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Residents urge Navajo County supervisors to pause utility-scale wind and solar projects, raise conflict and water-use concerns
Summary
Multiple residents told the board they fear large wind and solar projects will strain groundwater, harm ranching and rural life and benefit outside investors; speakers requested an immediate moratorium, rescission of recent resolutions and an investigation into a dissolved nonprofit, Real AZ.
Several residents pressed the Navajo County Board of Supervisors to halt approvals for large wind, solar and battery storage projects until independent water, soil and environmental studies are complete.
Linden resident Liz Olmstead told the board she and petition signers allege that “the Real AZ Economic Development Group, Inc., dissolved on 10/17/2024, is illegally continuing to operate as a de facto county economic development office by using county staff, facilities, the county seal, and public resources.” Olmstead asked the board to place the petition on the next regular agenda and to adopt strict requirements for future renewable projects, including two-mile setbacks from residents, signed power purchase agreements, third-party groundwater studies, baseline soil testing, decommissioning bonds and site-restoration guarantees.
Donna Wozcheck of Pinetop cited state law and urged supervisors to use statutory authority to require protective terms in development agreements. “The statute gives Navajo County the discretion to negotiate strong protections to guard citizens within development agreements,” Wozcheck said, urging the board to consider Arizona Revised Statute provisions she provided.
Other speakers described local water and land impacts. Joseph City resident Andrew Bushman said long-standing irrigation limits constrain local farms while new large projects consume substantial water. Cattle rancher Casey Murph called a proposed utility-scale solar installation on state grazing lands “personally devastating,” saying it could eliminate the land he needs to run his operation and his retirement. Robert Black, who said he gathered more than 500 signatures in under a week, reported apparent oily residue on cattle drinkers near Holbrook and promised ongoing public pressure if the board does not act.
Speakers asked the board to rescind recent county resolutions they said fast-tracked renewable approvals, to sever any ties with the dissolved Real AZ organization, and to open an independent investigation into alleged conflicts of interest and post-dissolution activities.
The speakers’ requests were made during the public-comment period; the board did not take formal action on the requests during the meeting. Supervisors and staff acknowledged the concerns and noted related items would be on future agendas for further discussion.
What happens next: Petitioners asked the board to place their petition on the next regular agenda for public hearing and vote. The board noted related agenda items will return in future meetings.
