A renewable energy transmission line in southern New Mexico, connecting wind farms to western markets in Arizona and California, received federal approval on Thursday and is expected to begin construction this summer.
The Sanzia Transmission Project will transport up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity generated by wind farms in Lincoln, Torrance, and San Miguel counties in South Central New Mexico approximately 890 miles away through the Boothreel region of Southwestern New Mexico. will be sent to facilities in Pinal County in southern Arizona. .
From there, the energy could be used in nearby urban markets or sent further west to California.
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The wind farm recently signed contracts with two of its first customers, Shell Energy and the University of California, to purchase power once the facility is complete.
Both projects are owned by Pattern Energy, which estimates the impact to the local economy is about $20.5 billion.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued final approval for the transmission line on May 18, which means that environmental reviews of the project and transmission line route have been completed, paving the way for construction of the transmission line this year.
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Pattern CEO Hunter Armistead said the project will take 16 years to develop and is expected to be operational by 2026.
He estimated that the project would provide enough electricity to serve 3 million people.
“Sunjia will implement industry-leading environmental mitigation measures, including emerging technologies and long-term conservation research,” Armistead said in a statement. “We are proud that SunZia is the culmination of more than a decade of his collaboration with communities, residents, landlords, environmental groups, wildlife conservation groups and federal agencies.”
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Fernando Martinez, executive director of the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority, said the agency will partner with Pattern to develop the project after it acquires Sanjia from Southwestern Power Group in July 2022. said it has worked closely with Pattern Inc.
“We welcome this important milestone for the SunZia project to unlock New Mexico’s vast renewable wind resources,” Martinez said.
The SunZia wind farm will generate more than 3,500 megawatts of wind power, which the company touts as “the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere.”
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Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who is running for re-election in 2024, said in a statement upon BLM approval that he supported the project from the beginning.
Heinrich, a frequent renewable energy advocate, said the project would help combat pollution and climate change in New Mexico, known for being the second-largest producer of fossil-fuel-based energy such as oil and natural gas. said to help reduce the impact of
“This project will put the state on the map as a place to build large-scale renewable power projects and transmission infrastructure,” he said. “It also brings us a giant step closer to meeting our ambitious and urgent climate goals, creating thousands of high-paying jobs in the process.”
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He said more work is needed to modernize the U.S. power grid with additional transmission lines and storage to support the country’s transition to renewable energy.
On Friday, Heinrich reintroduced the bill he first proposed in 2019, initiating rulemaking at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to develop the federal transmission planning process.
Heinrich said such efforts are necessary to support renewable energy projects as the United States transitions away from fossil fuels.
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“If we want to tackle the climate crisis and make our power grids more resilient and reliable, we need to think beyond the region. It will be the key to modernization,” said Heinrich. Our power grid creates high-paying jobs and supports the transition to a clean energy future. ”
BLM New Mexico Director Melanie Barnes said SunZia is part of a broader federal effort to increase renewable energy across the country.
“We are delighted to announce this exciting milestone for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project,” said Barnes. “This effort represents an important step in the development of our country’s renewable energy and transmission infrastructure.”
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Since 2021, BLM has reportedly approved 35 renewable energy projects on federal lands, including 10 solar, 8 geothermal and 17 interconnected power lines, generating 8,160 megawatts of power. has reached
Records show the agency is processing 74 utility-scale renewable projects, including solar, wind and geothermal, with a total capacity of 37,000 megawatts nationwide and 150 projects for wind and solar development. We are reviewing more than one application.
“Through strong engagement with states, cities and tribes, we are playing our part in a government-wide effort to diversify the country’s renewable energy portfolio while simultaneously combating climate change and investing in our communities. I’m proud to be here,” said the principal. Laura Daniel Davis, Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals, said in a statement:
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