May 28, 2014
New Mexico

Wind farm blowing into Union County

Dennis Domrzalski, Reporter | Albuquerque Business First | May 27, 2014 | www.bizjournals.com

New Mexico State Land Commissioner Ray Powell said Tuesday he has signed a lease agreement for a 285-turbine wind farm in Union County that could eventually generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity and power 200,000 homes.

The agreement with Triangle Gallegos, LP, which is a wind-energy company based in Union County and Hereford, Texas, calls for a wind farm on 50,000 acres of private and state trust land, Powell said in a news release.

The project would be built in two phases, beginning in 2015. The lease could generate up to $47 million for the state over the 45-year life of the project, Powell said.

The first phase could create 400 construction jobs and 20 permanent jobs.

“With wind and solar projects in the pipeline, the Land Office will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in future years for support of our public schools, universities and hospitals throughout the state,” Powell said.

Triangle Gallegos is a joint venture between Triangle Cattle Co., and Gallegos Wind Farm, LLC. The firm won the lease at an April 28 auction at the Union County Courthouse in Clayton.

Union County, in northeast New Mexico, had a population of 4,370 as of July 1, 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 2011, the county had 123 businesses, 976 paid employees and an annual payroll of $27 million, the Census Bureau said.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/28/wind-farm-blowing-into-union-county/