Work is beginning on SunZia wind power project in New Mexico. Here's what to know.
The SunZia Transmission project will send wind energy generated in southern New Mexico across the state into Arizona where it could be used to power urban communities and supply markets further west in California.
The project was developed over more than a decade with federal reviews beginning in 2009 and a federal right of way approved in 2015.
Since then, the project went through several route adjustments, regulatory changes and shifted ownership to Pattern Energy last year to complete and operate the project.
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Last week, Pattern received its final approval to begin construction from the Bureau of Land Management, and work began on both the transmission line and windfarm.
It’s expected to go into commercial service by 2026.
Here’s what to know about the SunZia wind project as construction begins.
Where will it start and where will it end?
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The SunZia Wind Project will feature about 900 wind turbines spread across several counties in south-central New Mexico.
These include Lincoln, San Miguel and Torrance counties.
From the windfarm, a transmission line will travel about 550 miles southwest, terminating at a facility in Pinal County, Arizona where the energy could be sent into urban areas like Tucson or Phoenix in that state, or be sent into California.
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How much energy will SunZia provide?
The wind farm was expected to generate 3,500 megawatts (MW) of wind power, enough to meet the power needs of up to 3 million people, according to Pattern’s website.
The transmission line will be capable of moving up to 3,000 MW of wind power.
Who initially signed on as customers?
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Shell Energy and the University of California earlier this year signed on as the first customers of the SunZia project, after the BLM gave its final environmental approval to the project.
What benefits does Pattern Energy say the project will bring to local communities?
Pattern said the project all together marked a $10 billion investment by the company but was expected to provide $20.5 billion in local economic benefits.
Together, the projects were estimated to provide $1.3 billion to local governments, communities, schools and landowners in New Mexico and Arizona via sales and property taxes, and direct payments to landowners along the route.
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About 100 permanent jobs were predicted to support the project, along with 2,000 temporary construction jobs as the facilities are built.
What kinds of concerns did the project create?
Throughout the project’s lifetime, environmental and conservation groups worried it could impact wildlife in both states.
In New Mexico concerns were primarily for a river crossing previously proposed at Escondido, near Socorro, where opponents argued the project could prove problematic for migratory birds in the area, as it would cross between the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge to the north and Bosque del Apache to the south.
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Arizona groups worried for similar reasons for the project’s crossing through riparian habitats in the San Pedro River Basin.
The company hoped to allay these concerns through several route changes and adjustments to the line, including shift the route to avoid crossing through portions of White Sands Missile Range.
What are government officials saying about the project?
At a recent ribbon cutting, New Mexico congresspeople and federal officials touted the SunZia project as marking needed progress to increasing renewable energy and taking action on climate change.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said SunZia showed that environmental and economic concerns were not “mutually exclusive.”
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"New Mexico is beyond proud to be the home of such monumental work by Pattern Energy that is truly powering the future ― all while creating hundreds of jobs and elevating our economy," she said in a statement.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) said SunZia would mitigate climate change and pollution, while providing a “massive economic impact” to New Mexico.
“That’s why I fought hard for this project through a whole series of obstacles, and it's why I’m thrilled to welcome the start of construction,” he said in a statement. “The proof is everywhere: the climate crisis is here, and it is the greatest threat we face. But solving the climate crisis by building out clean energy infrastructure like SunZia will also be the greatest economic opportunity of our lifetime."
U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, herself a native New Mexican and former congresswoman said the project would advance the federal administration’s goals of increasing renewable energy and transitions away from more pollutive energy forms like fossil fuels.
“The SunZia Transmission Project will accelerate our nation’s transition to a clean energy economy by unlocking renewable resources, creating jobs, lowering costs, and boosting local economies,” she said in a statement.
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Here's what to know about the SunZia wind energy project in New Mexico
