Largest Wind Power Project in USA Will Be Ready in 2026

Pattern Energy, one of the world’s renewable energy players, is about to launch a huge wind power generation and transportation project in New Mexico. The name of the project is SunZia Wind and Transmission, and the goal is to tap into one of the windiest areas of the United States, the New Mexico desert, and then channel the energy by transporting it to Arizona and California.

It will be the largest renewable energy project in the United States and is considered critical to meeting growing energy demand on the West Coast while maintaining grid stability. “New Mexico boasts one of the most abundant and consistent wind energy resources in the United States,” the SunZia project says. “This resource is currently blocked due to lack of transmission infrastructure. SunZia Transmission will transport this tremendous resource to areas of high energy demand, providing fuel-free and affordable energy in Arizona and the western US.”

The work, according to the official schedule, should be completed by 2026, when a 550-mile high-voltage direct current (DC) transmission line will connect central New Mexico and south-central Arizona. The line will have a capacity of 3000 MW of electricity, and the power will be generated by Pattern Energy’s 3515-MW SunZia wind farm.

To build the infrastructure, Pattern Energy in late December closed an $11 billion loan with several banking groups, including Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo through IMI Corporate & Investment Banking. “Major international organizations agree to give a leading role to infrastructure investment for economic recovery and to facilitate the transition to a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable structure,” said Mauro Micillo, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at IMI. “Intesa Sanpaolo has a long tradition in infrastructure and project financing. Overseas, the company has been involved in significant infrastructure modernization and development projects in New York, São Paulo, and Miami.” In conclusion, the manager explained: “Internationally, the need for modern and sustainable infrastructure in the environmental and social fields is becoming more and more evident.”

The project will employ 2000 workers during construction of infrastructure facilities and more than 100 permanent employees once the work is completed. It would provide energy to 3 million Americans and generate more than $20 billion in economic benefits.