Arizona Public Service Company (APS) has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Leeward to purchase wind power from Leeward’s two Aragon wind plants.

The PPA was the outcome of a Wind Request for Proposal in September 2019. This PPA allows Leeward to sell 200 megawatts of wind power to APS over a period of 20 years through the regeneration of Leeward’s current 90-megawatt Aragonne wind project and the development of its 145-megawatt Aragonne Mesa wind project.

Both facilities are located in Guadalupe County, New Mexico.

This agreement will allow APS customers to power their homes and businesses with clean energy.

Earlier this year, APS revealed a bold promise to provide 100% renewable, carbon-free energy to consumers by 2050. By the end of2021, APS will use Leeward Renewable Energy (Leewardadvanced)’s GE wind turbine technology to help meet Arizona’s increasing energy needs.

Leeward and APS have a long-standing partnership. APS first purchased electricity from the legacy 90-megawatt Aragonne wind farm in 2006 when the plant began commercial operation.

The regeneration of this existing project, combined with the new generation of wind, is in line with APS’s efforts to advance Arizona’s clean energy future by introducing new renewable resources to its energy mix and bringing direct cost-saving benefits to consumers through energy efficiency products and smart home energy programs.

“Renewable energy resources like this wind power are important to a diverse and increasingly clean energy mix for Arizona. By working with supplier partners like Leeward, APS is advancing toward our target of having 45% of our generation portfolio in renewable energy by 2030 on the path to 100% clean energy by 2050. We are moving toward that future while continuing our focus on serving customers with reliable, affordable energy.”

Brad Albert, APS vice president of resource management. 

This project would modernize Leeward’s existing wind assets and add substantial generation capacity to its renewable energy complex in Guadalupe County, New Mexico. Together the two companies will use wind power as a renewable energy option for APS customers in Arizona.

“Leeward is pleased to partner with APS on an innovative project that will repower one of our legacy wind assets and also enable the construction of a new wind facility, bringing economic benefits to the local community. We look forward to working alongside the APS team as we continue to actively develop new wind, solar and energy storage projects across the U.S.”

Andrew Flanagan, CDO at Leeward.