One of the largest clean energy infrastructure projects in U.S. history is generating reliable energy for the western U.S.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Pattern Energy Group (Pattern Energy), a leader in clean energy and transmission infrastructure, today announced that SunZia, the largest renewable energy infrastructure project in U.S. history is fully operational. The SunZia project can generate and deliver more power than the Hoover Dam and supply affordable, reliable energy to the western United States.
“SunZia proves that we can still build the consequential infrastructure this country needs,” said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy. “We did this the right way, we did it on time and on budget – in genuine partnership with the local communities and landowners who trusted us, with the environmental stewardship this unique landscape deserves, and with the determination to see something through that many thought was too big and too complex to finish.”
The approximately 3,650-megawatt (MW) wind project and 550-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that comprise SunZia are generating and delivering affordable, American-made energy from New Mexico to Arizona and to customers across the western grid. At full capacity, the project can deliver enough energy to power approximately one million American homes annually.
“SunZia becoming fully operational is a milestone more than 18 years in the making and one that I’ve been fighting for since I first came to Congress,” said U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. “Through a whole series of obstacles spanning over a decade and a half, we kept working to move it forward because we knew what it could mean for America’s energy future and New Mexico’s role in leading it. Now, New Mexico is home to one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in the Western Hemisphere.”
SunZia is meeting surging energy demand with new interregional transmission infrastructure that can deliver reliable, affordable energy. The project helps solve one of the central challenges facing the energy sector: not only building energy generation, but also the grid infrastructure needed to deliver that power.
At the center of that solution is SunZia’s HVDC transmission system, which moves large amounts of electricity efficiently across long distances. With major converter stations at each end of the line converting power for delivery and then back for use on the grid, SunZia is deploying one of the first major HVDC systems built in the United States in a generation — advanced infrastructure that can help define how America delivers power at scale.
“Large-scale transmission is essential to meeting the West’s growing energy needs and strengthening reliability across the grid,” said Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO of the California Independent System Operator (ISO). “Projects of this scale help deliver energy reliably to areas of rising demand, improve the movement of power across states and support a more resilient, flexible and affordable electric system. SunZia represents the kind of long-term infrastructure investment needed to serve customers today and prepare the grid for the future.”
Construction on SunZia began in September 2023 and more than 2,000 quality jobs were supported at peak construction. The project will also create more than 100 permanent operations jobs in New Mexico and Arizona. The facility will invest over $20 billion in New Mexico and Arizona communities including $1.3 billion in direct payments to local governments, schools, counties and private landowners over the first 30 years of operations.
“The benefits of this project will be felt in our communities for years to come,” said Barbara Sultemeier, Board Member for the Corona Landowner’s Association through the Lincoln County Community Foundation. “SunZia is supporting local jobs, strengthening the local tax base and creating long-term investment that can help support schools, public services, landowners and families across the region. For communities like ours, that kind of sustained economic impact matters.”
SunZia also demonstrates what private industry can deliver when it takes on complex infrastructure challenges with discipline and responsibility. The fully contracted project advanced through years of development, permitting, financing, construction and community engagement, requiring close coordination among private companies, local governments, state and federal agencies, landowners and energy customers.
“The result is historic energy infrastructure that will power millions of American homes and businesses for decades to come. This project sets a new standard for what is possible — and we intend to keep building on it,” said Hunter Armistead.
About Pattern Energy
Pattern Energy is one of the world’s largest privately owned developers and operators of clean energy and transmission infrastructure. With more than 40 facilities across North America, Pattern’s portfolio includes wind, solar, and energy storage projects that deliver reliable, affordable power to millions of customers. With nearly 12,000 MW of operating and in-construction capacity, Pattern Energy is focused on meeting growing energy demand while strengthening communities and responsibly powering the future. For more information, visit www.patternenergy.com.
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Partner Quotes
Ava Community Energy
“Ava was founded on a vision to accelerate clean energy adoption, which requires abundant and competitively priced renewable energy from across the western region,” said Howard Chang, CEO of Ava Community Energy. “SunZia adds over 250 MW of wind power to our portfolio and helps us deliver on that vision to over two million people in California’s Alameda and San Joaquin counties.”
Blattner Energy
Brett Beatty, President, Blattner said “We hold a deep commitment to doing this work the right way—with safety of the workforce, certainty in the product we deliver and immense respect for the communities we’re part of. We’re proud of the more than 2,000 Blattner employees and all our trade partners whose grit, skill and commitment to safety built SunZia Wind. And we’re grateful to the communities that welcomed our teams for almost four years.”
