By Adrian Hedden
Ruidoso News
March 1, 2022
Four wind farms capable of meeting the annual energy needs of 900,000 people went into service and celebrated their grand opening last week as New Mexico leaders hope to transition to widespread use of renewable energy.
Pattern Energy’s Western Spirit Wind power facilities were built in Lincoln, Guadalupe and Torrance counties in south-central New Mexico, totaling 1,050 megawatts of capacity between the four facilities.
The projects, along with the associated transmission, required 1,500 local workers during construction and will employ 50 workers to operate the facilities.
They were expected to generate about $3 million annually for the three counties, along with two local school districts in the area.
The grand opening was attended by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) both long-standing supporters of renewable energy generation and transmission expansions in New Mexico.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at the Grand Opening of Western Spirit Wind