The Threats & The Record

Advocacy & Policy

We are fighting two interconnected industrial energy projects and advocating for state-level policy changes to protect the White Mountains. Get the facts on Lava Run, Black Ridge, and our legislative agenda.

Industrial Wind & Solar

The Lava Run Project

Proposed by the Spanish multinational corporation Repsol Renewables, the Lava Run project threatens to transform one of Arizona's last intact mountain landscapes into a sprawling industrial zone.

With wind turbines towering over 500 feet tall, the project introduces severe risks to aerial firefighting corridors, long-term aquifer stability, and property values along the US-60 corridor near Springerville.

  • Developer Repsol Renewables
  • Location US-60, near Springerville
  • Scale 112+ Turbines
  • Output 500MW Wind + 450MW Solar
  • Turbine Height 500+ Feet
Transmission Sprawl

Black Ridge Project

Managed by Triple Oak Power and backed by New Jersey-based private equity firm ECP, the Black Ridge project is the infrastructure backbone designed to carry industrial power out of the White Mountains.

The proposed transmission route runs from Vernon to the Springerville Substation. The developer is actively attempting to establish a local foothold and has already purchased equipment for the St. Johns fire district—a move SAWM is monitoring closely regarding fire chief alignments.

  • Developer Triple Oak Power / ECP
  • Type Transmission Infrastructure
  • Route Vernon to Springerville Substation
  • Backing Private Equity (NJ)
Downloadable Record

Official Project Resources

Arm yourself with technical data gathered from company websites, official meeting minutes, and local records.

Black Ridge Overview

Technical specs including the 1,150MW capacity and the 32 miles of new connector lines.

View Project PDF
Review Flow Chart

Step-by-step guide to the Apache County review process and the 15-day appeal windows.

View Flow Chart
Community Info Brief

Essential facts on chemical contamination (BPA), health risks, and foreign ownership.

View Info Brief
Deep Dive Research

Environmental & Health Risks

Select a category below to explore technical data, peer-reviewed research, and official briefs regarding industrial development.

Human Health Impacts +

Sleep & Stress Disorders

Peer-reviewed research documents chronic sleep disruption and noise-induced stress. The Ontario tribunal ruled that this progression constitutes "serious harm" to human health.

Infrasound & Vibration

At 700+ feet, land-based turbines of this magnitude create low-frequency noise. There are currently zero long-term health studies for turbines of this height near homes.

Water Security & Contamination +

BPA & Microplastics

Turbine blades shed approximately 137 lbs of Bisphenol A (BPA)-laden microplastics per year. These endocrine disruptors can enter local washes and groundwater.

Aquifer Stability

Massive foundations require deep excavation and potential blasting, introducing high risks to fragile well-water systems and underground aquifers.

Local Weather & Fire Risks +

Nighttime Warming

NASA satellite data and the AWAKEN campaign confirm wind farms can warm nighttime ground temperatures and alter local boundary layers.

Firefighting Obstruction

700-foot towers and new connectors create physical "no-fly" zones, jeopardizing aerial wildfire response in high-risk forest corridors.

Civic Calendar

Upcoming Decision Meetings

Click any card below to view the official meeting calendar and agendas for these governing bodies.

Active Legal Challenge: ACC Remand Docket +
Active Arizona Corporation Commission Docket: Case No. L-21365A-25-0198

This docket is currently open and active. We are actively organizing credentialed experts in hydrogeology, fire operations, and fiscal analysis to submit formal testimony into this record. Every submission placed under this docket number becomes part of the permanent legal foundation required to successfully challenge the Conditional Use Permits (CUP).

Access the ACC Toolkit