Clean energy and cattle: Wind farm begins operation on historic Winslow ranch

WINSLOW — Just over 20 miles south of the small northern Arizona town of Winslow, past seemingly endless fields of grass sprinkled with grazing cattle, a row of massive wind turbines comes into view.

Nearly five dozen wind turbines stretched across the landscape are already up and running, and it is only the beginning for the Chevelon Butte wind farm from global energy company AES. Construction recently started on the project's second phase, which will add 48 more wind turbines and is expected to begin commercial operations in summer 2024.

Once fully complete, the 454-megawatt wind farm will generate enough clean energy to power 110,000 homes across the state with no operational emissions or water use. The 120m tall wind turbines are also equipped with a radar-activated lighting system to limit light pollution and preserve the expansive dark sky that blankets northern Arizona.

Visiting Winslow for the first time as governor to celebrate the project, Katie Hobbs said that Arizona's rural communities will be key to the state's transition to clean energy.

"With a long history of self-sufficiency and innovation, cities like Winslow are primed to lead the way to a green economy," Hobbs said.

"As I travel to every corner of the state, I see what so many people have ignored: The potential for growth and prosperity outside of Phoenix and Tucson is immense and as of now largely untapped," she said.

Wind farm joins forces with longtime locals

The wind farm's 105 turbines are uniquely located on one of the state's longest-running cattle ranches, owned and operated by the O'Haco family for more than a century.

"This project's co-location with the largest working cattle ranch in Arizona shows that our traditional industries can coexist, and in fact thrive, with emerging industries," Hobbs said.

Crucially, the nearly 60,000-acre O'Haco cattle ranch will remain active with the new wind farm on site, just as it has been since before Arizona was a state.

Jim O'Haco's grandfather came through Ellis Island at just 14 years old in 1898 and soon made his way to Arizona to help an uncle raise sheep.

After working for a few years, he was able to save enough money to buy his own sheep, and the O'Haco Sheep Company was born. By the end of World War II, he had become one of the biggest sheepherders in the state, O'Haco said.

A generation later, the ranch transitioned to a cow-calf operation, raising mostly Black Angus and Black Baldy cattle now known as the Jim O'Haco Cattle Company.

O'Haco was initially skeptical about the wind farm taking over areas of land that have been connected to his family for more than a century, but project developers presented a design that would have little impact on ranch operations.

"One of the main pitches was that we can engineer and build this project in a way that's compatible with their long-standing existing land uses, which is cattle ranching," said Terrance Unrein, senior director of Western Wind Development at AES.

O'Haco ultimately agreed to the project after ensuring that it would have limited environmental impacts.

The project developers worked closely with the O'Haco family, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to minimize the ecological impact throughout the wind farm's construction and operation, including identifying and avoiding sensitive or vulnerable areas, Unrein said.

Any land disturbed during construction has been re-seeded with native plants. Sprawling water lines throughout the property have been maintained, and cattle are free to roam directly up to the base of the turbines, said Luke McCandless, Wind Regional Site operations manager with AES.

The project will also provide a new level of financial security for future generations of the family, O'Haco said, who in the past has not always had a reliable income from the ranch.

"The livestock business is a tough business," O'Haco said. "This'll make life a lot easier."

Winslow already feeling economic benefits

While the wind farm only recently started operation, the local economy is already feeling a boost from the project.

The wind farm has brought nearly 300 jobs to the area during peak construction for both phases, which has brought much-needed business to the city of around 9,000 people.

The crews working on the project have frequented the hotels, restaurants and other businesses since they came to town, which in turn supports the local schools and hospitals through the sales tax, said Berry Larson, president of the Winslow Chamber of Commerce.

"It's vital for us because we're such a small town, and it's a poor town," Larson said.

Winslow residents have a median household income of $41,926, with more than 25% of residents in poverty, according to the most recent census data.

Locally, the wind farm is expected to generate $18 million in local property tax payments to both Coconino and Navajo counties over the life of the project. AES’ total capital investment is $680 million into the project, which will contribute $267 million in total investments to the state's economy.

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AES also donated to programs in the community, including $30,000 to Willow Bend Education Center for STEM education and $2,000 to the Winslow library.

Statewide, the project has also included more than $10 million paid to the Arizona State Land Department Trust, which directly goes to support public schools and colleges.

"Our slogan is 'A City in Motion,'" Larson said. "Before, that was all about trains, but look at us now — we are the gateway to the largest wind farm in Arizona, and that is a city in motion," she said, tracing a circle in the air to mimic the spinning turbines that could eventually become synonymous with the small city.

Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.

The Republic’s coverage of northern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. To support regional Arizona news coverage like this, make a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Clean energy and cattle: Wind farm operates on historic Winslow ranch