Potash Mining and Processing

Potash is an important commodity in global agricultural and industrial markets. It is used for fertilizers, feed supplements and in industrial applications including aluminum recycling, water treatment and snow melting. According to an American West Potash report, a world shortage of potash, limited global reserves, increasing global demand, improved mining technologies and increasing sale prices have made the Real AZ Corridor project economically viable. There is evidence that the Real AZ Corridor has the potential to become the largest area of potash production in the world.

Diversified Energy Production

The Corridor is home to three modern and expanding coal-fired power plants; Arizona’s largest commercial-scale wind farm; solar, biomass and geothermal energy development; CO2 storage capacity and unmatched synergy of sector development. There are few areas that are as well positioned as Navajo and Apache counties to take advantage of emerging energy technologies and evolving energy production and distribution processes, Federal incentives and funding, and private, venture capital investment. The Real AZ Corridor is undeniably Arizona’s Energy Corridor. The future of energy production — for Arizona and other power-hungry Southwest states — can be seen here, in development and already at work.

Future Forest and Forest Management Industries

The Real AZ Corridor is home to three National Forests and the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines in the world. No other region in Arizona is as well positioned to leverage future forest practices and technologies, emerging biomass utilization processes and developing wood products markets. Forest management is an essential element to wildfire mitigation. The reality of that need, the creation of new legislation supporting forest management and industry, and the support of environmentalists as well as business owners and investors bodes very well for the sustainable development of this sector in the Real AZ Corridor.

Algae & Other Biosciences
The Real AZ Corridor is already home to a number of companies that are involved in ground-breaking work in the agricultural and biosciences sectors. Algae Biosciences, Inc. researches, develops and manufacturers micro and macro algae for use in nutraceuticals (including Omega-3 fatty acid oils), food additives and pharmaceuticals. Near-perfect growing conditions, moderate temperatures, high duration-high intensity sunlight, and an abundant saline water supply led the company to call the Real AZ Corridor a ‘geographic sweet spot’ for efficient, high volume algae production.

The abundant availability of high-saline water and near-perfect growing conditions makes the Real AZ Corridor well-suited for large-scale marine algae cultivation and harvesting. The existence of three major (and expanding) coal-fired power plants is also likely to drive the expansion of algae cultivation to help mitigate power generation and manufacturing emissions and to produce a viable — and potentially abundant — source of carbon offset credits.

The future of the Real AZ Corridor is very bright indeed!

GreenFire Energy is working in the Real AZ Corridor (St. Johns) to develop processes that will enable it to become the first company in the world to produce electric power at commercial scale using geothermally heated CO2.

The potential is enormous, given the capacity of Real AZ Corridor soils to store CO2 … and the availability of emissions from the Corridor’s expanding energy industry. CO2 is also a food source for algae, another high potential sector in the Corridor.

Geothermal is one of the renewable/alternative energy sectors that are emerging – quickly – in Navajo and Apache counties. There’s a lot to be excited about in the Real AZ Corridor … and geothermal energy production is part of that.

Visit GreenFire Energy’s website at www.greenfireenergy.com  to learn more. Here’s an excerpt:

‘Imagine a clean, renewable energy source that can greatly increase the amount of baseload power while having a positive impact on CO2 emissions and the environment. That energy source is CO2- based geothermal power. GreenFire Energy is working to develop and harness this power, creating a suite of geothermal technologies which we call CO2ETM.

We have combined an unrivaled, multidisciplinary R&D program with a viable, realistic business strategy. GreenFire is currently developing innovative and patentable technologies to accomplish this goal.

GreenFire’s Technology Approach is carefully measured, constantly focusing on the realistic challenges associated with scale-up to commercial production, rather than merely focusing on successful lab-scale technology itself.’

Algae cultivation also utilizes CO2 and produces carbon offset credits that make it an ideal companion industry for power plants and manufacturing companies.

The Algal Biomass Organization recently engaged a Washington D.C. lobbying firm to educate policymakers on the algae industry’s ‘huge potential for job creation, domestic fuel production and economic development across the country’.

According to a release issued today:

The document includes 2010 Census data, ESRI and Claritas site selection market estimates and information on key sectors for economic growth: Forestry, Mining, Energy, Biosciences and more. It is a ‘living document’ that will be updated regularly … and expanded as new data is released.

Also onboard: The latest information on economic development incentives offered by the Arizona Commerce Authority through Arizona’s new Competitiveness Package. You’ll find the Asset Inventory, all of this information and more on the Real AZ Corridor website at www.realazcorridor.com  .

Learn more about Small Business Saturday and how we each can make a difference by shopping at a local business next week at http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/ 

Small business owners: Check out the event site for FREE marketing and social media tools that you can use to promote your local business.

Entrepreneurship and small business development are VERY important to the success of the Real AZ Corridor. A vibrant small business community demonstrates that opportunity exists at every level of the economy in northeastern Arizona.

Learn about Passport Potash’s Holbrook Basin project by watching this informative video HERE.

Learn about the American West Potash project, which is also located in the Holbrook Basin, through this company presentation HERE.

Potash is only one of the many resources that put the ‘R’ in the REAL AZ Corridor, where REAL stands for Resources, Energy, Access and Lifestyle.

Watch the White Mountain Stewardship Video Series HERE

And you can get there from here.

Few regions offer access to transportation assets and natural resources. The Real AZ Corridor offers Interstate access and frontage, a strong state highway network and a location that is within four hours of Phoenix and Albuquerque, within easy reach of the energy-hungry California and Nevada markets and less than eight hours from the Mexican border.

Commercial rail service via the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway connects the Real AZ Corridor with national markets. Passenger rail service serves the region, with an Amtrak station in Winslow.

Nine public airports serve the Real AZ Corridor, including daily commercial passenger service to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport from Show Low Regional Airport.

The Real AZ Corridor is a gateway that also serves the regional shopping needs of the adjoining Navajo, Hopi and White Mountain Apache Tribe Nations.

Learn more about ACCESS to and from the Real AZ Corridor HERE.

Listen to the NPF Science Friday show HERE

Navajo County Supervisor David Tenney and members of the Real AZ Corridor worked tirelessly to promote the need for large-scale forest management at the federal level. The result is the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), which was signed in February 2011.

The Real AZ Corridor is an exceptional example of the effectiveness of emphasizing Collaboration versus Competition. The Real AZ Development Council includes two Arizona counties (Navajo and Apache) and nine communities (Winslow, Holbrook, Snowflake, Taylor, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Eagar, Springerville and St. Johns). A gateway regional website leads to the Corridor at www.RealAZCorridor.com      

Collaboration is THE Game-Changer when it comes to Regionalism … and to productive economic development. Communities that work together as a Region make it easier for developers, business owners and investors to bring beneficial projects – and jobs — to their area. When civic leaders, business owners and decision makers choose to work together for the entire Region, everyone wins.

The Real AZ Corridor is Arizona’s Energy and Economic Development corridor. Arizona’s energy future will be built here — and it is already at work!