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Power line project in New Mexico plans to improve renewable energy capacity
- 11 years ago (2012-11-27)
- David Flin
An independent project that plans to upgrade existing power transmission lines and build new lines in northeast New Mexico and southeast Colorado in the USA is aiming to enable the establishment of a greater number of renewable energy power generation facilities by providing them with the means to ship the electricity to surrounding states.
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The Lucky Corridor transmission line project is to pass through Union, Colfax, and Taos counties. Project officials are in the process of securing environmental permits, acquiring land and easements, and developing plans and designs for the project, which they hope can begin construction in the second quarter of 2014. Construction of new lines and upgrades to existing lines along the 93 miles of the $415 million project is scheduled to take two years.
Last month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorised Lucky Corridor to identify and negotiate with what would be “anchor” customers for up to 70 per cent of the project’s planned 1100 MW of transmission capacity.
The Lucky Corridor line is scheduled to go west from Gladstone, passing through Springer. Electric substations in Gladstone and Springer will be upgraded as part of the project. The line will continue west through the Black Lake substation, which is to be expanded, and into Taos County and the substation at Taos, which will also be expanded. The substations and existing lines along the Lucky Corridor route are owned by other power providers with which Lucky Corridor is working. The project includes planning for a second phase of nearly 40 miles that would extend the line further west.
Lucky Corridor has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with New Mexico’s Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to help develop and fund the transmission project. The project is also seeking development capital from individual investors, venture and equity firms, and the Western Area Power Administration.