C5D 2?5 32ED \\ 32=5 628=6D[ 8@=56? 628=6D[ 4@>>@? ?:89E92H<D[ A:?J@? ;2JD[ p>6C:42? 8@D92H<[ $4@EE’D @C:@=6[ 7:G6 5:776C6?E DA64:6D @7 32ED[ vF??:D@?’D AC2:C:6 5@8 2?5 AC@?89@C?]k^Am
kAm%96 677@CED @7 E96 AC@E64E:@? A=2? :?4=F56 EFC3:?6 =:?6D 36:?8 :?DE2==65 F?56C8C@F?5[ 2 ?6H 6=64EC:42= 86?\E:6 36:?8 A=2465 ?6IE E@ 2? 6I:DE:?8 EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6 E@ C65F46 :>A24E[ 76?4:?8 @?=J 36:?8 A=2465 2C@F?5 6DD6?E:2= :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ 2?5 @A6? DA246 36EH66? EFC3:?6D 2?5 @E96C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 36:?8 >2:?E2:?65 E@ 2==@H A2DD286]k^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ 2 8@=56? 628=6 ?6DE :56?E:7:65 H:E9:? E96 AC@;64E 2C62 925 2 a\>:=6 3F776C 6DE23=:D965 2C@F?5 :E]k^Am
kAm$9@CE’D AC6D6?E2E:@? 2=D@ 6IA=2:?65 E92E E96 4=@D6DE EFC3:?6 H@F=5 36 c]f >:=6D 7C@> &]$] w:89H2J `g_[ e >:=6D 7C@> $! rC2E6C 2?5 _]c >:=6D 7C@> E96 pC:K@?2 }2E:@?2= $46?:4 %C2:=]k^Am
kAmyFDE ac AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD 2C6 H:E9:? `_ >:=6D @7 E96 D:E6[ H:E9 2? @A6? 9@FD6 6G6?E C646:G:?8 76H BF6DE:@?D 7C@> E96 AF3=:4 :ED6=7 2?5 AC:>2C:=J C6BF6DED 7C@> AF3=:4 286?4:6D]k^Am
kAmr@?46C?D C682C5:?8 E96 G:D:3:=:EJ @7 E96 H:?5 EFC3:?6D 7C@> w:89H2J `g_[ 5:DCFAE:?8 E96 G:6H 2=@?8 E96 H2J E@ E96 vC2?5 r2?J@?[ F=E:>2E6=J 96=A65 =625 E@ 3@E9 4@>>:DD:@? r92:C %2>>J ~?E:G6C@D 2?5 ':46 r92:C %J2??2 qFCE@? G@E:?8 282:?DE E96 AC@;64E’D 2AAC@G2=]k^Am
kAmpD 2 A2CE @7 #(t’D AC6D6?E2E:@? 3J D6?:@C 56G6=@A>6?E >2?286C |@C82? $49H6??[ E96 AC@;64E H2D C676CC65 E@ 92G6 2 >@56C2E6 E@ DEC@?8 4@?EC2DE E@ E96 6I:DE:?8 =2?5D42A6 762EFC6D H96? G:6H65 7C@> w:89H2J `g_[ 32D65 @? E96 4F>F=2E:G6 67764E @7 E96 6I:DE:?8 q#tr AC@;64E 2?5 E96 255:E:@?2= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 7C@> E96 u@C865 tE9:4 (:?5 t?6C8J !C@;64E]k^Am
kAm“x7 E96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 H:?5 :? r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ[ x H@F=5 D2J J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 G6CJ 92C5 AC6DD65 E@ 7:?5 2 >@C6 C6>@E6 2?5 =6DD :>A24E7F= \\ 7C@> 2 G:DF2= A6CDA64E:G6 \\ =@42E:@?[� $49H6?? D2:5]k^Am
kAmtIA=2:?:?8 E92E E96 2AA=:42?E 925 “D6=7\25>:EE65=J� D2:5 E96C6 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 DEC@?8 G:DF2= 4@?EC2DE[ ~?E:G6C@D 2D<65 9@H #(t H@F=5 4@?D:56C E96 ?682E:G6 G:DF2= :>A24E 2D 36:?8 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 8@2=D 2?5 @3;64E:G6D @7 E96 4@F?EJ’D 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2?]k^Am
kAmâ€�%9:D :D 2 D46?:4 3JH2J E92E 8@6D 7C@> u=28DE277 E@ '2==6[ 2?5 :E :D EC2G6=65 3J A6@A=6 8@:?8 E@ E96 vC2?5 r2?J@?[â€� ~?E:G6C@D D2:5] â€�$@ 2=E9@F89 E9:D >2J 36 4@?D:56C65 C6>@E6 2?5 CFC2= 2?5 2== @7 E9@D6 E9:?8D[ E96 G:DF2= :>A24E 92D E@ 36 4@?D:56C65]â€k^Am
