WC New Mexico News

Officials in two New Mexico counties have stood behind their residents in opposing the Western Spirit Transmission line, a line that would connect New Mexico wind farms with other western states.

The Valencia County Commission cited residents' fears that the project's massive towers and miles of lines would disrupt wildlife, destroy "pristine vistas" and hurt tourism-related income and property values. They voted unanimously to oppose the project. The Socorro County Commission also voted unanimously to oppose the project.

The 150-mile line will be jointly built by the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority and Pattern Development. It will carry more than 800 megawatts of electricity from wind farms in central New Mexico to be sold in western states.

This is the second major transmission line to face opposition. The 520-mile SunZia Southwest Transmission line would carry three gigawatts of energy from central New Mexico to Arizona, crossing between wildlife preserves near the Rio Grande.

Western Spirit is unlikely to be stopped; it has received all permits needed from federal and state officials. All that remains to negotiate are right-of-way agreements with local landowners, and some are holding out.

“We don’t really see any options that county commissioners can pursue to stop it,” Valencia County Manager Danny Monette told the Gillette News Record. “But commissioners wanted to be on the record that they stand with county residents who oppose the project. We want to make sure our citizens’ voices are heard.”