Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Energy), a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, announced the signing of long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. (Shell Energy) and the University of California Regents for a portion of the power from its 3,500+ MW SunZia wind project.
Commissioning in 2026
Construction of SunZia Wind is expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2026, at which time it will begin supplying power to western energy markets. SunZia Transmission will open access to western energy markets for SunZia Wind, the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere, which includes more than 3,500 MW of new wind facilities located in Torrance, Lincoln and San Miguel counties in New Mexico.
SunZia Transmission is a 550-mile, ±525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona, with a transmission capacity of 3,000 MW of clean, renewable energy. SunZia Transmission will enable SunZia Wind to provide power to customers in Arizona and California during critical late evening hours when demand is high but available renewable energy supply is low.
The SunZia Wind and SunZia Transmission projects were developed with a strong focus on local community involvement and environmental preservation. A key initiative of SunZia has been to hold extensive consultations with local, regional and national conservation stakeholders. As a result of this commitment and consultation, SunZia Transmission is setting a precedent for environmental mitigation efforts in close collaboration with the environmental community. This ranges from restoring thousands of acres of wildlife habitat to investing in emerging technologies and long-term conservation research. SunZia Wind has implemented sound environmental best practices to reduce project impacts and explore effective habitat restoration strategies in partnership with local and state experts.
Economic advantage
Pattern Energy recently announced that the SunZia Transmission and SunZia Wind projects are expected to generate $20.5 billion in total economic benefits, including more than $8 billion in direct capital investment, at no additional cost to consumers, according to the results of an independent study by research firm Energy, Economic & Environment Consultants LLC.
Together, the projects will generate an expected $1.3 billion in fiscal impacts that will benefit governments, communities and schools. These benefits are generated through sales and use taxes, property taxes, community benefit payments, and property payments to federal and state agencies. The projects continue to work with federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as well as local authorities and stakeholders, to finalize the remaining approvals to begin construction on schedule this year.
