Xcel breaks ground on $900 million wind farm to lower fuel costs for area customers
DORA (KSEL)- New Mexico leaders are joining Xcel Energy officials today in breaking ground on the 522-megawatt Sagamore Wind Project near Dora in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. When operational in the latter part of 2020, the wind energy facility will boost the area’s power supply with clean, affordable wind energy and reduce fuel costs for Xcel Energy customers in both New Mexico and Texas.
“This is a historic investment for Roosevelt County, but its benefits reach far beyond,” said David Hudson, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “We’ll see a significant economic boost to the New Mexico economy through increased jobs, royalty payments to landowners, and more revenue for county and school budgets. And for the next 25 years, Xcel Energy customers in both New Mexico and Texas will benefit from lower fuel costs since our fuel source is the free and abundant wind of eastern New Mexico.”
Xcel Energy will invest close to $900 million to erect 240 Vestas turbines capable of generating 522 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 194,000 typical homes annually. Upon completion in late 2020, it will be the single largest wind energy plant in New Mexico.
Sagamore is the largest and final component of a 1,230-megawatt expansion of wind energy on Xcel Energy’s New Mexico-Texas system. The 478-megawatt Hale Wind Project near Plainview, Texas, was completed in June, on time and $60 million under budget. Hale has already led to fuel cost reductions for Texas and New Mexico customers by displacing higher-cost fossil fuel generation and earning production tax credits that have been passed along to customers.
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