The state-owned public utility which serves Phoenix, the Salt River Project, is going to acquire the power output from a future wind project being developed by NextEra Energy Resources in Coconino County.
SRP will buy energy from the 161-MW Babbitt Ranch Energy Center, which will produce enough energy to power 40,000 typical residential homes. NextEra Energy Resources, the renewable development wind of Florida Power & Light owner NextEra Energy, expects Babbit Ranch to be operational later this year.
SRP’s Chief Strategy, Corporate Services and Sustainability Executive Kelly Barr said that wind power from the project will help diversify SRP’s resource mix. It will complement solar power generation. “With SRP’s newly announced utility-scale renewable resources, nearly 50% of the energy delivered to SRP customers by 2025 will be carbon-free.”
The Babbitt Ranch Energy Center contract will not affect the amount of generation that SRP is seeking via its current all-source request for proposals (RFP) for up to 400 MW of peak generating capacity by summer 2024 and another 600 MW by summer 2026.
“The Babbitt Ranch Energy Center will also create a significant economic stimulus for the local community, creating good jobs and millions in additional tax revenue,” said Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and the sun.
Babbit Ranch Wind will include about 53 GE wind turbines. The project reportedly will be the biggest wind energy farm in the state.
The area also will include solar and energy storage capacity, according to reports.
