Wind Farm Dedication Draws Many Attendees

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   An unexpected crush of attendees, including state and federal representatives such as U.S. Interior Sec-retary Ken Salazar, packed the dedication ceremonies for the Dry Lake Wind Farm Monday. The wind farm is the first of its kind in Arizona.
   The farm officially went into service on Sept. 28, following a testing period to ensure that all of the turbines operated as expected. The 30 turbines, which represent the first phase of the project, are capable of producing 63 megawatts during peak production. Iberdrola spokesman Jan Johnson noted that so far, winds have been favorable for the project.
   “There’s been quite a bit of wind,” she remarked. “They have been producing consistently this fall.”
   Salt River Project (SRP) is purchasing the energy produced by the wind turbines, and the company had a number of officials on hand at the dedication ceremony to explain the project to attendees. Visitors from Phoenix and Tucson, as well as from Show Low, Flagstaff and Winslow, also made the drive to see the state’s first wind farm up close.
   Tours of the turbines were offered prior to the dedication ceremony, and Johnson noted that attendees began arriving an hour before the scheduled event time in order to secure a place in line for the tour.
   “There were a lot more people than we expected,” she remarked.
   Although she did not have an official attendance count, she noted that event planners expected about 600 people and far more than that attended.
   Elected officials such as Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, members of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors, and council members from Holbrook and Winslow were also in attendance to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the wind farm. SRP Government Relations Representative Janeen Rohovit noted that she was overwhelmed by the large turnout and community support for the project.
   “I credit the community for bringing this project about,” she remarked.
   Salazar and Kirkpatrick spoke during the dedication ceremony, noting that they were excited by the completion of the wind farm and the opportunities it represents for renewable energy sources in Arizona. Rocking Chair Ranch owner Bill Elkins, who owns some of the land on which turbines are located, also noted that he is pleased to see new opportunities for ranching families to continue their way of life while tapping into other uses for the land.
   According to Iberdrola, approximately 200 temporary construction jobs were created while the wind farm was being built, and there will be about 10 permanent jobs for the operation and maintenance of the turbines. The company also previously indicated that additional phases are in the works, with up to 200 additional turbines being constructed in the area.
   Iberdrola notes that the current turbines at the wind farm, now that they are in operation, can produce enough electricity to power approximately 15,000 average homes. The company also notes, “The project is expected to annually offset approximately 170 million pounds of carbon dioxide, which is the estimated equivalent of removing almost 15,000 cars from the road each year.”
   The turbines themselves are 396 feet tall, have an output capability of 2.1 megawatts each and weigh 283 tons together with the tower. The blades are 142 feet and turn at a rate of one revolution every three seconds.