Oct. 12, 2009, will be remembered as a very special day in Arizona history. Dignitaries from the United States, Spain and India joined local officials, tribal leaders, area families and schoolchildren from Navajo County and throughout Arizona at the dedication of the Dry Lake Wind Power Project. The project, just north of Heber, is important as Arizona's first commercial-scale wind energy development.

The project is already sending clean, renewable energy to Arizona residents. The first 30 turbines are equally divided among locations on the National System of Public Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management Safford Field Office, State Trust Lands managed by the Arizona State Land Department and private lands on the Rocking Chair Ranch owned by Bill Elkins.

It is ironic that the dedication ceremony was held on the federal holiday of Columbus Day — ironic because there are so many similarities between that age of discovery more than 500 years ago and the new age of energy discovery that we are now witnessing through the development of renewable energy throughout the United States and around the world.

A highlight of the day's event was a chance for an up-close view of one of Iberdrola Renewable's 30 Suzlon turbines that tower nearly 400 feet above the Dry Lake area. School buses shuttled visitors to the guided tours. Photo by Diane Drobka

President Obama has charted a course toward cleaner, domestically produced energy for the United States. His New Energy for America plan sets a goal of generating 20 percent of the nation's electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2012 and 25 percent by the year 2025. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar was on hand to celebrate the start of Arizona's quest for renewable energy and shared his enthusiasm for the project.

Salazar noted that President Obama has encouraged the expanded use of renewable energy and launched initiatives to spur the development of these resources on U.S. public lands, most of which the Interior manages. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the president and Congress made $41 million available to facilitate a rapid and responsible move to large-scale production of renewable energy on public lands.

"The successful completion of this vital project reflects the concerns we all share — nationally, regionally and locally — about the critical energy challenges facing communities across the United States," Salazar said. "The partnership that built Arizona's first commercial-scale wind energy project demonstrates a common desire to reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil by using our domestic renewable resources to meet a larger share of our energy needs. This strategy will also help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change, while creating 'green jobs' around the nation."

The Department of the Interior and the BLM have embraced the president's plan as the nation embarks on a journey to explore development of wind, solar and geothermal resources on America's public lands. "Today's announcement underscores the critical role that wind power will play as America diversifies its energy portfolio," BLM Director Bob Abbey said.

"As the steward of more land than any other federal agency, the BLM is proud to support the development of this clean energy source, one that will help reduce our dependency on foreign oil in uncertain times." Abbey noted that nearly 21 million acres of the National System of Public Lands managed by the BLM have been identified as having potential for wind energy.

The state of Arizona, too, has set renewable energy goals. The Arizona Corporation Commission's Environ-mental Portfolio Standard requires utilities to procure 15 percent of the state's electricity from renewable resources by 2025. The Arizona State Land Department is advancing those goals by approving projects such as Dry Lake on State Trust Lands.

"Sustainable renewable energy for Arizona is a great thing for our future, and the Arizona State Land Department is proud to be a stakeholder in the first utility-scale wind energy generation facility in the state," said Ruben Ojeda, right of way section manager for the Arizona State Land Department.

One of the most unique features of the Dry Lake project is that it is located on a mix of federal, state and private land. The project covers approximately 6,000 acres yet uses less than 2 percent of the total acreage, leaving the majority of the public lands available for cattle grazing, hunting and other uses. Approximately a third of the project is on the private Rocking Chair Ranch, with a third each on lands managed by the Arizona State Land Department and the BLM.

There is another similarity between Columbus' age of discovery and America's new age of energy discovery. Just as years ago, some people doubted the early explorers' logic as they set sail for uncharted territory, there will be some today who question the value and feasibility of these goals. But many Americans know that we cannot continue down the same path that has led to global warming by utilizing fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gasses. Wind energy will be one of the solutions as we confront climate change head-on.

Not only do federal and state agencies recognize that fact; the Navajo County Board of Supervisors realized many years ago that clean, renewable energy could be a part of the county's future when it overwhelmingly supported the proposed Dry Lake Wind Power Project. The wind farm supports the local community through tax benefits to Navajo County. "Navajo County is proud to be the home of the first wind farm in the state of Arizona," District III Supervisor J.R. DeSpain said. "We hope that the success of the Dry Lake project will encourage further renewable energy development in the county and the state."

"This project is another example of the incredible potential that clean, renewable energy has for Arizona and our country," said Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, whose district covers eight Arizona counties including Navajo, Graham and Greenlee. "The Dry Lake Wind Farm will deliver jobs, help us diversify our energy sources and lower our utility bills. In these tough times, it is a shot in the arm for District One." During the peak of construction, 200 direct construction jobs were created as well as hundreds of indirect jobs through the supply chain and construction support.

Salt River Project joined the project partners in the early stages by agreeing to purchase the renewable energy produced in Phase One, an important step to ensuring there would be a market for this product.

