NAU Wind

The mission of the Arizona Wind Working Group is to work collaboratively to encourage the development of commercial and small-scale wind energy in the State of Arizona.

Goals

The goals of the Arizona Wind Working Group (AzWWG) are to:

•   Determine the magnitude and geographic distribution of the wind energy resource available in Arizona
•   Assess the feasibility of commercial-scale development of Arizona’s wind resource
•   Where wind energy development is feasible, promote the commercial development the wind energy resource.
•   Promote awareness and support of wind energy development through public education and industry and stakeholders networking
•   Promote the small wind turbine industry in the state of Arizona

Strategic Objectives and Action Plans

In order to provide a framework for guiding the development of commercial or utility-scale wind power projects in Arizona, and development of the small wind industry, specific strategies and action plans have been developed, in concert with the stated mission and goals of the group.

In developing these strategies and action plans, it is important to address the needs, issues and barriers to development of commercial wind farms and the small wind industry. Before development takes place, these barriers - both real and perceived - must be overcome.

The following strategic objectives and action plans were developed based on the issues, concerns, needs and barriers discussed at previous wind working group meetings. During the development of the strategic objectives the SMART strategic plan guidelines were used by the steering committee. These denote:

       S – Specific
       M – Measurable/Monitorable
       A – Achievable
       R – Realistic
       T – Time-bound

In order to advance the stated mission and goals, funding will need to be secured to maintain the activities of the Arizona Wind Working Group. Progress and eventual success in addressing the strategic objectives listed below will be accomplished by conducting regular working group meetings to share information, educate stakeholders, and to review progress of the strategic action plan. Two sub-committees of the working group will be established to direct progress through the action plan.

1.   Wind Assessment and Technical Issues – Strategic Objectives 1 to 4

Strategic Objective 1: Collect and make publicly available wind resource data
Strategic Objective 2: Identify technical obstacles and solutions to develop Arizona's wind resource
Strategic Objective 3: Develop area-specific protocols and guidelines to address environmental and siting issues for small and large wind turbines
Strategic Objective 4: Encourage evaluation and understanding of utility wind integration strategies

2. Economics, Policy, and Education – Strategic Objectives 5 to 9

Strategic Objective 5: Perform economic analysis on wind development in Arizona
Strategic Objective 6: Assist tribes with the development of wind resources on tribal lands
Strategic Objective 7: Identify political and policy barriers and incentives to encourage wind development in Arizona
Strategic Objective 8: Support planning and development of transmission infrastructure to transport wind
Strategic Objective 9: Increase knowledge of and support for wind development (large and small) statewide

Strategic Objective 1 Collect and make publicly available wind resource data.

Action Plan:

A.   Continue anemometer loan program and expand program to new land parcels
B.   Develop a siting plan to deploy anemometers in areas with high wind potential
C.   Collect data from existing anemometers on a regular basis and post data on NAU Website
•   www.wind.nau.edu
D.   Work with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. DOE and other entities to collect and assimilate wind resource data
E.   Continue to provide maps and specific information to Arizona landowners and other interested parties.
•   Maps available for download at http://wind.nau.edu/maps/; the full DVD set of wind maps and data are available from NAU: contact Ms. Pat Ponce 928.523.2380
F.   Confirm Arizona wind map with ground data
G.   Identify sources of equipment for the anemometer loan program

Strategic Objective 2: Identify technical obstacles and solutions to develope Arizona's wind resource.

Action Plan:

A.   Work with complimentary renewable energy resource to determine if co-location could reduce variability and better support new transmission infrastructure
B.   Encourage participation of Arizona untilities in the Utility Wind Interest Group (UWIG), in order to help understand how to overcome technical challenges.
C.   Access the resources of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and others, to assist in resolving the technical issues of importance in developing Arizona’s wind resources
D.   Organize and conduct educational presentations to the AzWWG and other Arizona stakeholders addressing the technical issues
E.   Work on establishing a consistent net metering policy to support small wind
F.   Develop an effective method to interface with federal agencies on issues of radar, air space use, microwave communication and navigational aids

Strategic Objective 3: Develop area-specific protocols and policies to address environmental and siting issues for small and large wind turbines

Action Plan:

A.   Develop a protocol on methods to conduct avian and bat studies in wind resource areas
B.   Educate local governments about the benefits of development of wind ordinances for large and small wind turbines
C.   Provide technical assistance to local governments for development of turbine siting ordinances
D.   Organize and conduct educational presentations to the AzWWG and other Arizona stakeholders addressing the environmental issues
E.   Assist the Arizona State Land Department to finalize state land leasing policy
F.   Advocate for wind-friendly provision in and consistency between federal (BLM, Forest Service), state and county land policies