Central Coast Community Energy’s (3CE)
“The SunZia Wind project brings important stability to the 1.2 million people 3CE serves, by providing renewable generation outside of peak solar hours. Delivering affordable, emission-free energy and much-needed reliability from over five hundred miles away to California’s Central Coast is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of Pattern Energy and their partners” said Central Coast Community Energy CEO Robert M Shaw
Clean Power Alliance
“As the SunZia’s first major customer and largest energy purchaser in California, Clean Power Alliance is proud to have helped bring this transformative project to fruition. SunZia’s abundant nighttime wind generation complements our growing portfolio of solar, energy storage and geothermal resources, helping us deliver reliable clean energy to our customers around the clock,” said Ted Bardacke, CEO of Clean Power Alliance. “SunZia demonstrates what is possible when public agencies and private infrastructure developers work together toward a shared vision on behalf of electricity customers across the country.”
CleanPowerSF
“San Francisco has made real progress cutting emissions. Renewable energy through CleanPowerSF and Hetch Hetchy Power has played a significant role in our success,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “Our agreement with SunZia adds wind power from New Mexico to our diverse renewable electricity supply. The agreement is expected to generate enough electricity to power nearly 100,000 average San Francisco homes each year, while supporting our work to deliver clean, reliable and affordable power.”
GE Vernova
David Hardy, Global Chief Commercial Officer, Wind, GE Vernova, said, “As an American based wind manufacturer, we are proud to have supported Pattern in bringing this historic project online. I want to congratulate them and thank our teams who worked hard to deliver 674 of GE Vernova’s workhorse turbines. SunZia underscores how our industry can build projects that deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to Americans across the country while offering jobs throughout all phases of the wind farm’s construction and operation.”
HASI
“Congratulations to Pattern Energy for its vision, perseverance, and execution in bringing SunZia to full operations,” said Susan Nickey, Chief Client Officer at HASI. “We are proud to be a financial partner to Pattern’s outstanding leadership team on one of the most significant clean energy infrastructure projects in the United States.”
Hitachi Energy
“Through our partnership with Pattern Energy, Hitachi Energy is honored to provide the HVDC Light® technology that enables the SunZia project to deliver reliable energy with exceptional efficiency and minimal transmission losses. By supporting Pattern’s vision and the broader energy ecosystem, we are helping to create a dependable energy system that benefits communities and future generations,” said Andreas Berthou, Executive Vice President HVDC at Hitachi Energy.
New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA)
Robert “Bob” Busch, Chairman of the Board of the New Mexico Renewable Energy. Transmission Authority said, “Seeing SunZia reach this milestone is astonishing because projects of this scale do not happen overnight. They require years of visionary leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and perseverance from experts across New Mexico and beyond. I have had the privilege of watching this project evolve from an ambitious idea into one of the most significant energy infrastructure investments in our nation’s history. SunZia demonstrates New Mexico’s ability to lead in energy development while creating jobs, generating economic opportunity, and helping deliver reliable, clean power to millions of Americans. On behalf of RETA, I congratulate Pattern Energy and all the partners who remained committed to this project through every challenge.”
Nuveen
“SunZia is a landmark transaction for Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit and a defining example of the kind of investment we set out to make. Having partnered with Pattern Energy on four distinct investments in connection with the SunZia project, including most recently providing the preferred tax equity for SunZia North, we’ve seen firsthand Pattern’s proven discipline, execution, and long-term vision that was required to bring a project of this scale to life. We’re proud to have been a significant capital partner to Pattern and congratulate all parties involved on a historic project that will provide affordable clean energy to the Western US for generations to come,” said Don Dimitrievich, Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit
Quanta Services Inc.
“For Quanta, SunZia is more than a project. It’s a milestone – one that proves what’s possible when strong partnerships and the collective power of our operating companies come together to deliver the energy infrastructure solutions America needs,” said Karl Studer, President of Electric Power, Quanta Services, Inc.
Riverside Public Utilities
“Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) is very excited to be part of the family of SunZia off-takers. RPU continues to strive towards acquiring a more sustainable portfolio of generation resources and the energy we will now receive from this historic SunZia Wind project will enable the City of Riverside to significantly reduce its carbon footprint” said Dr. Scott Lesch, Assistant General Manager – Power Resources, Riverside Public Utilities
University of California
“The University of California is proud to have been the first customer to commit to SunZia and to see Pattern Energy bring this landmark project from vision to operation. SunZia reflects the scale of collaboration needed to advance a cleaner, more reliable energy future, and we are pleased to add this important wind resource to UC’s clean electricity portfolio in support of our campuses, medical centers and systemwide decarbonization goals” said University of California, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Nathan Brostrom.
Ulteig
“We’re grateful for our partnership with Pattern Energy on a project of this magnitude,” said Ulteig President and CEO Doug Jaeger. “SunZia represents an unprecedented opportunity to deliver reliable, clean energy to millions of Americans. Collaborating with an organization that shares our commitment to innovation, energy-efficient infrastructure and future-focused performance made it possible to bring this vision to life. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and look forward to seeing the long-term positive impact of this work.”
Vestas
“SunZia is a landmark project for Vestas and a defining moment for American energy. But what makes it truly significant is what it demonstrates about partnership. From day one, our collaboration with Pattern Energy was built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to delivering something the industry had never seen at this scale. SunZia is tangible proof of what that commitment unlocks,” said Laura Beane, President, Vestas North America.