New 103-Mile Power Line Proposed Through Torrance and Valencia Counties

Residents in Torrance County and Valencia County face a new infrastructure proposal that would run a 103-mile high-voltage line through their neighborhoods. Public Service Company of New Mexico applied to the Public Regulation Commission on Oct. 30 for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for this project. The utility aims to connect a wind farm in central New Mexico to its grid in the Albuquerque area.

The proposed line would travel from the Western Spirit Switching Station in Torrance County to the Hidden Mountain Substation south of Belen. It is designed to operate at 345 kilovolts. Of the total distance, 83 miles would cross private land. An additional 16.5 miles would cross state trust land, and 2 miles would cross federal land. The utility stated that the project requires a 200-foot right-of-way.

This construction is part of a larger effort to reach 100% carbon-free power by 2050. The 2019 Energy Transition Act requires utilities to build renewable energy capacity to replace coal and gas plants. Wind farms are often located in rural areas far from major cities. Transmission lines are necessary to move that power to load centers like Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces. In September 2025, PNM released a 20-year transmission outlook identifying 14 conceptual projects. These projects could cost up to $4 billion.

In November 2025, PRC hearing examiners approved agreements for PNM to buy power from the Palomas Wind project. This 800-megawatt facility is estimated at a $2 billion cost. The examiners recommended that ratepayers recover up to $654.5 million for transmission and network upgrade costs. Most of these costs are tied to the Mid-State 345-kilovolt project. If approved, Pattern Energy Group will build the line and then transfer ownership to PNM.

Laurie Williams, PNM’s senior vice president of integrated planning and transmission development, stated that the utility currently lacks the capacity to bring additional wind resources from the east. She noted that new wind resources added in 2021 provided some of the lowest-cost energy for customers. However, the company has not been able to add more wind power without expanding its transmission infrastructure.

Local landowners are raising concerns about the proposed route. Alan Schechner, a livestock farmer in Torrance County near Mountainair, said the line would bisect many 40-acre parcels. He noted that his property already has a 50-foot easement for an existing PNM line. Schechner supports renewable energy but believes the infrastructure can disrupt local lifestyles. He suggested that PNM consider other routes for the line.

Schechner and Gregory Chakalian are part of a coalition urging the PRC, PNM, and Pattern Energy to review an alternative path. In an email, Chakalian said the line intersects with the San Gregorio de Abó Mission. This site is part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument near Mountainair. He argued that the construction of steel towers requiring a 200-foot-wide right-of-way would impact the visual and cultural integrity of the historical landscape.

Williams said the project team is using visual simulations to evaluate potential effects on views from the site. She stated that the Mid-State transmission project is designed to strengthen the reliability and resilience of the electric system. The goal is to increase the ability to move power where it is needed to serve homes and businesses across New Mexico.