This New England

All those interested in the Kennedys' opposition to Cape Wind might want to look at the following Web site and press release:

See http://www.fourcornersfreepress.com/news/2008/120804.htm

And:

-- For Immediate Release --
January 13, 2009 cameron@navajochapters.org
CONTACT: Rayola J. Werito, Community Services Coordinator 928-606-0684 rjwerito@yahoo.com
INTERVIEW CONTACT: Ed Singer, President, Cameron Chapter 928-856-0334
Attachment: Letter to Joseph P. Kennedy from Cameron President, Ed Singer

Navajo Community Demands Joe Kennedy II Stop Interfering with Wind Farm
The Cameron Chapter of the Navajo Nation, Cameron A.Z., is actively developing a wind project on Gray Mountain, a site located in their community. International Piping Products (IPP) and Sempra Energy are the energy development companies that have been working with the Cameron Chapter for several years on the Navajo Wind Project at Gray Mountain.

The community selected IPP and Sempra to conduct a wind feasibility study and, if feasible, to develop the wind project. The community based initiative has made substantial progress on all aspects of development and determined that a wind project should be feasible at the site.

Since June 2008, Citizens Energy Corporation, led by CEO Joseph P. Kennedy II, and the Diné Power Authority have been actively interfering in Cameron's community based initiative, attempting to take away control of the project from Cameron. Kennedy's actions have obstructed project development, delaying the much-needed income and jobs that this project will create for the Cameron Chapter and the Navajo Nation.

He visited the Cameron Chapter for the first time on December 11, 2008 to present the Citizen's Energy proposal to develop a wind project on Gray Mountain. The community once again turned down his proposal.

Subsequently, on December 16th, Kennedy wrote a letter to then in-coming president of the Cameron Chapter, Ed Singer. President Singer's response to Mr. Kennedy's letter is attached.
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--MORE--

1. Related news link: A struggle over wind power in the Navajo Nation
http://www.fourcornersfreepress.com/news/2008/120804.htm

2. EXCERPTS FROM PROJECT STATUS, DECEMBER 2008.
Full report available upon request. Contact Rayola J. Werito: rjwerito@yahoo.com

• Navajo Wind is a proposed wind project of up to 500 MW under development on Gray Mountain in the Cameron Chapter of the Navajo Nation. IPP and Sempra have been working with the Cameron Chapter since 2007
• The Cameron Chapter is located on the western border of the Navajo Nation and has a population of approximately 1,500 people. Cameron has passed a number of Resolutions in support of the project, IPP, and Sempra. Cameron Council Delegates Jack Colorado, Evelyn Acothley, and President-Elect Ed Singer [President, January 6, 2009 innauguration] are actively working to promote development of the project.
• IPP is an early stage wind developer focused specifically on Native American lands. IPP is a Qualified Native American Contractor led by Bruce McAlvain, a Native American.
• Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 $11 billion revenue energy company based in San Diego, California. Sempra builds, owns, and operates large-scale energy projects and owns over 2,500 MW of operating power plants in the southwestern U.S. Sempra has developed over $5 billion of projects over the last 5 years and has the financial resources to self finance projects. Sempra intends to build, own, and operate the Navajo Wind Project. Former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah has joined Sempra as a cultural advisor on the project.
• In July 2008, IPP and Sempra installed an additional 5 met towers on-site to supplement the existing NTUA met tower on Gray Mountain. Based on his review of the actual wind data to date, meteorologist Jack Kline of RAM Associates, has confirmed that a project should be commercially feasible. In addition, a FirstLook meso-atmospheric analysis estimated wind speeds at the site between 7.2 to 7.7 meters per second resulting in a net capacity factor between 30% and 33%.
• In November 2007, IPP and Sempra submitted an interconnection request for the Moenkopi substation to APS. Preliminary results of the System Impact Study indicate 650 MW of available transmission capacity ... [could] deliver energy to California, Arizona, and Nevada.
• Along with the installation of new met towers, community development projects include revitalization of stock tanks on Gray Mountain; relocation of a water distribution line; water and wood deliveries; road improvements at the Cameron Chapter which employes 20 local Navajo. A project office was opened adjacent to the Cameron Chapter House (Oct 08) along with a 1 kW solar array and 2 kW wind turbine. IPP and Sempra have funded internet access for the Cameron School, the Navajo Nation Rodeo, and the Division of Natural Resources Conference.
• IPP and Sempra have been working with the Cameron Chapter since 2007 and are ready to enter a land lease with the Navajo Nation and commit the development resources and funds necessary to bring the project in-service by 2012.
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 Tags  Ariz. Cameron Joseph P. Kennedy II Navajo Navajo Wind Project Piping Products Sempra Energy

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