Planned wind tower for San Luis may need a power boost
By Cesar Neyoy, Bajo El Sol
Dec 26, 2016
SAN LUIS, Ariz. – A proposed wind tower that would generate electricity might need to be supplemented by a gas-powered plant, says the head of the Maryland firm that wants to build the tower here.
Solar Wind Energy Tower is searching for a solution to "the challenge of having a greater base load capacity" in the plant, ensuring sale prices the company would need to meet peak demand from potential customers for the electricity, said Ronald Pickett, president of SWET.
SWET is looking at the option of building the additional plant at the site of the tower in east San Luis in order to generate additional power needed in high demand periods, he said.
"Last year we got the permit to include that plant, and for the past four months we have experimented with alternative methods to increase the base load capacity," Pickett said. "We think it will work, but we can't finish the engineering until we know what the project design will be."
Last year SWET also received a preliminary commitment for financing of the estimated $1.5 billion project, Pickett said, but finalizing the deal requires the Maryland-based firm to have the necessary construction permits. But getting the permits depends on the engineering and the design being wrapped up.
The new complications have held construction on what is envisioned as a more than 2,000-foot-tall tower on a 640-acre parcel located south of County 24th Street and west of Avenue C.
The electricity-generating concept calls for city water to be pumped up to the top of tower, where it would be sprayed as a fine mist to cool hot air. The air would then fall through the tower's shaft in a powerful downdraft, driving turbines that would generate electricity for sale by the company.
A 2014 development agreement with the city of San Luis gave SWET and its Arizona subsidiary, Arizona Green Power, LLC, until September 2017 to begin construction. But with that deadline approaching, the company sought and received from the city council a new agreement that pushes back the required construction date to three years from now. The new agreement gives the city the option of giving a two-year extension on the new deadline.
"The city's cooperation has been a key component" of the project, Pickett said in an interview. "It's technically possible, if everything advances rapidly, to begin construction at the end of next year, but we still don't know. It depends of the finalization of financing."
SWET has pursued the project amid skepticism about its feasibility, but Pickett insists the wind tower is technologically practical.
"What you see on the social media oftentimes is ridiculous," he said. "There are a lot of people that are against everything, but not one person has challenged the project on scientific grounds."
You can lead a horse to water. But you can't make him get down on one knee and do an Al Jolson impression!
