SPECIAL REPORT: Wind Power In The Borderland

Nestled below Cookes Peak where the cattle graze and the skies soar, technology now towers over the brush in the form of 18 brand new wind turbines.

Some are assembled; some are still in pieces.

When complete in July, the $100 million-plus Macho Springs Wind Farm will be run by global energy company Element Power.

Senior Project Manager John Knight told ABC-7 the turbines will generate about 50 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 20,000 homes.

Knight said the farm will also offset the release of 25,000 tons of carbon monoxide each year.

“Obviously, this is taking carbon emissions out of the atmosphere,” Knight said. “It’s a good thing.”

Another “good thing” has been the project’s economic impact on Deming, N.M., about 25 miles away.

Knight said the construction site has 50 to 150 workers present at any given time, many of them locals.

DJ Nelson, manager of the Deming Holiday Inn told ABC-7 the out-of-town workers have also been good for business in the small town.

“It’s nice to see it,” she said. “They are eating in our restaurants and, of course, staying at the hotels.”

So once complete, where will Macho Springs’ energy go?

Nowhere near the Borderland.

Though the farm will use El Paso Electric’s transmission lines, the power is actually headed to Tucson, according to Knight.

El Paso Electric has its own Hueco Mountain Wind Ranch in Hudspeth County. It has two smaller turbines that generate about 1.3 megawatts.

An El Paso Electric spokeswoman told ABC-7 wind farms aren’t really ideal in this part of the country.

Knight admitted turbines do work best with a steady breeze of 10 to 15 mph versus extreme gusts normal to the area.

Gusts over 50 mph actually cause the turbines to shut down to avoid damage.

But Knight said the Macho Springs location is some what different.

“This is a resource that’s producing power during the day which is pretty unique for this part of the country,” he said.

“So the wind really starts to pick up around noon, 1 o’clock when everyone’s starting to turn on their air conditioning and it’s really peaking at about 5 or 6 o’clock when everyone’s starting to cook dinner, getting home or watching TV.”

Knight said that’s what made Macho Springs so attractive to Tucson Power. He added Element Power is hoping to get moving on a second phase with more turbines.

ABC-7 asked El Paso Electric if it would be will to buy electricity from any potential Macho Springs expansion.

A company spokeswoman said any company wishing to sell power to the utility must first submit a request for proposal, which Element Power has done.