The Sunzia Group held a scoping meeting on Wednesday to discuss potential routes for its projected high-voltage power lines that may run through the Valley.

Several representatives from the Bureau of Land Management, including Adrian Garcia, the project manager for the BLM, were present to answer questions about the effect the project would have on local lands. Garcia said the intent of the meeting was to inform the public of the project and its intended route as well as alternate routes that had been selected.

This project will place high-voltage lines and substations in key areas that allow renewable energy sources in both states to be tapped. The transmission lines would allow for future customer use of energy sources and for future energy plants to get their product to market via the lines.
Pictured are the maps displaying solar and wind variances of Arizona and New Mexico.

Mark and Shirley Dunne, who own property near Eureka Springs, had differing opinions.

"I'm concerned with the proximity to my property; I don't want the environmental impact," Shirley said. Her husband, Mark, said, "I'm all for it. We need more energy.

"This idea of ‘not in my back yard' doesn't work. It's got to be in someone's back yard," he said.

Several boards detailing aspects of the project, including maps, information about high-voltage transmission lines, a list of companies involved and the potential timeline to obtain permits, were on display around the room. A member of an environmental and cultural resources company, EPG, Tatyana Soroko, was on hand to assist members of the public in the use of Google Earth to see exact locations of the potential route.

Ian Calkins, a representative of the Copper State Consulting Group, stated that the intent of these scoping meetings was to "not only educate the public about this project but to solicit comments and opinions" about the possible route for placement of the lines.

According to Calkins, the Southwest Area Transmission Group held a meeting two years ago to identify energy needs. In looking at the Southwest United States they determined that there was a tremendous need for improvement in high-voltage transmission in southern Arizona and New Mexico. Calkins explained that the focus areas for energy were the high wind basin in central New Mexico and the high solar basin in southern Arizona.

Calkins also stated that by 2025, Arizona is required to receive 15 percent of its electric energy from renewable sources, and it's believed these transmission lines would assist in that goal.

Several more meetings are planned and will be advertised for the public. If you would like more information or would like to voice your opinion on this project visit the BLM site www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/more/lands_realty.html.