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Western Transmission Consortium pitches 8 'Desert Southwest' network projects, seeks New Mexico engagement
Summary
Consortium representatives told the committee they have identified eight Desert Southwest transmission projects (many sited in New Mexico) intended to improve interregional trade and reliability; they urged state support, use of NMRETA authorities for siting, and close community outreach to manage permitting and eminent‑domain concerns.
Lawyers representing the Western Transmission Consortium told the Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee that the Interior West needs coordinated, interregional transmission and that a curated set of initial projects could accelerate builds that have previously stalled for years.
Ray Gifford, speaking for the consortium, said the group organized investors across three business models — independent transmission companies, investor‑owned utilities and public power — and created a Desert Southwest pod that surfaced eight candidate network projects, “a majority of them in New Mexico.”
“New Mexico is at a crossroads in the Desert Southwest,” Gifford said, arguing that improved transmission would enable resource trading, resilience and economic development while ensuring customers who benefit pay for projects.
Matt Larson, consortium counsel, described a staged approach that forms project companies from participating investors, then advances necessary permitting, certificate‑of‑need filings and regulatory reviews. He said the consortium has engaged state regulators across the West and plans to balance different state policy preferences rather than impose a one‑size‑fits‑all solution.
Committee members pressed presenters on barriers: siting across federal lands and NEPA timelines, eminent domain questions, accounting for large new loads (hyperscalers/data centers), and how governance and rate oversight would work when multiple regulated and private investors build and operate lines. Presenters said NMRETA (New Mexico Renewable and Transmission Authority) has authorities that can help and emphasized community outreach to garner political and local support.
On the question of regional market structures, presenters said transmission is a prerequisite for any RTO discussion; they have talked to California ISO and Southwest Power Pool and said their work is agnostic to an RTO while aiming to build the transmission that would make broader market coordination feasible.
Presenters did not request immediate legislative action; they asked lawmakers to support project collaboration, help with regulatory engagement and consider targeted assistance for multi‑state projects that deliver identifiable benefits to New Mexicans.
