INSIDE THE FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE: Student Nurses Helping to Meet Healthcare Demand p. 3
Honoring Babbitt Family’s Pioneering History p. 10
Smart Homes Reducing Costs, Emissions p. 4
Community Profile: Steve Ayers Looks to Camp Verde’s Future p. 12
Life Coach Guides People Through Transitions p. 6
Prescott Police Recruiting a Comfort Dog p. 26
Delivering Power from Arizona’s Largest Wind Farm SRP joins NextEra and Babbitt Ranches with renewable energy production in 2023 By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN
S
alt River Project is contracting with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources to purchase wind power from the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center, a 161-megawatt (MW) wind resource to be built on
the CO Bar Ranch about 25 miles north of Flagstaff. With some 53 wind turbines across 669 acres, the project is scheduled to begin delivering clean energy on to SRP’s power grid by December 2023, producing enough power to support about 40,000 residential homes and
moving the utility company closer to its short- and long-term carbon-free goals. “We will have nearly 50% of our power coming from zero-carbon resources by 2025,” said SRP Spokesperson Erica Sturwold. The utility has stated its commitment to cutting its carbon fuel production from 2005 levels by 65% by 2035 and by 90% by 2050.
“Wind power from this project will bring more diversity to our resource mix, which is growing rapidly in clean energy generation,” said SRP Chief Strategy, Corporate Services and Sustainability Executive Kelly Barr. “Furthermore, utility-scale wind power is a great complement to solar power generation, as wind often blows at times when the sun is not shining.” Continued on page 40
Flower Business in Full Bloom Florists striving to meet demand with limited supplies and labor By Stan Bindell, QCBN
floral designers,” she said. Although roses remain the most popular flower for hose ordering flowers for their loved ones for Valen- Valentine’s Day, Chinery strives tine’s Day likely are asking to have a mix of the freshest flowers. “We try to use flowers for colors rather than specific from the small farms when we flowers this year because, like can in the spring and summer. many businesses, flower shops are having trouble getting prod- The majority of our flowers come from South America.” ucts and supplies. During the pandemic, busiRakini Chinery, owner of Allan’s Flowers in Prescott, says ness has been strong for florists. “People couldn’t travel to see flowers are more limited now loved ones, so they would send than in the past and suggests them flowers to let them know customers look at the website they were thinking of them,” before ordering to see what’s available. For sweethearts plan- said Chinery. The average order for ning for Valentine’s Day gifts, the rule is to order flowers soon- Valentine’s Day, Chinery said, is $120. Some orders go as high er rather than later with supply as $260. However, flowers can and workforce shortages. be purchased for as low as $20, “It’s difficult to find and hire
T
Rakini Chinery, owner of Allan’s Flowers in Prescott, says flowers create beauty and happiness. “I enjoy the emotional connections,” she says. Photo by Kay Lyons
February 2022 | Issue 2 Volume 10
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as Allan’s Flowers tries to work with all budgets. “We have a wide variety and we don’t like to turn anybody away.” Chinery started working at the flower shop in 1989 and bought the business in 1999. Allan’s Flowers first opened in 1914. Echoing Chinery’s advice about ordering early is Kelly Tulloss, co-owner of Sutcliffe Floral in Flagstaff. She says her customers love a Designer’s Choice Wildflower Bouquet, which usually includes sunflowers and blue delphinium, but notes a worldwide flower shortage. “Valentine’s Day is on Monday, Feb 14. Mondays are the craziest for us because a lot of guys forget over the weekend,” she said. “Then, Monday Continued on page 43