Avangrid Renewables has started construction on the La Joya Wind Farm in Torrance County, located about 10 miles west of the Village of Encino on 35,000 acres of state trust land.

When completed, the project will consist of 111 turbines and have a total generating capacity of 306 MW. The portion sited on state trust land will include 74 new wind turbines capable of generating a total of 207 MW.

The project is expected to be in operation by the end of 2020. Once online, energy from the La Joya Wind Farm will be delivered to the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). The wind farm will help PNM and other voluntary companies meet their climate and sustainability goals. As work proceeds on site, crews are practicing social distancing and other recommended best practices to reduce risks associated with COVID-19.

“There are hundreds of thousands of acres of state trust land prime for renewable energy generation, and this project in partnership with Avangrid Renewables, PNM, and their customers really highlights our potential as a state to become a powerhouse for America’s renewable energy future,” said Stephanie Garcia Richard, commissioner of Avangrid Renewables. “Over the lifetime of the La Joya project, we will raise over $41 million for New Mexico public schools. We are meeting our charge of supporting our beneficiaries with an eye toward diversifying our state’s revenue streams, and renewable energy can play an important role in that diversification.”

The La Joya Wind Farm is the second Avangrid Renewables project in New Mexico. The adjacent El Cabo Wind Farm, which has a capacity of 298 MW and consists of 142 Gamesa 2.0 and 2.1 MW turbines became operational in December of 2017.

“We are excited by the progress at La Joya and our growing footprint in New Mexico,” said Alejandro de Hoz, president and CEO of Avangrid Renewables. “We have enjoyed a long and positive relationship with the New Mexico State Land Office and are pleased to partner with them on this project to build more clean energy capacity and support New Mexico’s public priorities.”

News item from Avangrid Renewables