Pattern Energy commissions 1GW New Mexico onshore wind farm

Pattern Energy’s 1050MW Western Spirit Wind Western Spirit Wind (1050MW) OnshoreGuadalupe, Lincoln and Torrance Counties, New Mexico, USA, North America Click to see full details projectin central New Mexico is now fully operational, following completion of grid connection works last month.

The project features 377 GE wind turbines, with individual power ratings ranging from 2.3MW to 2.8MW, and is split across sites in Guadalupe, Lincoln, and Torrance Counties. 

The project is just the beginning of Pattern Energy’s plans in New Mexico, said Mike Garland, Chief Executive Officer of Pattern Energy. “The company has committed to $6 billion in upcoming wind energy and related infrastructure projects in the state over the next decade,” he added.

Garland described Western Spirit Wind as a “groundbreaking megaproject”.

He said: “The collaboration of our teams of workers around the state shows what can be achieved – building the largest single-phase wind project in US history in less than one year – a truly remarkable achievement.

“Western Spirit brought over 1,100 construction jobs to New Mexico, generated local spending, tax revenue and landowner payments in a remote area of New Mexico, and is now delivering enough renewable energy to meet the electricity needs of more than 900,000 Americans.”

The $1.8 billion 155-mile 345kV Western Spirit transmission line, developed jointly by Pattern Energy and the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority for the wind farm, was sold to utility Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) in December 2021. It enables electricity generated by Western Spirit to be supplied to California and New Mexico.

Long-term power purchase agreements for the Western Spirit wind farm  have been made with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, San José Clean Energy, East Bay Community Energy, California Choice Energy Authority and member cities, and international energy company Uniper Global Commodities. Power will also be supplied to New Mexico municipalities, including Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities, through the Uniper Global Commodities power purchase agreement.

Western Spirit Wind is projected to provide an estimated $3 million a year in economic benefits for the three counties and two school districts in the project area.