Babbitt Ranch Energy Center collaboration celebrated in remote grasslands.
As crisp white wind turbine blades rotated gently against a clear blue Northern Arizona sky, more than 100 people, representatives from Salt River Project, NextEra Energy Resources, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Coconino County and Babbitt Ranches, along with dignitaries, business owners, consultants and scientists, gathered to celebrate the completion of Arizona’s newest wind energy center and the meaning behind the steel.
“When I consider the future of renewable energy and what it means for our communities, I see this truth more clearly than ever,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco. “Each of us brings a unique part to the table – our skills, our expertise, our willingness to make tough decisions. And while those contributions are important on their own, together they create something greater – a future where we not only generate energy, but also foster hope, resilience and a connection to the land and each other.”
Cordasco recounted his recent ultramarathon journey, in which he power walked for more than 16 hours across the 60 miles of the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center, passing each of the 50 turbines that together will generate 161 megawatts of electricity and reflecting “on the contribution, effort and dedication” of all those involved.
“With every tower I passed, I felt a growing light, a sense of admiration and gratitude for the collective spirit that made this renewable energy project possible,” he said. “I carried with me, not just my physical endurance, but the realization that each part of this journey, each person involved, mattered in a way that created something far more significant than just the sum of their efforts. I saw a promise for the future – a symbol of what we can accomplish together.”
Coconino County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman noted the county’s guiding principles including conservation, sustainability and the advancement of stable, safe and attractive rural communities and called the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center “exactly the kind of project and results that Coconino County contemplated” when creating its Renewable Energy Ordinance.
“Coconino County made a commitment for the promotion and development of reliable clean energy as the county sees this as critical to the health, safety and welfare of our residents, all while also promoting economic opportunities,” she said. “One of the early voices in the building of the Renewable Energy Ordinance was Billy Cordasco. His leadership reflected generations of experience, his land ethics and his passion for the wildlife that have long inhabited this vast country.”
SRP Senior Director of Resource Management Angie Bond-Simpson said the utility has big goals and a mission to serve its customers with reliable, affordable and sustainable water and power for generations to come.
“We want to go net zero by 2050, have an 82% reduction in our carbon emissions by 2035 and do that in a reliable, an affordable and a very mindful way for the communities that are supporting this infrastructure.”
She added that SRP cannot achieve these goals alone and that the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center is not just a collection of 50 different turbines. “It’s actually a symbol and a recognition of hope, of progress and the strength of collaborations because all of us are working together on a shared vision to strive and thrive for Arizona for generations to come.”
Amber Trudeau, Arizona State Land Department acting manager of the right-of-way section, said every inch of the project on state trust land generates revenue. “Over the next 30 years, the revenue received from this operation and then transferred to the K-12 public schools is forecast at nearly $10 million. It was amazing to observe how much intentional thought was put into every aspect of this endeavor by fostering open collaboration and honest communication between all of the entities involved.”
NextEra Energy Resources Executive Director of Development J.D. Rulien thanked everyone involved on the project and praised Babbitt Ranches for its leadership. “You have been visionary as to how this land can continue to provide value to all Arizonans, including the wildlife that were here long before us. What we’ve learned most from the Babbitts and Billy is the importance of working together so we can collectively rise to the occasion, this modern-day energy revolution, and continue to build assets like this that bring value for decades to come. Thank you for teaching this $160 billion company the North Star.”
“As I finished my journey, a bit weary but meaningfully fulfilled,” shared Cordasco about his ultramarathon, “I thought about how we – as individuals, landowners, public officials, agencies, developers, utility companies and the broader community – how we are all on this journey together. Just as I relied on each step to carry me forward, our shared efforts will carry us forward, putting ourselves and everything we have toward a cleaner, more sustainable world. FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Courtesy Photo: Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco reflected on his recent ultramarathon through Babbitt Ranch Energy Center, passing each of the 50 turbines across 60 miles. “It struck me, under the vast night sky, that the strength of this project lies not in the steel of the turbines, but in the trust and optimism that brought it to life.”