Pattern Energy Group has completed construction and begun commercial operation of its suite of Western Spirit Wind power projects.
Western Spirit Wind is comprised of four wind power facilities totaling more than 1,050 megawatts (MW) located in Guadalupe, Lincoln, and Torrance Counties in central New Mexico.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich said, “The largest renewable energy project in American history is now up and running – right here in New Mexico. Western Spirit encompasses four new utility-scale wind sites that connect rural communities in central New Mexico to local customers and other major energy markets beyond our state’s borders.”
“Western Spirit brought over 1,100 construction jobs to New Mexico, generated local spending, tax revenue and landowner payments in a remote area of New Mexico, and is delivering enough renewable energy to meet the electricity needs of more than 900,000 Americans,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy.
Pattern Energy has committed to $6 billion in upcoming wind energy and related infrastructure projects in the state over the next decade.
The four wind power facilities that comprise Western Spirit Wind utilize a total of 377 GE wind turbines ranging from 2.3 to 2.8 MW in size. The GE turbines utilize various tower heights to optimize the wind capture at each facility.