 FAQ: ABOUT SUNSHINE
How much green electricity will Sunshine Wind Park produce and where will it go?
On average, Sunshine Wind will produce an amount of electricity equal to approximately 14,000 homes.
The electricity generated by Sunshine Wind Park will enter the regional transmission grid between Flagstaff and Winslow.
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What was required for the Sunshine Wind project to be approved?
Foresight has secured a Conditional Use Permit from Coconino County for Sunshine Wind Park. The permitting process included extensive scientific, engineering and economic studies, These studies show that:
- Sunshine Wind will provide significant environmental benefits.
- Sunshine Wind will supply a substantial, meaningful amount of clean energy.
- This is an appropriate location to site a wind project
- This is a low-impact project that will not pose a significant hazard to birds or other animals, or the ecosystem of the Colorado Plateau.
- Sunshine Wind will help, not hurt, the local economy.
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Why was this location chosen for the Sunshine project?
The project location offers a unique combination of characteristics. This location offers:
- Class 3 wind resources as confirmed by nearly 4 years of on-site wind data
- Low-cost interconnect to a 69 kilovolt APS transmission line
- Flat, desert scrub landscape conducive to wind park siting
- Opportunities for mixed land use - grazing, agriculture and wind energy
- Opportunities for wind park participation by land owners
- Minimal impacts to plant, animal and avian species as indicated by preliminary assessments.
- The area has been used primarily for grazing activities, is disturbed by the I-40 corridor and existing telecommunications towers, and has a low population density.
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What organizations and other entities have expressed support for the Sunshine project?
- Coconino County Board of Supervisors
- Coconino County Planning & Zoning Commission
- William Mundell, Arizona Corporation Commission
- The Hopi Tribe
- City of Winslow
- Greater Flagstaff Economic Council
- Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
- Diablo Trust
- Grand Canyon Trust
- Sierra Club
- Friends of Flagstaff's Future
- Northern Arizona Builders Association
- Northern Arizona University Engineering Faculty
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What lighting will be required on the wind turbines?
Sunshine Wind Park will be in conformance with Federal Aviation requirements for minimal wind park lighting.
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What is the significance of government subsidies to Sunshine Wind?
The US congress provides federal Production Tax Credit for wind power to encourage private sector investment in the development of clean, non-polluting renewable energy. The Sunshine Wind Park may utilize this or other incentives.
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Will Sunshine affect tourism in the area?
Recent experience and empirical studies of wind farms in the US and Europe demonstrate that modern wind farms positively affect tourism. New technology is often a tourist attraction. The Bonneville Dam, for example, still attracts visitors after a half a century of operation. The Sunshine Wind Park along the I-40 will be an example of the region's commitment to clean renewable energy and sustainable development.
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