The SunZia Wind Project, the largest wind farm in the U.S., began commercial operations this month. The wind farm, located in New Mexico, has a total net summer generating capacity of 3,650 megawatts (MW) and is composed of 916 wind turbines. Its capacity is more than three times larger than each of the next two largest wind farms (see map below), Alta Wind in Southern California (1,098 MW) and Great Prairie in northern Texas (1,027 MW).
Pattern Energy started construction of the SunZia project in 2023 after almost two decades of permitting and planning. Before the project came online, net summer wind generating capacity in New Mexico totaled 3,997 MW. The new capacity from SunZia will bring total wind capacity in New Mexico up to 7,647 MW. With this addition, wind accounts for 45% of the capacity mix in the state, followed by 19% from solar and 19% from natural gas capacity, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
