Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) plans to buy a 165-mile transmission line that will carry electrical power from a wind farm near Corona in Central New Mexico to two PNM substations near Interstate 40.

PNM will acquire the transmission line for $285 million from the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority, which owns the Western Spirit project and is developing it in partnership with Pattern Development, reports The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Pattern will also build the Estancia Valley Wind Center that will feed the Western Spirit line, and a new Pajarito substation southeast of Albuquerque that will be transferred to PNM. Western Spirit power will go to Pajarito and the PNM Clines Corner substation.

"While sunshine and wind may be plentiful in New Mexico, the ability to deliver the clean energy they can produce is limited by the capacity of transmission lines," Pat Vincent-Collawn, chairman, president and CEO of PNM Resources, said in a news release.

Construction on Western Spirit and Estancia Valley is expected to start next year with completion expected in 2021.

Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican