08/08/2026
Protecting the White Mountains: A Call for Responsible Energy Development
To the residents, community leaders, elected officials, and decision-makers of the White Mountains,
I believe it is time for our community to have an honest and serious conversation about large-scale renewable energy development in the White Mountains of Arizona.
This is not an argument against renewable energy. Solar and wind energy have a place in our nation's energy future. But not every location is appropriate for industrial-scale energy development, and the White Mountains should not be treated as an empty piece of land simply because developers see an opportunity to make money here.
Our community is special because of the land, forests, wildlife, open spaces, water resources, ranching, recreation, and rural character that surround us. Those resources are not replaceable once they are permanently altered.
Our forests and open spaces matter
Large renewable-energy projects can require enormous amounts of land, roads, transmission infrastructure, substations, fencing, construction areas, and other supporting facilities.
When projects are placed in undeveloped areas, we have to ask what happens to the land that is cleared and fragmented to make them possible.
The White Mountains are not the desert floor. We have forests, grasslands, wildlife habitat, mountains, watersheds, and communities that depend on the character of this area.
Once large areas are cleared and industrialized, we cannot simply assume that the landscape will return to what it was before the project.
Water must be a major concern
Water is one of the most important resources in our region.
Any large industrial development should be required to demonstrate, with independent scientific evidence, exactly what impact it could have on groundwater, aquifers, drainage patterns, springs, wells, and surrounding watersheds.
Our community should not be expected to take a developer's word that there will be no meaningful impact.
Before any project is approved, residents deserve to know:
How much water will construction require?
How much water will ongoing operations require?
What effect could the project have on groundwater recharge?
Could wells or neighboring water sources be affected?
What happens during drought conditions?
Who is responsible if an unforeseen water problem develops?
Water is too important to gamble with.
Wildlife and habitat deserve protection
The White Mountains are home to an incredible variety of wildlife.
Large-scale wind and solar projects can change habitat, fragment migration routes, increase roads and vehicle traffic, and introduce industrial activity into areas that have historically been relatively undisturbed.
Wildlife impacts should not be considered an afterthought after a project has already been proposed.
We should first identify environmentally sensitive areas and determine where development should not occur.
What happens to the land after the project?
This is another question our community needs answered before approving anything.
Renewable-energy facilities are often discussed in terms of their useful operating life. But what happens when the equipment becomes outdated?
Who pays for removing thousands of panels, turbines, foundations, roads, transmission equipment, fencing, and other infrastructure?
Who guarantees that the land will actually be restored?
And what happens if the company that developed the project is no longer in business?
Our community should never be left with an abandoned industrial site and a cleanup bill.
Our property values and quality of life matter
The White Mountains are a place where people choose to live because of the scenery, open space, forests, wildlife, dark skies, and rural atmosphere.
Large industrial energy projects can change the character of an area dramatically.
We need to consider the potential effects on neighboring property values, tourism, recreation, hunting, ranching, businesses, and the quality of life that residents have worked hard to build.
Economic development should benefit the people who actually live here—not simply the companies that develop the projects.
State Trust Land is not a blank check
Arizona State Trust Land is managed to generate income for its beneficiaries, and the Arizona State Land Department allows applications for large-scale solar projects. The Department's own guidance recognizes that issues such as vegetation, viewshed, watershed, accessibility, existing uses, and opposition should be considered when evaluating potential sites.
That means the community has every right to ask whether a particular parcel is truly an appropriate location for industrial energy development.
Just because a project can be built somewhere does not mean it should be built there.
We need responsible development—not development at any cost.
If renewable energy is going to be developed in the White Mountains, I believe there should be strong protections in place before any project moves forward.
At a minimum, our community deserves:
Independent environmental studies, not studies controlled solely by the developer.
Independent groundwater and watershed analysis.
Full evaluation of wildlife and habitat impacts.
Protection of forests, sensitive habitat, scenic areas, and culturally significant locations.
Complete disclosure of who owns and finances each project.
Financial guarantees for decommissioning and land restoration.
Meaningful public participation before decisions are made.
Full consideration of impacts on neighboring property owners.
Protection of existing ranching, recreation, hunting, and other established uses.
A requirement that developers—not local taxpayers—pay for infrastructure, mitigation, and cleanup associated with their projects.
Most importantly, residents should not be told that opposing a particular project means they are against clean energy.
We can support responsible energy production while still protecting our community.
The White Mountains are more than a location on a map where a company can find inexpensive land.
They are our homes.
They are our forests and mountains.
They are our wildlife habitat.
They are our water.
They are our ranches and open spaces.
They are our communities.
And once we allow large portions of this landscape to be permanently transformed, we cannot simply undo the decision.
Renewable energy should not come at the cost of destroying the very resources that make the White Mountains worth protecting.
I am asking our elected officials, county leaders, state officials, land managers, and residents to slow down, ask hard questions, demand independent information, and put the long-term interests of the White Mountains ahead of short-term financial opportunities.
Let's protect our home while we still have the opportunity to do so.
Proudly Shared from Marsha Grombly
Thank you!
