Progress made on Sagamore Wind Project
The first turbine at the Sagamore Wind Project in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, was commissioned Sept. 11, putting the first of 240 turbines in motion as the wind farm readies to push clean energy onto the grid by year-end.
The project includes a recently energized 14-mile transmission line that ties wind generation on the 100,000-acre, 522-megawatt project to one of two substations, which are nearly finished. And, as crews set their last foundation, they surpassed 160 erected wind towers. |
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“I’m very proud of everyone who has made this moment possible at Sagamore Wind,” said Brian Hudson, project manager.
“It is amazing what the team has overcome and achieved over the last several years to enable us to put this new generation on the grid.” |
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In addition to solving component delivery issues related to the current global pandemic, Xcel Energy has continued to keep workers and communities safe with ongoing communication, and close delivery and project coordination.
Sagamore will join the 478-megawatt Texas Hale Wind Project, completed in 2019, as a company owned and operated project lowering fuel costs for customers and helping meet Xcel Energy’s goal of delivering 100% carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050.
Not yet including Sagamore, Xcel Energy has 1,984 megawatts of wind and 192 megawatts of solar benefiting Texas and New Mexico customers - enough to power about 935,000 homes.
The mild months this year have seen new records set in wind generation delivered to customers. In April, nearly 40% of the electricity supply was made up of power generated at area wind farms. On April 12, wind energy set a daily record when it accounted for more than 65% of that entire day’s electricity supply. And, the morning of May 8, Xcel Energy set a new hourly peak when 76% of the region’s electricity needs were met by wind energy. |
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