Strategic Objective 4: Encourage evaluation and understanding of utility wind integration strategies

Action Plan:

A.   Disseminate NAU wind integration study and understanding of the findings
B.   Assist utilities in identification of technical issues for study including the level at which wind penetration starts to create operating issues
C.   Disseminate information from Arizona Power Authority wind integration study
D.   Evaluate the value of wind energy in a utility’s system (hedge, displacing higher or lower cost resources, capacity value)
E.   Work on increasing the wind industry’s understanding of the system requirement of the Arizona electric utilities
F.   Track developments in storage technology to determine if storage is feasible and cost effective in Arizona

Strategic Objective 5: Perform economic analysis on wind development in Arizona

Action Plan:

A.   Conduct an evaluation of the economic development benefits of in-state v. out-of state wind development
B.   Evaluate and quantify wind costs related to other energy resource options
C.   Identify source of funding of further research on economic issues
D.   Evaluate non-utility benefits of wind including jobs, economic development, multiplier effect of new revenues, water conservation, air quality, etc

Strategic Objective 6: Assist tribes with the development of wind resources on tribal lands

Action Plan:

A.   Prepare case studies and economics for tribes on benefits of wind
B.   Conduct a tribal education program for regulatory and policy tribal members and staff
C.   Conduct targeted outreach to tribes with wind energy resources (for either large or small wind energy systems)
D.   Provide education to tribal utility authorities as they form
E.   Provide education to tribal utility authorities as they form
F.   Identify existing forums that can be used to educate tribes
G.   Identiry policy ties between tribes and states (Arizona) including supporting ability for tribes to use the federal PTC
H.   Identify markets that can incent tribes to develop wind energy
I.   Work on identifying and mitigating disincentives to tribal wind energy development like double taxation and other policy issues
J.   Identify infrastructure on tribal lands that could be used for wind projects
K.   Provide a forum to introduce tribes with a good wind resource to developers and product manufactures

Strategic Objective 7: Identify political and policy barriers and incentives to encourgae wind development in Arizona

Action Plan:

A.   Work with interested organizations to understand local and state tax policy related to wind developed and possible incentives to make Arizona wind more competitive
B.   Work collaboratively with other renewable energy resources to build synergy and support for all renewable energy resources
C.   Develop a legislative strategy to pursue a state PTC for wind generation to be competitive with New Mexico
D.   Create a subcommittee to address and write up a feasible legislative agenda that will attract the wind industry to locate and develop in Arizona
E.   Develop a strategy to initiate an education campaign including a local champion and a toolbox of people information and support
F.   Develop an Arizona Blueprint, based on the strategic plan, that details action steps to implement integration of wind energy in Arizona
G.   Implement the Blueprint for Wind Integration

Strategic Objective 8: Support planning and development of transmission infrastructure to transport wind

Action Plan:

A.   Provide wind–related resource information to sub-regional planning groups for development of transmission plans
B.   Develop and update wind resource maps for use by planners, utilities and policy makers
C.   Engage in existing transmission planning processes to ensure wind-friendly policy is developed
D.   Participate in and provide information to the ACC’s Biennial Transmission Assessment process
E.   Add focus on school wind development and encourage that niche market to integrate wind energy into their energy plan

Strategic Objective 9: Increase knowledge of and support for wind development (large and small) statewide

Action Plan:

A.   Host two meetings of the Arizona Wind Working Group per year to present up-to-date information on wind development in Arizona, regionally and nationally
B.   Identify new strategic stakeholders and work to educate those stakeholders
C.   Provide information in policy forums to educate decision makers on Arizona’s wind resources and its development potential and wind technology
D.   Expand the amount of Arizona-specific wind information available on state�s wind working group website
E.   Participate in the Regional Wind Energy Institute to gain knowledge on wind issues regionally and nationally. Organize and conduct wind energy community (grass roots) information meetings especially in areas with high wind energy potential
F.   Coordinate with the organizations, (e.g., tribal governments, Arizona Department of Commerce, Energy Office, city and county organization and economic development agencies, etc.) to identify tribes, counties, and communities interested in promoting commercial wind power developments
G.   Sponsor and conduct wind power development conferences and symposiums with emphasis on benefits to rural economic communities and local and regional air quality
H.   Provide wind information at existing educational events to educate stakeholders such as the agricultural community and local governments on wind�s benefits
I.   Develop a general wind power consumer information package and other consumer information materials
J.   Provide a focused outreach effort to increase the level of awareness of policy makers about the benefits, challenges, and potential for wind energy development
K.   Work with state, county and local government to encourage the purchase of wind energy