Wind power from rural New Mexico headed to cities via 500-mile transmission line

A transmission line will ship wind energy generated in southern New Mexico 550 miles west into Arizona the place it may serve city markets there and in California.

The SunZia Transmission mission was acquired by Sample Vitality and can mix with the corporate’s present plans to develop wind energy within the area.

The road beginning close to the border of Lincoln and Torrance counties could have a capability of three,000 megawatts – sufficient to satisfy power wants of two.5 million People, per a report from Sample.

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Collectively, the wind and transmission initiatives marked an $8 billion funding by the corporate, and development was deliberate to start in 2023.

The road was purchased from SouthWestern Energy Group to help wind power generated by Sample in New Mexico.

It would run from the beginning level by way of Socorro, Sierra, Luna and Hidalgo counties in New Mexico, and proceed by way of Cochise and Pima counties in Arizona earlier than ending in Pinal county about 60 miles south of Phoenix.

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The complete capability of the road was beforehand awarded to Sample for its SunZia Wind Undertaking in New Mexico that may produce as much as 3,000 megawatts of electrical energy.

SouthWestern Energy Group will preserve its El Rio Sol Transmission Line in Arizona.

The transmission line was anticipated to enter service by 2025, whereas the wind mission’s operations have been deliberate for 2026.

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Sample Chief Govt Officer Mike Garland mentioned the transmission line will assist join rural New Mexico’s wind energy sources with bigger energy markets in city areas.

“SunZia Transmission will create a clear energy superhighway for tens of millions of People by opening entry to large, largely-untapped wind power sources in New Mexico,” he mentioned. “SunZia is an funding that may empower our clear power future and generate tens of millions of {dollars} in financial impression throughout Arizona and New Mexico.”

He mentioned renewable power equivalent to wind and photo voltaic sources was a rising power sector in New Mexico that might assist diversify the state’s economic system, which is basically supported by fossil fuels.

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“We’re creating and implementing the most important clear power infrastructure mission in American historical past, demonstrating the huge potential of New Mexico’s wind energy and the areas’ means to carry massive interstate infrastructure to actuality,” Garland mentioned.

In complete, the 2 initiatives have been anticipated to create 2,000 jobs throughout their development phases and set up 150 everlasting jobs when the wind energy and transmission infrastructure goes into full operations.

The transmission route was initially authorized in 2015 however was later adjusted round White Sands Missile Vary and made to run parallel for 35 miles with one other renewable power line, the Western Spirit Transmission line to scale back its environmental impression.

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Last regulatory approvals have been anticipated to be filed within the Federal Register by April 2023.

The Western Spirt Line was developed by Sample and New Mexico’s Renewable Vitality Transmission Authority (RETA) and bought to the Public Service Firm of New Mexico in December 2021.

This line sends about 1,050 megawatts from Sample’s Western Spirit Wind services in central New Mexico, to market within the Albuquerque space.

“SunZia is taking part in a significant function in decarbonizing our economic system by enabling greater than 3,000 MW of high-value, well-sited American wind era to be constructed in New Mexico,” mentioned David Getts, common supervisor of SouthWestern Energy Group.”

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New Mexico had about $11 billion of unused renewable power that might go into service by way of expanded transmission, per a report printed by RETA.

One other 900 to 1,300 miles of transmission was wanted, per the examine, for New Mexico to comprehend the untapped sources from each wind and solar energy.

That would carry $1 billion to $2 billion in capital spending, together with 3,600 jobs in line development, learn the report, together with $8 billion in spending and 20,000 jobs in plant development.

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Operations and upkeep of renewable power transmission strains and energy crops would imply 760 everlasting jobs and $10 million to $20 million in annual financial exercise.

“The renewable useful resource potential in New Mexico features a prevalence of high-quality alternatives for wind and photo voltaic,” the examine learn. This presents alternatives to maneuver energy generated in New Mexico, the place sources and improvement are doubtlessly cheaper, to western coastal areas the place demand progress for renewables is excessive.”

In 2021, renewable power accounted for nearly two-fifths of electrical energy generated in New Mexico, per knowledge from the U.S. Vitality Data Administration, greater than doubling since 2017.

New Mexico ranked 11^th within the nation for wind power potential, the EIA reported in April, and three^rd in photo voltaic potential.

Adrian Hedden could be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.