Major New Mexico Transmission Project Receives Approval from U.S Bureau of Land Management

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group, (505)898-8689, tom@garritypr.com

Albuquerque, N.M. – The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) that includes an updated Preferred Alternative Route for RioSol Transmission Line, a 500-kilovolt (kV) High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) power line that will transport up to 1,500 megawatts of clean energy to communities in New Mexico, Arizona and other western markets. The permitted route will originate in Torrance County, New Mexico crossing portions of Socorro, Sierra, Luna, Grant, Hidalgo and Valencia counties in New Mexico and Graham, Greenlee, Cochise and Pima counties in Arizona before terminating in Pinal County, Arizona. 

Photo via BLM Record of Decision

The ROD announcement also impacts the SunZia Transmission Project; amended routes for both transmission lines were proposed to address military and environmental impacts and resolve additional stakeholder concerns. The two separately owned transmission lines (RioSol is an HVAC line, SunZia is a High Voltage Direct Current line) will largely traverse the same 550 miles of federal, state and private lands between central New Mexico and central Arizona.

“This welcomed ROD marks a major milestone in RioSol’s quest to develop New Mexico’s wind generation resources and bring clean energy to thousands of homes and small businesses,” said David Getts, general manager of Southwestern Power Group, the company that owns RioSol.  

RioSol is anticipated to generate 971.1 million in economic revenue and will help New Mexico and Arizona meet clean energy goals.

Construction for the SunZia Transmission Project is anticipated to commence in the summer of 2023, with construction on RioSol starting as early as 2025, operational as early as 2028.  

More information about the differences between RioSol and SunZia and how the two lines complement each other, can be found here: https://riosol.energy/riosol-sunzia/

The Record of Decision issued can be found, here: https://eplanning.blm.gov/public_projects/2011785/200481766/20078613/250084795/20230517%20SunZia%20ROD_508.pdf 

About RioSol

RioSol is a planned 500-kilovolt (kV) High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) renewable energy transmission line that will deliver clean energy Central New Mexico to South Central Arizona. For project details visit RioSol.Energy and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn @RioSolEnergy.

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