SunZia Renewable Energy Project Halted Amid Native American Tribes' Concerns

Tribes Claim Destruction of Historic Sites; Pattern Energy Pauses Work for Consultation

The SunZia transmission project, a $10 billion renewable energy initiative, has been temporarily halted due to concerns raised by Native American tribes about the impact on religious and cultural sites.
The Tohono O’odham Nation, supported by the Apache Tribe, archaeologists, and other tribes, asked for immediate intervention, claiming that construction activities were damaging historic sites in the San Pedro Valley.
The SunZia project, developed by Pattern Energy, is intended to transport electricity from wind farms in central New Mexico to populated areas as far away as California, spanning about 550 miles.
The project is part of the Biden administration’s plan for boosting renewable energy and improving the reliability of the nation’s power grids.
Pattern Energy considers the pause on work as a 'good faith step' as part of the Bureau of Land Management's consultation process.