New Mexico’s newest wind power facility is now up and running. Pattern Energy Group 2 LP (Pattern Development) announced it has completed construction and begun operations at its 220-MW Grady Wind facility located in Curry County, New Mexico. This is the third and final phase of a 544-MW suite of wind projects, which now represent the largest investment in clean power in the history of New Mexico, according to Pattern.
Grady Wind is using 84 Siemens Gamesa 2.625-MW wind turbines with 120-meter rotors and has a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement for 100% of the energy produced. The project will deliver wind power across the Western Interconnect transmission line that was also developed and placed into service in 2017 by Pattern Development.
The construction phase of Grady Wind created hundreds of jobs for New Mexicans and it is now delivering additional economic benefits including land lease payments to local landowners and tax revenue for the host communities of eastern New Mexico, according to Pattern. The facility employs approximately 20 full-time personnel for ongoing maintenance and operations.
“The successful completion of Grady Wind represents an important step in New Mexico’s evolution as a major renewable energy producer,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development. “As the leading wind developer and operator in New Mexico, we are proud to be helping position New Mexico as a wind energy leader. We also plan to ramp up construction in early 2020 on more than 800 MW of new wind facilities in central New Mexico, creating hundreds of new construction jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic impact. As wind and solar energy development grow throughout the state, New Mexicans will reap the economic benefits.”
