New Mexico Approves 76-Megawatt Wind Project on State Trust Land

The New Mexico State Land Office approved leases for a 76-megawatt wind project proposed by Pattern Renewables 2 LP,  according to a June 4 news release. The Western Spirit Wind Development, spanning about 16,442 acres in Torrance County and Lincoln Counties, is expected to power over 15,000 homes annually.

Commissioner of Public Lands, Stephanie Garcia Richard, executed five leases for the project, which is estimated to yield more than $16 million in revenue to the state’s public schools during the project’s lifetime.

Pattern won the bid in a February public auction for the right to develop the project and has paid a total up-front bonus bid of $395,000 as required. The project will be connected to the forthcoming Western Spirit transmission line, which will be able to deliver approximately 1,000 megawatts of power to the existing grid in the north western part of the state.

The project is the eighth wind energy lease signed by Commissioner Garcia Richard over the last year and a half. Together with the previously approved La Joya, Great Divide, and Gladstone wind facilities, the Western Spirit project is expected to increase the state’s capacity by 414 megawatts. The wind farms on state trust land will help create job opportunities, reduce carbon emissions, and are expected to generate over $80 million in revenue over  their  lifespans. The office aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 by advancing renewable energy projects on state trust land.

Pattern Renewables 2 LP is a subsidiary of Pattern Energy Group LP.