APS and WND to Build Arizona's First Commercial Wind Power Plant

APS, Arizona's largest electric utility, is partnering with Western Wind Energy Corp. (WND) to build Arizona's first commercial wind power plant. The Eastern Arizona Wind Energy Center will be located atop a mesa approximately 800 feet higher than the surrounding land.

Located near the New Mexico border in east-central Arizona, the wind farm will consist of 10 1.5-megawatt wind turbines for a total generating capacity of 15 megawatts. APS expects construction to begin in September, with the plant operational by year's end.

APS is pursuing wind power in part to meet the requirements of Arizona's Environmental Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to generate 1.1 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2007.

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