The Bureau of Land Management this week released its environmental assessment of a compromise reached with the U.S. Defense Department over the 515-mile-long line's location.
The review found there would be no significant effects from burying a portion of the line to avoid interfering with operations at White Sands Missile Range. Officials were initially concerned the high-voltage line could reduce testing operations at the remote range and ultimately threaten national security.
SunZia is one of seven pilot projects the Obama administration has put on a fast track in hopes of boosting renewable energy development mainly across the West.
The SunZia project aims to tap into stranded wind resources in central and western New Mexico as well pockets of solar and geothermal potential in New Mexico and Arizona. The line will export the generated electricity to larger markets in the West.
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