N.M. wind power grows at 5th-fastest rate
Report shows state among leaders in nation as more wind farms crop up
Staci Matlock | The New Mexican
Posted: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 10/21/09
Posted: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 10/21/09
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A new report ranked New Mexico as the state with the fifth-fastest growth rate in wind-energy capacity from June to September.
The 100-megawatt High Lonesome wind farm, with 40 turbines, in Torrance County was completed in July by the Edison Mission Group. New Mexico can now produce up to 597 megawatts of wind energy but is still a long way from catching up to the 8,797 megawatts of wind-energy capacity now operating in Texas.
The report, released Tuesday by the American Wind Energy Association, said New Mexico ranks 12th in the nation for potential wind-energy capacity, based on wind studies, and second in the nation for solar-energy capacity.
The third quarter showed a higher growth in the nation's operating wind-energy capacity than in the prior six months. The U.S. added 5,800 megawatts of wind-energy capacity, although the production of wind turbines is lagging behind last year's levels, according to the report.
About 9 million homes can now be powered by the wind turbines spinning in the U.S., which are capable of producing 31,000 megawatts of electricity.
The New Mexico State Land Office said companies have signed lease options for wind farms on 116,000 acres of state trust land but haven't started construction. Companies are applying for leases on 401,000 acres of state trust land for wind-energy projects.
Michael McDiarmid, an engineer and head of the wind-power program for New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, said wind power is growing well considering the state's size. "We expect next year there will be another large wind project added, about 90 megawatts, in Union County," McDiarmid said. "There's a number of projects in the planning stages. We expect to see future growth until we hit the limits of transmission capacity."
All states growing renewable energy projects face the problem of an electric grid that is nearing its carrying capacity. New transmission lines can take more than a decade to plan, permit and build.
McDiarmid said he would like to see the state attract more wind turbine manufacturing plants. A couple of large solar photovoltaic manufacturing plants are operating near Albuquerque, but nothing for wind components.
"I'm not sure why we're not attracting more wind manufacturers," McDiarmid said.
Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.
The 100-megawatt High Lonesome wind farm, with 40 turbines, in Torrance County was completed in July by the Edison Mission Group. New Mexico can now produce up to 597 megawatts of wind energy but is still a long way from catching up to the 8,797 megawatts of wind-energy capacity now operating in Texas.
The report, released Tuesday by the American Wind Energy Association, said New Mexico ranks 12th in the nation for potential wind-energy capacity, based on wind studies, and second in the nation for solar-energy capacity.
The third quarter showed a higher growth in the nation's operating wind-energy capacity than in the prior six months. The U.S. added 5,800 megawatts of wind-energy capacity, although the production of wind turbines is lagging behind last year's levels, according to the report.
About 9 million homes can now be powered by the wind turbines spinning in the U.S., which are capable of producing 31,000 megawatts of electricity.
The New Mexico State Land Office said companies have signed lease options for wind farms on 116,000 acres of state trust land but haven't started construction. Companies are applying for leases on 401,000 acres of state trust land for wind-energy projects.
Michael McDiarmid, an engineer and head of the wind-power program for New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, said wind power is growing well considering the state's size. "We expect next year there will be another large wind project added, about 90 megawatts, in Union County," McDiarmid said. "There's a number of projects in the planning stages. We expect to see future growth until we hit the limits of transmission capacity."
All states growing renewable energy projects face the problem of an electric grid that is nearing its carrying capacity. New transmission lines can take more than a decade to plan, permit and build.
McDiarmid said he would like to see the state attract more wind turbine manufacturing plants. A couple of large solar photovoltaic manufacturing plants are operating near Albuquerque, but nothing for wind components.
"I'm not sure why we're not attracting more wind manufacturers," McDiarmid said.
Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.
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IMPORTANT: Comments must be posted under your own full, real name. Anonymous comments and those posted under a pseudonym can be removed. Please consult the forum rules. If you have questions, e-mail webeditor@sfnewmexican.com.
