New Transmission Line Improves Grid Resiliency and Supports Bird Habitat in New Mexico

It’s attainable to construct renewable power infrastructure and enhance habitat for birds. 

And in lots of instances, builders are prepared to help further conservation measures to enhance venture outcomes for the setting and other people. In New Mexico, Audubon not too long ago labored with NextEra Transmission to guard habitat through the planning of the Crossroads — Hobbs — Roadrunner Transmission line, an roughly 137-mile double-circuit 345-kV transmission line that now interconnects the Crossroads, Hobbs, and Roadrunner substations in Roosevelt and Lea counties. In collaboration with Audubon, the New Mexico State Land Workplace, and the New Mexico Land Conservancy, NextEra Vitality Transmission was in a position to take further measures to assist the state’s Lesser Prairie-Hen inhabitants.   

Most individuals affiliate Audubon with conservation work to guard birds and are sometimes shocked to be taught we work on electrical transmission and renewable power initiatives. However there may be an underlying core want driving this engagement. Two-thirds of North American chook species are vulnerable to extinction from habitat loss and intensifying excessive climate by the top of the century. In New Mexico, it is birds like our Mountain Bluebirds, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, and Pinyon Jay that we stand to lose if we don’t begin defending the locations they want from rising world temperatures.  

Audubon is dedicated to halting and finally reversing the decline of birds throughout the Americas, and we can’t do this with out extra renewable power and a modernized and expanded electrical grid. That’s the reason we have interaction on proposed initiatives and conduct deep evaluation, using our huge units of chook and habitat information and scientific experience to verify they’re responsibly planned and operated.  

By defending habitat and enhancing grid resiliency, the brand new Crossroads — Hobbs — Roadrunner Transmission line in New Mexico serves for instance of what may be completed when trade and conservation work collectively. As a part of the venture, disconnected areas of Lesser Prairie-Hen habitat will probably be reconnected to the Lost Draw Ranch conservation bank, creating a fancy of greater than 60,000 acres of protected habitat. As well as, one other 20,000 acres will probably be protected by way of land use restrictions or situations which is able to restrict additional growth in habitat that’s important for this chook.  

As NextEra’s new transmission line helps to energy properties and strengthens grid reliability, Audubon will proceed working with builders to construct a vibrant future for all of the folks and critters that decision New Mexico house. Thanks to everybody that had a hand in making this venture occur.