The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 approved an amendment to the county's electric facility plan to add a proposed 345 kilovolt transmission line on the west side of the county and to reclassify an existing 115 kV line as 345 kV. The board voted 5-0 to adopt Administrative Resolution AR 2025-98.

Carl Redmond, a planner with Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services, told commissioners the amendment consists of two parts: upgrading an existing, built 115 kV transmission line to 345 kV and adding a new 345 kV line extending from Sandoval County to a substation in the southwest portion of Bernalillo County. "Staff does concur with the applicant's justification, namely that the request will further goals and policies, which encourage furthering grid capacity, developing that resiliency, and also the load management of the electric grid," Redmond said.

Russell Bridal, land use and permitting administrator for PNM, said the additional 345 kV capacity is intended to improve system reliability and to support delivery of renewable generation into the metro area. "We want to improve system reliability and resilience because, like a bypass road, it gives the electricity, the electrons, another route to get into the metro area," Bridal said. He said the proposed alignment would largely follow the planned Paseo Del Vulcan right of way and that PNM started coordination with county staff in February.

PNM presented two potential west-side routes that converge near the county line; south of Double Eagle II Airport the options would come toward Interstate 40 and the Pajarito Substation in the Southwest Mesa area. Bridal said the existing Pajarito-to-Prosperity line has empty cross arms that can accommodate an additional circuit. He also said PNM has contacted neighborhood associations identified by county staff and has met with the Westside Coalition of Neighborhood Associations and the South Valley Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.

Commissioners asked about the permitting and right-of-way process. Bridal said PNM intends to file a certificate of convenience and necessity with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) and must show it has begun coordination with affected jurisdictions before that filing; he estimated submission in about two months. He said easements for the line could be up to 150 feet wide and that portions of the Paseo Del Vulcan right-of-way within Bernalillo County are publicly owned and were previously dedicated to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, with widths in some areas of about 300 feet.

Staff told the board no neighborhood associations or members of the public had submitted comments to county staff on the county record, though the applicant reported receiving inquiries from neighborhood groups. The county planning commission recommended approval at its Aug. 6, 2025 hearing.

Chair (name not specified in the transcript) moved to approve the administrative resolution amending the county's electric facility plan; Commissioner Frank Baca seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

The board noted next zoning meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. in the Kansatchez Commission Chambers.