OPINION: Regional transmission projects promote collaboration and investment in our shared grid

By Michelle Lujan Grisham

Arizona and New Mexico share not just a border but common values, including a deep appreciation for our environment and the magnificent natural beauty of our surroundings. But this summer we will once again share a common foe: extreme weather – particularly extreme heat – will put our electric grids to the test, potentially endangering our economies and our citizens’ public health.

The irony is that our region is not lacking in resources to power our electric grid. The American Southwest is rich in renewables. The sun burns hot during the day, and the winds blow strong at night. The problem we collectively face is that we’re lacking enough poles and wires to move the electricity these renewables produce to where it’s needed.

High-voltage electric transmission is the backbone of our electricity system, and as our energy needs grow, the transmission grid needs to grow with it. The West’s electric grid has been neglected for decades, and our families and businesses are paying the price. Particularly with the rising threat of extreme heat, we need a transmission grid that can provide our homes, businesses, and our flourishing manufacturing facilities with the consistent and dependable energy supply they need to thrive.

Thankfully, the West is in the midst of two processes that will address our urgent need for transmission. The Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC) is developing a west-wide transmission solution that will address our region’s rapidly changing energy demand and grid needs. Similarly, the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (CREPC) is working to make the shared costs of transmission, which is essential for securing support and funding for these critical, regional infrastructure projects, more equitable. Ten West Link, a transmission line connecting Arizona to California, was just completed last month.

The Western Spirit transmission line has been delivering New Mexico wind energy onto the western grid since 2021. And the SunZia transmission line will connect our two states, Arizona and New Mexico. When combined with the SunZia Wind project, it will be the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history. Together, we are proving that America can still build big things. And with the increased federal investment in infrastructure, there is more to come.

We have a lot on the line. With industry flocking to the Southwest to build the manufacturing plants and semiconductor facilities that will power America’s 21st century, we have an extraordinary opportunity to create exciting and fulfilling careers and grow our economies. These industries are attracted to our region in part because they’re looking to invest in a place where energy is abundant, reliable, and affordable in a way that only renewable energy can be. Transmission delivers electricity, and it can also deliver on the promise and potential of our communities.

Building transmission lines is difficult and takes a long time. But if we do this right, if we work together to build a transmission grid that’s more efficient and interconnected across the West, we have the potential to diversify our economies, create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and save our residents billions of dollars annually in energy costs. The only barrier between us and a future of abundant, reliable and affordable energy is our shared resolve to collaborate and create win-win solutions.

Recently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington issued new rules aimed at empowering states to forge regional solutions to our transmission grid challenges. But in the West, we didn’t wait for Washington to act. New Mexico created a state transmission authority, and 14 years later, Colorado followed suit.

In Arizona, Gov. Hobbs recently signed HB 2003 and HB 2004, streamlining the replacement process for cables and structures on transmission lines and revising procedures for constructing utility facilities. FERC’s guidance is important, but some of us in the West are already working together, confident in our ability to develop comprehensive, West-wide transmission solutions tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of our region.

My message to the rest of the West is clear: by working together, we can break ground on the transmission projects that will fortify our grid, ensuring reliable electricity for our homes and businesses, and power our region’s economic growth.

I urge our fellow Western governors, legislators, and citizens to support regional transmission projects and advocate for policies that promote collaboration and investment in our shared grid. Together, we can create a more resilient and prosperous future for the West – one with thriving economies, abundant job opportunities, lower energy costs, healthy communities, and a secure, sustainable energy supply.

If we continue our tradition of collaboration, we can withstand the challenges posed by extreme weather and emerge stronger and better prepared to seize the opportunities that lie ahead. The time to act is now, and we invite all Westerners to join us in this effort.