This paper’s title describes what it is about. These are two very important projects. The first, briefly described below, is also an important part of a major wind power project. This transmission project is currently planned to be completed by 2026.
The largest renewable energy infrastructure project in U.S. history, an $8 billion wind farm and transmission line-is set to begin construction in 2023. San Francisco-based Pattern Energy took over the projects, called SunZia Wind and SunZia Transmission, from Southwestern Power Group in July 2022. The wind part of the project consists of a total of 3,000 megawatts from wind farms to be built in three counties in New Mexico. An 885-kilometer bidirectional high-voltage direct-current transmission line will run from New Mexico and south-central Arizona. The transmission line will sidestep the growing difficulties of connecting renewable energy sources to the power grid.
The Second Project is currently in the development phase, and has just started, but appears to be well along in planning, and may be completed by 2028.
The North Plains Connector is an approximately 385 mile and up to 600 kilovolt high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line connecting the U.S. eastern and western electric grids in, respectively, North Dakota and Montana. The North Plains Connector will be open to all sources of electrical power generation. In response to demand, the project will be able to transport power in either direction along the line.