By Matthew Reichbach | Albuquerque Business First
The State Land Office approved a new 10,160-acre, 212-megawatt wind farm for Torrance County, enough to power more than 60,000 homes.
State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced the project May 6 for the county east of the Sandia Mountains.
The State Land Office signed an agreement with AFE Cedarvale Wind LLC, a subsidiary of MMR Group/Southwestern Power Group, for the project.
“We keep powering ahead with deals that are making New Mexico a leader in renewable energy development,” Garcia Richard said. “Before I came into office, there wasn’t a comprehensive, strategic approach to developing renewable energy on state lands. That has all changed under my watch, and renewable energy companies now know the State Land Office is the place to do business. Projects like this one are job creators in our rural communities and create long-lasting revenue streams for our public schools and other institutions.”
Garcia Richard has pushed renewable energy on state trust lands. Her second term ends at the end of this year. State elected officials are limited to two consecutive terms.
According to the State Land Office, renewable energy production on state trust land has increased from about 400 megawatts to about 3,271 megawatts during Garcia Richard’s tenure.
For projects on state trust land, companies must honor all terms of the lease throughout the project’s lifespan, including pre-construction. AFE Cedarvale Wind LLC will be required to provide a project plan to the State Land Office six months before construction and file annual reports throughout construction.
Renewable energy is central to New Mexico’s energy policy. State law says that investor-owned utilities must generate 100% of their energy using renewable sources by 2045. Rural co-ops have until 2050.
The SunZia wind project in southeastern New Mexico, years in the making, began generating electricity. That project sends energy to California, another state with an ambitious renewable energy goal. SunZia is projected to generate 3,500 megawatts.
The State Land Office has generated $14 billion since 2019.