SunZia Wind
CountryUnited States
LocationNew Mexico
Coordinates34°15′2″N 105°35′44″W / 34.25056°N 105.59556°W / 34.25056; -105.59556
StatusUnder construction
Commission date2026 (planned)
Construction cost$11B
Owner(s)Pattern Energy
Wind farm
TypeOnshore
Power generation
Make and modelGE & Vestas
Nameplate capacity3.5 GW
External links
Websitepatternenergy.com/projects/sunzia/

The SunZia Wind is a 3.5-gigawatt wind farm being developed by Pattern Energy in New Mexico, United States, near Corona in Lincoln County, San Miguel County and Torrance County, New Mexico. The wind project is paired with the 3-gigawatt SunZia Transmission to carry the power to Arizona and California.

Originally developed as the Corona Wind Projects along with the Western Spirit Wind Farm, it received unanimous approval October 5, 2018 by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC). The PRC rejected the line and requested that SunZia resubmit a more detailed application to build the 500-mile long transmission line (800 km) to carry the power from central New Mexico to Coolidge, AZ.[1][2][3][4]

Wind farm

The project includes at least 900 wind turbines.[5][6]

Pattern Energy previously purchased the rights to the Mesa Canyons Wind Farm from Clean Line Energy Partners in May 2018. The Mesa Canyons Wind Farm is a 1 GW wind farm just north of Corona. This combined with the Corona Wind Project gives the 3 GW of energy that is projected to be exported to the west via the SunZia power line.[3][7][8]

The project reached $11B of funding in late 2023, and ordered 674 General Electric 3.6 MW (2.4 GW),[9] and 242 Vestas V163-4.5 MW turbines (1.1 GW)[10] while foundations were being dug.

Transmission line

Pattern Energy bought the 3 GW SunZia 525 kV direct current transmission project in July 2022,[11] and signed a power purchase agreement with Shell and University of California in 2023.[12]

Groundbreaking for the transmission line was held in September 2023.[13] In November 2023, the Bureau of Land Management temporarily halted work on the project was halted due to concerns of the Tohono O'odham Nation and the San Carlos Apache Tribe that the project damages religious and cultural sites in a 50-mile portion of the San Pedro Valley in southwestern Arizona,[14] but lifted the suspension later that month, allowing work to resume.[15]

A case in Arizona Superior Court asked that SunZia's amended Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) for Arizona be voided.[16] The plaintiff’s final brief, filed June 22, 2023, stated that the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) failed to adequately consider dramatic changes in the SunZia project. The plaintiff contended that the project’s original CEC, granted in 2015, was based on the benefits of a multipoint AC line. The amended CEC is for a point-to-point DC line, which would not provide similar benefits to Arizona. The brief asked that SunZia’s amended CEC be voided and the decision be remanded to the Commission.[17][18] On August 25, 2023, the Superior Court affirmed the ACC's decision.

The plaintiff appealed the Superior Court's decision to the Arizona Court of Appeals on October 25, 2023. His attorneys filed their opening brief on December 14, 2023.

References

  1. ↑ SouthWestern Power Group (February 25, 2021). "SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, Annual Progress Report: 2021."  Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ Gavin Bade (October 12, 2018). "Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo". Utility Dive. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Kevin Robinson-Avila (July 5, 2018). "Pattern Energy harnesses NM's blustery gusts". AlburquerqueJournal. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ Hudson Sangree (October 10, 2018). "Tx Path Uncertain for Massive New Mexico Wind Farm". RTO Insider. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Michelle (May 4, 2023). "The US' largest clean energy infrastructure project is kicking off construction". Electrek. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  6. ↑ Joshua S Hill (October 5, 2018). "New Mexico Approves Pattern Energy's 2.2 Gigawatt Corona Wind Projects Plan". Clean Technica. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  7. ↑ Corina Rivera Linares (May 24, 2018). "Pattern Development spokesperson: Western Spirit line, Mesa Canyons wind project on track to begin construction in 2019". Transmission Hub. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  8. ↑ Michelle Froese (May 21, 2018). "Pattern Development acquires Mesa Canyons Wind Farm and Western Spirit Transmission Line". Windpower Engineering and Development. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ "GE turbines to power 2.4 GW of SunZia project". Windpower Engineering & Development. January 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Lewis, Michelle (December 28, 2023). "The largest clean energy project in US history closes $11B, starts full construction". Electrek.
  11. ↑ "Pattern Energy buys 3-GW SunZia transmission project to deliver wind energy from New Mexico to Arizona". Utility Dive. July 18, 2022.
  12. ↑ Jenkinson, Orlando. "Shell and University of California sign PPAs with 3.5GW SunZia wind farm". www.windpowermonthly.com.
  13. ↑ Bryan, Susan Montoya (September 1, 2023). "Powered by wind, this $10B transmission line will carry more energy than the Hoover Dam". AP News. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  14. ↑ Susan Montoya Bryan, $10 billion renewable energy project paused over concerns for Native American historic sites, Associated Press (November 13, 2023).
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ "Civil Court Case Information - Case History". www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  17. ↑ Sawyer, Abigail (April 7, 2023). "Pattern Expects May Approval for SunZia Line, Despite Looming Arizona Lawsuit". NewsData, LLC. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  18. ↑ Else v. Arizona Corporation Commission. Arizona Superior Court, Case No.: CV2023-050310. Final Reply Brief, June 22, 2023. (Appeal pursuant to A.R.S. § 40-254, Preferential civil matter pursuant to A.R.S. § 40-255.) Assigned to: The Honorable Melissa Iyer Julian.
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