A vulgarity comparing the forum to bovine excrement was a constantly repeated refrain among a large crowd gathered Aug. 31 in Snowflake to learn more about a series of proposed wind and solar farms in an area between Snowflake and Holbrook.

While some new information was provided and some questions were answered, many attending seemed dissatisfied that more detailed information, especially on major issues such as water use, was not disclosed.
"People are distraught over something that's not even specified. It's not fair to the people, it's not fair to the watershed, it's just not fair to us and it's not appropriate," said Kathy Hemenway, who has been actively organizing citizens who live near the proposed energy farms.

Another audience member noted, "We need a specific plan. We don't want to hear ‘maybes.' I don't think you should get any permits until we have specific site plans."

NZ Legacy owner Bob Worsley opened the forum with a presentation intended to address some of the major concerns. According to Worsley, the type of hybrid generating station being proposed, which produces both wind and solar energy, would be the first of its kind.

"I believe the land should be used for hybrid renewable projects. That's never been done before. They've done wind and they've done solar, but they've never tried to save land by having it all together," he told the crowd. "At the Dry Lake project, they've got a kilometer between each row of turbines. I believe solar will fit nicely between turbines and not interrupt the wind for the turbines."

Worsley further explained that depending on the technology used, the energy farms may not need to use water in the production of electricity. He noted, however, that the type of solar technology that will be used has not yet been determined.

Worsley indicated that he planned to meet with a company that produces solar film that requires no water, but later noted that his company would only act as a "landlord" for the projects, and professional developers would handle details such as financing, selection and placement of generators, and the sale of power to distributing companies such as Arizona Public Service Co. or Salt River Project. (Neither company currently has any agreement to purchase electricity from the proposed projects, but they were frequently cited as potential customers.)

According to Worsley, even the most water-intensive solar technology, such as the large trough-style currently in use near Las Vegas, Nev., uses the same amount of water as traditional energy production with coal or natural gas. He noted that it doesn't matter what fuels a steam turbine, it requires the same amount of water to produce the energy.

Several audience members disagreed, noting that it depends on the operating temperature of the turbine, and that solar units operate at lower temperatures, which require more water.

"If the temperature is lower, you use more water. The higher the temperature is run at, the less water you use. It's a fundamental principle," one audience member remarked.

Worsley later noted that, theoretically, there should be technology available that would allow the same amount of water to be used, regardless of the heat source.

A number of audience members pressed Worsley to divulge how much water might be needed for the project, but he noted that it depends entirely on the type of solar technology, which has yet to be chosen. When those in attendance pointed out that the special use permit plans call for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) units, which use a significant amount of water, Worsley reiterated that the plans submitted with the permit request are conceptual.

"It was our intention to show everybody the ultimate vision so people would be aware of what we're doing," he said. "It's only conceptual. We asked for met(eorological) towers and permission to do up to that concept plan. We still have to do studies. We plan to continue down this path, with studies dictating the final plan."

Worsley noted that the final plan would likely include far fewer turbines and solar units than requested in the permit application.

"It would never be that large," he said.

Hemenway pointed out that most counties require specific site plans, not conceptual ones, for special use permits.

"Why are you asking for far more than you plan to ever do? It's like you're asking for a large blank check. Why not do the studies and then come back when you have an actual plan and supportive evidence?" Hemenway asked. Worsley and Nature Energies representative Christopher Moore, who is working with Worsley on the proposed project, also attempted to address concerns regarding noise from wind turbines. Worsley told the crowd that he has agreed to adjust the setbacks from the proposed 500 feet from residential areas to 1,000 feet from vacant land that is zoned residential and 1,500 feet from land with existing homes.

"At 1,500 feet, the sound will be less than 50 decibels, less than in a bedroom," he said. "If you want big setbacks, if you want to do that, it will be required of you and it may greatly limit you. What's required of us will be required of you. It's a balancing act, what's fair, not to annoy the neighbor and make it possible for you to do this on some of your land."

Moore added that he has reviewed studies that indicate that the majority of people are not bothered by noise generated by wind farms.

"In my opinion, and in the opinion of thousands of people who live near wind farms, the sound is not objectionable," he said.

One audience member pointed out that the level of acceptable noise in an urban area is much different than the acceptable level of noise in a rural area, and questioned whether the studies were conducted in urban or rural areas.

"All the things I've read, there's been no consideration for the human beings, for the lives affected by these projects. We're all here for a common purpose: a quiet life. And we ask nothing more than to be left alone," she also noted, which brought roaring applause from the crowd.

Other concerns raised by audience members included the economic impact, whether any local jobs would be created, the maintenance of roads leading to and from the energy farms, lighting and potential health effects.

According to Worsley, "typical property taxes paid by wind developers to their county range from $6,000 to $12,000 per megawatt, per year." He noted that, "if 330 megawatts of wind are built on NZ lands, the county could have an increase in property tax revenues of $3.6 million per year, or a 15 percent increase in taxes for the entire county." (Navajo County Treasurer Manny Hernandez was charged with collecting $73.2 million in property taxes for 2008. A 15 percent increase would total $10.98 million.)

He also stated that the number of construction and permanent jobs would depend on the number of units installed. According to Worsley, typical job creation rates are as follows: one construction job for six months for every megawatt of wind; one construction job for one year for every megawatt of photovoltaic or thin film solar; two construction jobs for two year for every megawatt of CSP solar; one permanent job for every 10 megawatts of wind, photovoltaic or thin film solar; and one permanent job for every two megawatts of CSP solar.

Moore noted that construction jobs often require specialized skills that may not be available locally, but there will be work for drivers and concrete workers, and permanent jobs are likely to be filled with local workers.
Worsley told the group that his company would be responsible for repairing damage to any roads as a result of construction, and that the company would build and maintain its own roads within the energy farms. He also noted that lighting on the wind towers would likely be necessary, and would be determined by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Moore noted that he does not believe there are any adverse health effects created by wind farms.

"I've worked around these for years, and I've not seen, nor have any of the landowners I've worked with reported, any ill health effects from turbines," he said.

Worsley and Moore, along with Navajo County Planning and Zoning Director Greg Loper, agreed to obtain more information on the potential property tax impact the project could have, as well as the number of people permanently employed at the Dry Lake Wind Farm for comparison purposes.

A second public forum was scheduled Wednesday evening.

The permit application has been tabled by the Navajo County Planning and Zoning Commission until more information is made available to the commissioners and the public. The application must also be approved by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors before the permits can be issued.