By Talaina Kor | East Valley Tribune
During the Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, April 28, the board approved a development agreement with West Camp Wind Farm II, LLC for the development and operation of an up to 500-megawatt wind energy facility in Navajo County that would include up to 144 wind turbines.
In his presentation on the agreement, County Manager Bryan Layton explained that although some residents are against the agreement, it is a legal and lawful use of private property and is also in compliance with ordinance. “The development proposal meets or exceeds the requirements of the ordinance. It achieves meaningful performance to the board’s preferred criteria. It provides partnership to help the county mitigate community impacts.”
As to why this type of development is becoming common in the county, Layton explained that the natural resources, topography and state incentives make it attractive to renewable energy developers. “They [the state] provide an 80% reduction in the property tax for these developments.”
The county’s comprehensive master plan, which establishes standards and ordinances for renewable energy projects, was updated last year after extensive work to create comprehensive regulations on incoming development.
