In a long-awaited development, the Bureau of Land Management announced last week the record of determination for the SunZia Southwest Power Transmission Project, permitting a 400-foot-wide site designation through the BLM site. avoidance area.
Renewable energy developer Pattern Energy could become the Western Hemisphere’s largest wind farm with 550 miles of high-voltage transmission lines from central New Mexico to south-central Arizona. It will pave the way for things to start construction probably in a few months. Massive wind farms span his three counties in New Mexico, producing up to 3.5 gigawatts of clean power.
The transmission line will begin at a substation in central Torrance County and terminate at an existing substation in Pinal County, Arizona.
The project has been underway for over 17 years through a lengthy and sometimes controversial government permitting process at the local, state and federal levels.
Adjusted SunZia infection route.
Graphics by pattern energy
The power line route had to be adjusted many times to accommodate migratory bird patterns associated with private property, the White Sands Missile Range, and the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Environmental groups have also lobbied against the project over concerns about how the construction will affect historically pristine land.
Locally, the Socorro County Commission passed a resolution in June 2022 approving SunZia Transmission LLC’s request to use certain roads within Socorro County. The resolution recognizes that increased traffic on county roads may result in county repair, improvement and related costs and that SunZia is responsible for repairing damages resulting from road use.
“Construction, operation and maintenance of transmission lines require access to, exit from, and intersection with county-owned road-rights and county-owned road-use easements,” the resolution states. and grants SunZia and its contractors the right to use, improve, and traverse county roads to transport structures, materials, construction machinery and goods related to the construction of transmission lines. “I will give you.” Transmission line conductors and cables
This means that SunZia will be responsible for reshaping, repairing, and altering county roads caused by unusual road use and routine maintenance activities performed by the county as routine maintenance.
In Socorro County, SunZia is considering laying power lines behind M Mountain and Strawberry Peak between Socorro and Magdalena, to the county line with Valencia County, and east to Torrance County.
In this regard, the Socorro City Council, at a meeting on Tuesday, approved an agreement that gives SunZia the right to relocate the city’s natural gas pipeline to the Bernardo area by paying a $225,000 fee to the city.
The contract states that “SunZia shall be solely responsible for all costs and expenses associated with the removal and relocation of the pipeline.”
The SunZia project marks a milestone in the government’s goal of a 100% clean power grid by 2035, according to a BLM press release.
“The Department of the Interior is committed to expanding clean energy development to address climate change, enhance America’s energy security, and provide high-paying union jobs,” said the chief undersecretary for land and minerals administration. Assistant Laura Daniel Davis said. “Through strong engagement with states, cities and tribes, we will play our part in government-wide efforts to diversify the country’s renewable energy portfolio while fighting climate change and investing in our communities. I am proud of
The SunZia project consists of two transmission lines spanning parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Once completed, this 520-mile transmission project will provide the opportunity to deliver up to 4,500 MW of renewable energy from New Mexico and Arizona.
Pattern Energy will invest approximately $8 billion in the project. This includes 900 new wind turbines spread across approximately 600,000 acres of private and state trust land in Lincoln, Torrance, and San Miguel counties, through which Pattern State will extend private ownership. Over the long term, it could generate about $1 billion in direct economic benefits for individuals, communities and state governments. Taxes, land use fees, support from local businesses, employment.
