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Sun Zia Southwest Transmission Project
 Tri-State will participate in the initial development of the proposed SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, which would be comprised of two 460-mile, 500-kilovolt lines extending from east-central New Mexico to east-central Arizona. It is being designed to move 3,000-plus megawatts across the Southwest.
Other participants in the project are Energy Capital Projects, SunZia, LLC, Salt River Project, SouthWestern Power Group, Tucson Electric Power and Shell Wind Energy, Inc. SouthWestern Power is the transmission project developer and the project manager.
Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the project would be to transport electricity from anticipated wind, solar and geothermal projects to western power markets and load centers.
Project Area
Transmission lines would begin in New Mexico’s wind abundant plains north of Roswellin either Socorro or Lincoln counties. The lines would then extend east, skirting the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and then head south to the Luna substation east of Deming, N.M. The lines would then go west near Lordsburg, N.M., and cross into Arizona through the San Simon Creek Basin before tying into the Willow substation south of Safford. Eventually the lines would terminate at the Pinal Central substation east of Casa Grand, Ariz.
Next Steps
Project development and permitting began in February 2008 and should be completed by the end of 2011. If all permitting goes as planned the line is expected to be in service by the end of 2013.
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