Pattern's 2.2GW Corona complex approved

UNITED STATES: The Public Regulation Commission of New Mexico has approved the location control permit for Pattern Development's 2.2GW Corona wind complex.

by Ros Davidson 9 October 2018

Pattern has a wind portfolio of just under 5GW across North America and Japan

Construction can now start on the projects, which are to be online by the end of 2020 in Lincoln, Torrance and Guadalupe counties, in the east-central part of the state.

"Our team is now able to move forward with the Corona Wind Projects, creating over a thousand new construction jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic impact," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development.

The six Corona projects are: Duran Mesa; Cowboy Mesa; Red Cloud; Tecolote; Ancho; and Viento Loco.

They will consist of some 950 x 2.3MW turbines but a manufacturer has not yet been selected, according to a Pattern spokesman.

The wind projects will be connected to the SunZia extra-high voltage transmission line, to transport energy from New Mexico and Arizona as far as California and possibly Utah.

The commission had rejected the New Mexico portion of the transmission line in September, saying the information supplied was inadequate. The developer plans to apply again.