Leeward Renewable Energy finishes construction, repowering of Aragonne wind projects

The Arizona Public Service Company will soon benefit from new sources of reliable energy that will last for at least 20 years, as last week Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC concluded construction on the Aragonne Mesa Wind project and repowering of the Aragonne Wind project.

Between them, the two projects will provide 200 MW of wind power generation, along with the capacity to generate up to 235 MW of renewable energy. Though flowing from Guadalupe County, New Mexico, the energy generated from the collective 86 turbines involved will benefit customers in Arizona.

“Adding more renewable energy to our resource mix is integral to APS’s Clean Energy Commitment. We are striving to serve customers with 100 percent clean and carbon-free power by 2050 and partnerships like this to strengthen our already diverse portfolio are key to achieving that goal and securing a brighter future for Arizona,” said Justin Joiner, APS vice president of Resource Management.

Notably, the new projects generate more power while using less land. Compared to the legacy Aragonne Wind project, they utilize 60 percent less space while generating three times the power, all while reusing or recycling the turbines from their decommissioned forebear.

“This announcement is an important milestone for Leeward as it showcases our ability to deliver high value renewable energy facilities through innovation, long-term trusted relationships, and by positively impacting the communities we serve,” Leeward Chief Development Officer Andrew Flanagan said. “We are pleased to be extending our long-standing partnership with APS and the trusted relationships we have built with Guadalupe County community for another 20 years.”