en.Wedoany.com Reported - The SunZia wind farm, with an installed capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, is set to begin operations next month and is said to be one of the largest clean energy facilities in the United States. Located in New Mexico, the project is expected to come online as early as June 15, generating enough electricity to power one million homes annually.
Developed by Pattern Energy Group LLC, the project includes a 550-mile (approximately 885-kilometer) transmission line to deliver electricity to Arizona, with the entire construction process spanning 20 years. The project may become one of the last to bear fruit in a currently shrinking pool of large-scale deals. The Trump administration has terminated generous federal tax incentives and delayed permitting for renewable energy projects. The Pentagon has also accumulated a backlog of dozens of applications for proposed U.S. wind farms, holding up approval of critical authorizations needed to develop these power projects.
According to a study released last month by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie, approximately 5,000 wind turbines are awaiting final approval from the U.S. government. The report stated that if the Department of Defense's current backlog of projects is not approved, installed capacity could decrease by 17%, or about 7 gigawatts, by the end of this decade.
SunZia will provide a critical source of power ahead of what is forecast to be another hot summer, when power grids in California and western U.S. states will face strain. Drought and low winter snowpack reduce hydropower generation in the region, making wind power a potentially important source of relief.
Despite federal policy headwinds, U.S. clean energy installations are still expected to hit another record high this year. SunZia raised $11 billion in funding in late 2023.
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