kAmqFCE@? 2=D@ 4:E65 E96 G:DF2=D 2=@?8 w:89H2J `g_ 2D 36:?8 E96 3:886DE 4@?46C? 23@FE E96 AC@;64E’D 2AAC@G2= 8:G6? E96 EC277:4 E92E EC2G6=D 2=@?8 E96 C@25H2J E@ E96 vC2?5 r2?J@?] p55:E:@?2==J[ H:E9 q#tr @?=J :? @A6C2E:@? 7@C =6DD E92? 7:G6 >@?E9D[ qFCE@? D2:5 :E 76=E =:<6 :E >2J 36 E@@ >F49 56G6=@A>6?E :? 2 D9@CE E:>6 DA2? H9:=6 255:?8 E92E D96 H2D `__T :? 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 ?665 7@C C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J]k^Am
kAm“x 92G6 E@ 28C66 H:E9 r92:C ~?E6CG2C:@D E92E x 766= =:<6 E9:D :D E@@ >F49[ E@@ 72DE[ 2?5 :E :D 4@>:?8 C:89E @? E96 966=D @7 AC@;64ED E92E 6:E96C 92G6 ?@E 366? 4@>A=6E65 J6E @C H6C6 ;FDE 4@>A=6E65[â€� qFCE@? D2:5[ =2E6C 255:?8 E92E :7 E9:D 92D 366? 2 D@=2C AC@;64E[ E96C6 H@F=5?’E 6G6? 36 2 BF6DE:@? C682C5:?8 2AAC@G2=] “u@C >6[ :E :D E96 D966C >@?DEC@D:E:6D E92E 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 25565 :? 96C6]â€k^Am
A simulated view of the wind turbines at the Forged Ethic Wind Energy Project from U.S. Highway 180 looking northeast is shown.
Coconino County, courtesy
k9cm!C@;64E DA64:7:4Dk^9cm
kAmp9625 @7 E96 AF3=:4 962C:?8 2?5 G@E6 3J E96 4@>>:DD:@?[ 4@F?EJ DE277 C64@>>6?565 2AAC@G2= 7@C E96 AC@;64E H:E9 46CE2:? 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm$6E 7@C `d[a_h 24C6D @7 86?6C2= K@?65 AC:G2E6 =2?5 2?5 `c[hae 24C6D @7 DE2E6 ECFDE =2?5[ E96 u@C865 tE9:4 (:?5 t?6C8J !C@;64E 4@F=5 6?5 FA H:E9 2D >2?J 2D `__ H:?5 EFC3:?6D @C 2D 76H 2D fa 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 EJA6 @7 >249:?6D FD65] (9:=6 @E96C >@56=D @776C 5:776C6?E DA64:7:42E:@?D[ E96 AC@A@D65 EFC3:?6D H:== 86?6C2E6 c]d >682H2EED H9:=6 DE2?5:?8 bf` 766E E2== 2E E96 2I:D A@:?E @7 E96 C@E@CD[ ec_ 766E E2== 2E E96 9:896DE A@:?E @7 2 C@E@C’D G6CE:42= C6249 2?5 dbd 766E :? 5:2>6E6C 7@C E96 2C62 DH6AE 3J E96 3=256D]k^Am
kAmr@?5:E:@?D @7 E96 AC@;64E H6C6 25;FDE65 :? @C56C E@ 244@F?E 7@C E96 A@E6?E:2= 5:776C6?E >@56=D FD65[ H:E9 2 >2I:>F> 96:89E @7 bgc 766E 2E E96 9F3’D 2I:D 2?5 ec_ 766E 7@C E96 G6CE:42= C6249] %96 u656C2= pG:2E:@? p5>:?:DEC2E:@? 82G6 #(t 2AAC@G2= 7@C 2 >2I:>F> 96:89E @7 ede 766E 7@C 2 C@E@C’D G6CE:42= C6249]k^Am
kAm$:I E6>A@C2CJ E@H6CD H:== 36 6C64E65 2E E96 D2>6 9F3 96:89E 2D E96 A=2??65 EFC3:?6D 7@C FA E@ D:I >@?E9D 367@C6 2?5 `g >@?E9D 27E6C 4@?DECF4E:@? :? @C56C E@ 4@?5F4E E6DE:?8 @? E96 H:?5 :? E96 2C62] ~A6C2E:@?D 4@F=5 368:? :? pAC:= a_af 7@==@H:?8 `g >@?E9D @7 4@?DECF4E:@?] sFC:?8 4@?DECF4E:@?[ a__ E@ b__ E6>A@C2CJ ;@3D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 2G2:=23=6[ H9:=6 `_ 7F==\E:>6 ;@3D H@F=5 4@G6C @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 D276EJ @?46 FA 2?5 CF??:?8]k^Am
