Grapevine Canyon Wind Project

Foresight Flying M, LLC,  proposes to construct a wind energy generation project up to 500 megawatts. The project would be located on privately owned ranch lands and trust lands administered by the Arizona State Land Department. The project location is approximately 22 miles southeast of Flagstaff and about 18 miles south of the I-40 Twin Arrows interchange. To support delivery of the power generated by the project, Foresight proposes to build a new transmission tie-line to interconnect with Western’s existing Glen Canyon-Pinnacle Peak transmission line. The transmission tie-line would cross lands administered by Coconino National Forest. The project area would be accessed by the existing F.S. 126 road, south of the Twin Arrows I-40 exit.

Foresight has applied to interconnect the proposed project to Western's power transmission system. Western will prepare an environmental impact statement to address the proposed interconnection and any necessary modifications to Western facilities to accommodate the interconnection. The EIS will also review the potential environmental impacts of constructing, operating and maintaining Foresight's wind generation facility and associated facilities. The U.S. Forest Service will be a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS.

Scoping meetings scheduled
Western will host open-house public scoping meetings August 10 and 11, 2009 to share information about the proposed Grapevine Canyon Wind Project.  The informal meetings will provide the public and interested parties with the opportunity to learn about the environmental impact statement process, meet one-on-one with project team members, ask questions and make comments. Meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.

Monday, August 10 - Mormon Lake, AZ. Mormon Lake Fire Station, 43 Mormon Lake Road  (Meeting location map) (75 kb pdf)

Tuesday, August 11 - Flagstaff, AZ. NACET Conference Room, 2225 N. Gemini Drive  (Meeting location map) (193 kb pdf)

We need your ideas by August 28
Your comments will help Western define issues and alternatives for evaluation of the environmental impacts of the proposed project. Comments can be provided in person at the public meetings; by mail, e-mail or phone via the contact information below; or online.  To ensure consideration as we develop the EIS, Western should receive your comments by August 28, 2009.

Project Updates

Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (55 kb pdf)
Project area map (173 kb pdf)
Project area land ownership map (311 kb pdf)
Scoping comment form (90 kb pdf)
Scoping meeting announcement (75 kb pdf)
Scoping meeting news release
Online comment form

Contact information

Mary Barger
Western Area Power Administration
Mail: P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ. 85005
Telephone: 602-605-2524
Fax: 602-605-2630
E-mail: GrapevineWindEIS@wapa.gov

Links

Foresight's Grapevine Canyon Wind Project Web site