Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy) announced today it has completed financing and started the full construction process of its Western Spirit Transmission line and its suite of Western Spirit Wind power projects totaling more than 1,050 megawatts (MW), located in Guadalupe, Lincoln and Torrance Counties in central New Mexico. The projects are targeted for commercial operation by the end of 2021.
“This is a big day for New Mexico as we ramp up more than a gigawatt of our Western Spirit Wind projects for the largest single-phase construction of renewable power in U.S. history,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. “Tapping some of the best wind in the world, the Western Spirit Wind projects have a powerful generation profile with an evening peak that is a perfect complement to daytime solar and displaces the need for more expensive, ramping fossil fuels. New Mexico is home to some of the strongest winds in the country and Pattern Energy is committed to harnessing this natural power source to create more than one thousand new jobs and generate more than two billion dollars in net economic impact.”
The Western Spirit Wind projects will utilize a total of 377 GE wind turbines ranging from 2.3 to 2.8 MW in size. The wind projects will be constructed in conjunction with the Western Spirit Transmission Line, an approximately 150 mile, 345kV AC transmission line that will add much needed accessibility for New Mexico’s powerful wind resources to the electricity grid in New Mexico and the broader western markets.
The Western Spirit Transmission line is being developed jointly between Pattern Energy and the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA) and will interconnect directly into the Public Service Company of New Mexico system (PNM). PNM will acquire and operate the transmission line upon its commissioning.
Pattern Energy has more than 4,500 MW of New Mexico wind in operation or development, representing over $9.5 billion of planned investments. For more information please visit patternenergynewmexico.com.
