Iberdrola Renewables Sells Entire Output from Yet-To-Be-Built Dry Lake Wind Project
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July 30 – Portland, Oregon-based Iberdrola Renewables announced on July 28 that it had sold the entire energy output from its yet-to-be-built wind project, Dry Lake Wind Project, in Arizona to Phoenix-based Salt River Project (SRP). The Dry Lake Wind Project, which will be located about 18 miles northwest of Snowflake, would be the state’s first commercial wind power plant. The construction of the project is scheduled to commence next year.
According to the 20-year agreement between Iberdrola Renewables, which is a subsidiary of Spanish power utility Iberdrola, and SRP, the latter company will purchase the entire output from the first phase of the Dry Lake Wind Project. Under the agreement, SRP has rights to buy additional power from the wind farm, if Iberdrola Renewables expands the site within the next three years. Phase one of the project will include the construction of nearly 30 wind turbines, which are likely to generate roughly 63 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The first phase is expected to take around nine-to-twelve months to be completed. Power generated in the first phase is expected to be enough to supply energy to more than 15,000 homes in the SRP territory.
Apart from providing the people of Arizona with renewable energy supply from December 31, 2009, the Dry Lake Wind Project is expected to provide create 100 construction and engineering jobs, in addition to requiring about five permanent operations and maintenance employees.
SRP is under obligation to either procure or generate 15% of its total electricity sales from renewable sources, such as biomass, wind, solar, biogas and landfill gas, by 2025. The Dry Lake Wind Project will help SRP meet this target.
According to eastvalleytribune.com, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes has praised SRP’s decision to purchase energy from the first wind-driven energy project in the Grand Canyon State. Mayes stated that the project “proves that there is big wind to be tapped in northern Arizona,” adding that the development of this project would “bring with it good jobs, additional revenue and clean energy to Navajo County.” Mayes said he hoped that wind farms would eventually be erected in the Cochise County and other eastern areas.
Alternatio Cirqui, EconomyWatch.com
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