Pattern Energy Expects $20.5 Billion From Its American Clean Energy Infra Projects

100KW Open Access Limit Not Applicable to Captive Consumers: MERC

California based Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy) claims that it expects a total economic benefit of around USD 20 billion from its SunZia Transmission and SunZaa Wind projects in the United States. It includes direct, indirect, and other induced economic benefits.

The firm said that the research firm Energy, Economic & Environment Consultants LLC, has done the estimation. These two projects are said to be the most significant renewable energy infrastructure projects in US history. These large projects will enable access to over 3,500 Megawatt (MW) of wind energy in New Mexico and Western states.

“According to Energy, Economic & Environment Consultants LLC, SunZia Wind, and Transmission enable over $20 billion of economic impact, which includes over $8 billion of direct capital investment, at no added cost to ratepayers,” the renewable energy company said in a statement. 

SunZia Transmission is a 550-mile ± 525 kV direct high-voltage current transmission line between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona, with the capacity to transport 3,000 MW of clean, renewable energy. SunZia Transmission will carry the clean, renewable power produced by the SunZia Wind project, which comprises more than 3,500 MW of new wind generation located in Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel Counties, New Mexico representing the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere. 

The projects continue to work with federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), local jurisdictions, and stakeholders, to finalize remaining approvals to allow project construction to begin on schedule this year.

“This report underscores the transformative power of large-scale clean energy projects like SunZia and New Mexico’s role in helping meet our nation’s goals and energy demands, said US Senator Martin Heinrich. “I am proud to have supported this project at every stage and to witness today just how far the investments and positive impacts will reach.”

Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy, said the projects would likely create over 2,000 new jobs and renewable energy for around three million Americans besides the economic benefit.