Frequently Asked Questions

Desert Vine Wind is a 175 MW wind energy project located approximately 6 miles northwest of Willcox in Cochise County, AZ. The project will interconnect onto AEPCO’s network to help power the local region. Respsol Renewables North America currently anticipates needing up to 39 turbines for the project; however, the final number will depend on the size of the turbines ultimately chosen for the project.

The Desert Vine Wind Project has been under consideration by Repsol Renewables North America since 2020 and is still early in the project development phase. Since then, the developer has been diligently studying the environmental resources within the area, collecting wind data from three separate data collection devices, and having preliminary discussions with potential landowners and members of the community.

The Desert Vine Wind Project will provide numerous benefits to all of Cochise County. Desert Vine Wind represents a total capital investment of up to $350 million, which will result in a significant increase in the County’s taxable property base. The project will benefit the County by generating approximately $11.6 million in new property tax revenues while also creating jobs and increasing demand for local businesses.

During construction, the Desert Vine Wind Project will contribute more than $200,000 in sales tax revenue to Cochise County while supporting up to 190 construction jobs during peak construction. These construction workers will drive local economic development through increased demand for supply chain businesses, hospitality services, equipment rentals, and other local businesses. Once operational, the project will generate up to 6 permanent jobs, which provide well-paying opportunities for families to work and remain in the communities surrounding the project.

The Desert Vine Wind Project will be located entirely on State-owned land currently managed for cattle grazing. The area of study shown on the project map will be shrink-wrapped around the project design; it is anticipated that project infrastructure will occupy a few hundred acres, or approximately 1% of the area shown. Given the minimal footprint associated with wind energy projects, grazing is a compatible land use that may continue throughout project operations. The temporary disturbance areas will be restored after construction, and the permanent areas will be restored at the end of the project’s operational life of approximately 35 years.

Yes. Wind energy is a low-cost resource that is competitive with conventional energy sources.¹ The cost of wind energy has declined by 40% over the last decade,² and with improved technology and U.S.-based manufacturing, wind energy is “cost competitive with other energy sources and the cheapest source of new electricity in many most markets.”³

No. Many studies have shown that wind projects do not have long-term negative impacts on the value of neighboring properties. Wind projects benefit all local property owners by driving economic investment and tax revenue. These funds improve roads, schools, and community services, while also keeping local taxes low – all which factor into property values.

• A 2022 peer-reviewed study found that beginning with the construction phase, wind energy projects led to economically meaningful increases in median home values, household income, and both county-level income and GDP per capita.⁴

• A 2019 analysis of property value research by researchers at the University of California, Davis found that wind turbines do not negatively impact property values at any point during their installation, including post announcement, during construction, and post construction.
• A 2019 study of attitudes towards wind turbine neighbors conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that 92 percent of people living within five miles of a wind turbine reported positive or neutral experiences.⁵
• A 2013 study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found no significant impact on the property values of the 50,000 homes researchers analyzed near 67 different wind facilities.⁶

The wind industry is a driver of meaningful economic development, particularly in rural areas. Wind energy projects across the U.S. deliver an estimated $2 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments each year. The industry employs nearly 126,000 Americans across all 50 states, including 24,000 wind manufacturing jobs at over 450 facilities.⁷

Only approximately 1% of a wind project area is occupied by project infrastructure, leaving the remaining 99% available for current land use during project operations. For the safety of all parties, the few areas that may be fenced include the the project substations and the on-site operations and maintenance building.

Yes. Today, more than 90% of a wind turbine is recyclable, and the industry has made great strides towards recycling options for the fiberglass blades as well, which will continue to increase the percentage of recyclable material.⁸

The project will be designed and constructed to have an expected minimum useful life of 35 years.

Repsol Renewables North America is responsible for the decommissioning and removal of project infrastructure at the end of each project’s life. During the Special Use Permit process, Cochise County requires a Decommissioning & Restoration Plan be put in place, outlining the various ways in which the project owner will safely and responsibly remove installed equipment and restore the property within the project area. In addition, financial assurance equal to the decommissioning and site restoration costs – as determined by an independent engineer – will be required prior to construction to ensure Cochise County bears no financial responsibility for decommissioning or restoration. The financial assurance will be updated at least every five years to ensure an accurate estimation of costs, adjusted for inflation.