k9cm!C@;64E 2AAC@G2=k^9cm
kAmsFC:?8 E96 >66E:?8[ q:== r@C52D4@[ AC6D:56?E @7 q233:EE #2?496D[ 6IAC6DD65 9@H E96 A=2??65 H:?5 72C> 7:ED :?E@ H92E E96 3FD:?6DD 36=:6G6D :? >@G:?8 7@CH2C5 8:G6? E96 :>A24ED :E :D AC@;64E65 E@ 92G6 @? E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[ E96 962=E9 @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E2I 36?67:ED]k^Am
kAm“~FC BF6DE:@? E@ E96> H2D[ Vr2? J@F E2<6 E96D6 A@E6?E:2= AC@;64ED @? q233:EEVD W=2?5X 2?5 24EF2==J 8@ 2?5 BF2?E:7J E96 C:AA=6 67764E @7 H92E E96D6 AC@;64ED >62? @G6C E96 =:76 2?5 E6C>D @7 E96 AC@;64EDnVâ€� r@C52D4@ D2:5] â€�(92E :D 2 C62= 36?67:E \\ ?@E ;FDE AC@G:5:?8 :? E9:D 42D6 gd[___ 9@>6D H:E9 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J @C C6>@G:?8 2 46CE2:? E@??286 @7 42C3@? 6>:DD:@?D :?E@ E96 2:C[ 3FE E6== FD 9@H E9:D C62==J 36?67:ED E92E ?6IE 86?6C2E:@?]â€k^Am
kAmr@C52D4@ 42==65 #(t’D C6DA@?D6 “C62==J[ C62==J :>AC6DD:G6� 5FC:?8 9:D 4@>>6?ED E@ E96 4@>>:DD:@? ;FDE 367@C6 E96 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 9@DE65 E96 5:D4FDD:@? 2>@?8 @?6 2?@E96C]k^Am
kAmr@>>:DD:@?6C #@D6 %@696’D 7:?2= 4@?46C? H2D 23@FE E96 =24< @7 8F2C2?E66 E92E E96 6=64EC:4:EJ 86?6C2E65 H@F=5 DE2J H:E9:? E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm$49H6?? 6IA=2:?65 62C=:6C :? E96 >66E:?8 E92E H96C6 E96 FE:=:EJ 4@>A2?:6D 5:C64E E96 A@H6C[ C682C5:?8 DA64:7:4 C6D:56?46D[ :D ?@E D@>6E9:?8 #(t 42? 4@?EC@= F?E:= 2 A@H6C\AFC492D6 28C66>6?E :D D:8?65] p55:E:@?2==J[ FE:=:EJ 4@>A2?:6D DF49 2D p!$[ $#! 2?5 %t! ?665 #(t E@ 92G6 2 4@?5:E:@?2= FD6 A6C>:E :? A=246 367@C6 2 C6BF6DE 7@C AC@A@D2= H@F=5 36 4@?D:56C65]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 4@F?EJ’D 4@>>:DD:@? D66<:?8 2 AC@>:D6 E96 6=64EC:4:EJ H@F=5 DE2J =@42= :? D@>6 7@C> 367@C6 E96 4@?5:E:@?2= FD6 A6C>:E H@F=5 36 2AAC@G65[ :E =625D E@ 2? :?6G:E23=6 42E49\aa]k^Am
kAm“x7 H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ AFE E96D6 EJA6D @7 72C>D 2?5 H92E?@E :? E96 2C62D E92E 2C6 >62?:?87F= E@ FD[ @FC =@42= A6@A=6 D9@F=5 92G6 2 567:?:E6 D=:46 @7 E92E[â€� %@696 D2:5] “x <?@H @7 D@=2C 72C>D E92E 92G6 366? 5@?6 96C6 :? pC:K@?2 2?5 E96 6?6C8J 8@6D E@ r2=:7@C?:2[ 2?5 E92E x ;FDE E@E2==J 5:D28C66 H:E9]â€k^Am
kAm&=E:>2E6=J[ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD y@9? #F88=6D[ $2E q6DE[ $96:=2 (2=D9 2?5 %@696 G@E65 :? 72G@C @7 E96 AC@;64E 7@C E96 c\a 2AAC@G2=]k^Am
kAm�(6 92G6 2? 6I46==6?E 2AA=:42?E[ H6 92G6 2? 6I46==6?E =2?5 @H?6C[ 6I46==6?E DE277] x 8F6DD x ;FDE 4@?D:56C >JD6=7 %96 {@C2I @7 G:6HD965D 2C@F?5 E96 vC2?5 r2?J@?[ 2?5 :E C62==J 42>6 5@H? E@ E92E @?6 :DDF6[� ~?E:G6C@D D2:5]k^Am
