More people in Arizona may be able to harness the wind to lower their utility bills thanks to $6.5 million in venture-capital funding received during the past quarter by Flagstaff’s Southwest Windpower.

Southwest Windpower was one of four Arizona businesses that received a total of $35.25 million in venture-capital funding during the second quarter of 2007, according to the Quarterly Venture Capital Report to be released today by Dow Jones VentureOne and Ernst & Young.

Susan Casebeer, Southwest’s chief financial officer, said the capital will help the 20-year-old business manufacture and sell its first residential wind generator that can be connected to the power grid.

Arizona Republic