North America | September 4, 2023

SunZia Transmission Project breaks ground

The SunZia Transmission Project is expected to create jobs, bring profit and increase the reliability of the western US grid.

 

SunZia Transmission Project breaks ground

Image for illustration purposes

USA, Albuquerque: The SunZia Transmission Project is expected to create jobs, bring profit and increase the reliability of the western US grid.

The largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history, SunZia Transmission Project, has received Notice to Proceed, clearing way for it to provide renewable power for 3 million Americans. It is expected to create 2,000 jobs, generate over $20 billion in expected economic impact, and increase the reliability of the western grid.

Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy), a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, has started construction on the project. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Department of the Interior, has issued its Notice to Proceed, allowing construction to begin. The project’s groundbreaking at the SunZia East Converter Station in Corona, New Mexico was attended by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and other senior elected and government officials.

SunZia Transmission is a 550-mile (885 km) ± 525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona with the capacity to transport 3,000 MW of clean, reliable, and affordable electricity across Western states. SunZia will deliver clean power from Pattern’s SunZia Wind project, the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere, which will be simultaneously constructed with SunZia Transmission. Together, SunZia Wind and SunZia Transmission are the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history.

“SunZia will have a massive economic impact in New Mexico, creating thousands of jobs in our rural communities, while also bringing us one huge step closer to meeting our climate goals and conserving wildlife habitat. 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,” said Senator Martin Heinrich. “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.”

SunZia Transmission is setting a precedent with the gold standard in environmental mitigation efforts developed together with key stakeholders. Throughout the development process the SunZia team worked closely with the public, BLM, landowners, ranchers, and wildlife and environmental conservation groups, and others, to foster dialogue and incorporate feedback. The resulting efforts range from restoring thousands of acres of wildlife habitat to investing in emerging technology and long-term conservation research. SunZia Wind has established robust environmental best practices to reduce project impacts and study effective habitat restoration strategies.

SunZia Transmission will deliver clean power generated by Pattern’s 3,500 MW SunZia Wind facility, which is being constructed across Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel Counties in New Mexico. SunZia Transmission will enable SunZia Wind to supply clean power to Western states when demand is high.

Pattern has partnered with federal and state land agencies on the SunZia Transmission route, as well as private landowners. Federal land makes up over 30% of the total project route. SunZia Transmission has also signed right of way agreements with the New Mexico State Land Office and the Arizona State Land Department; payments to these state agencies go to support education and other public institutions.

Pattern Energy recently announced that the SunZia Transmission and SunZia Wind projects are expected to generate $20.5 billion dollars in total economic benefit, which includes over $8 billion of direct capital investment, at no added cost to ratepayers, according to the results of an independent study conducted by the research firm Energy, Economic & Environment Consultants LLC. Together, the projects will generate an expected $1.3 billion in fiscal impacts that will go to governments, communities, and schools. These benefits are generated through sales and use taxes, property taxes, community benefit payments, and land payments to federal and state agencies.

Source: Pattern Energy