"The message this plant sends to Arizonans is as important as the power it generates," SRP General manager Richard Silverman said. "Today isn't only only a power plant — it's about a more sustainable future for our customers and all of Arizona." Phase One of Dry lake generates enough power for more than 15,000 homes, which will be delivered to SRP customers in the Phoenix metropolitan area.See wind project

As in Columbus' time, it still takes the spark of imagination and a willingness to take risks to explore uncharted territory; in that sense, it was Rocking Chair Ranch owner Bill Elkins' vision that got the whole project started. "My family has been ranching for more than a hundred years, and I always believed that this site had the wind to support a commercial-scale wind project," Elkins said. "Now, Dry lake is helping keep my family tradition going while providing jobs for the next generation. My son works as a technician for Iberdrola Renewables, and he loves his job."

With all the similarities between Columbus' age of discovery and our new age of energy exploration, there is also an important difference to note. Unlike the early explorers who often ignored the rights of indigenous people in the rush for new discoveries, federal and state agencies now reach out to these communities to listen to their opinions before projects are undertaken. Lands are carefully studied to avoid disturbance of cultural resources and traditional sites. More than 20 tribal nations were consulted during the Dry Lake Project, including outreach to the nearby Hopi, Navajo and Apache nations, as well as local communities.

Jesse Thompson, Navajo County supervisor, whose District II represents communities in a portion of the Navajo Nation and all of the Hope Nation, offered his sacred blessing in his native language at the start of the ceremony, and students from the Holbrook Indian School choir sang.

Just as the early explorers carefully planned their voyages, modern explorers such as WindFinders studied Dry Lake's wind potential for many years. Scientists from HDR conducted environmental studies prior to construction, and SWCA will monitor to make sure the project stays the course from a resource standpoint.

Iberdrola Renewables — developer, owner and operator of the Dry Lake Wind Power Project — is the largest provider of wind power in the world. Through its leadership, Dry Lake became a reality. Even with its proven track record, it still had to invest incredible amounts of time and money to ensure that the project would be a success. Prior to beginning development, it explored the best technologies to use at this location; then it took the risk of financing construction. "Iberdrola Renewables intends to invest another $6 billion in new renewable energy facilities in the United States over the next three to four year," said Martin Mugica, executive vice president for Iberdrola. "It is very satisfying to help provide clean energy and homegrown green jobs."

Iberdrola Renewables is a Spanish-owned company with North American corporate headquarters in Portland, Ore. Monday's holiday and the completion of Dry Lake's Phase One gave officials two reasons to celebrate. In Spain, Columbus Day is celebrated as the national holiday of Spain (Fiesta Nacional de España) or Hispanic Day (Dia de la Hispanidad). It commemorates the exact date of Oct. 12, 1492, when Christopher Columbus first set a foot in what would later be called the Americas.

And just as Columbus' crew crossed thousands of miles of open seas to journey to its destination, so, too, did the Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation's turbines travel a great distance, crossing the oceans from India to the United States.

Now the wind is powering the turbines just as it powered the sails of Columbus' ships.

Composed of 30 Suzlon S88-2.1 megawatt turbines, Phase One of the Dry lake Wind Power Project now generates clean energy for 15,000 homes. "We are proud to be part of Arizona's first commercial-scale wind farm and of our role in creating jobs in the region. The Dry Lake project underscores our commitment to the region," said Tulsi Tanti, founder, chairman and managing director for Suzlon Energy, who traveled from the Indian state of Maharashtra for the dedication. "The United States is among the world's leaders in renewable energy, and we look forward to bringing more clean energy and clean-energy jobs to Arizona and the United States." Suzlon is currently building a rotor-blade factory in Minnesota.

As evidenced at the dedication site, it is critical that the United States, India, Spain and countries around the world tackle climate change together. Partners at the Dry Lake Wind Power Project were united in their belief that wind energy will play a major role in both Arizona's and America's green energy future.

The spirit of adventure and the success of the wind farm were honored with an award from the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory through its Wind Powering America program. "Wind Powering America gives an award for the first wind farm in each state because it's a big deal," said Marguerite Kelly, group manager for Sustainable Elecricity and Buildings Wind Powering America program at NREL. "It represents working through all of the issues and barriers that first-of-a-kind activities must deal with. It demonstrates to all of the parties the benefits of a wind project — economic benefits, price stability and portfolio diversity. Officials and the Arizona public can now see, hear and experience a wind farm up close and personal."

The more than 600 participants in the Oct. 12 dedication of the Dry Lake Wind Power Project got to do just that. Guided tours to view the inside of a turbine began at 10:30 a.m. and continued after the ribbon-cutting and awards presentation. The celebration also included live music, miniature turbines constructed by local school students and education exhibits about renewable energy.

For more information about the Dry Lake Wind Power Project call Roberta Lopez at the BLM Safford Field Office at 348-4437. Photos and video of the dedication, as well as background information about the project, are posted on these Web sites:

Iberdrola Renewables: http://www.iberdrolarenewables.us/cs drylake.html

Salt River Project: http://www.srpnet.com/environment/drylake.aspx

BLM Arizona: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/wind.html

Department of the Interior: http://www.doi.gov/photos/salazar/10122009a/index.html.