Largest U.S. Wind farm Begins Commercial Operations
The SunZia Wind Project, now the largest wind farm in the United States, is set to begin commercial operations this month in New Mexico, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The project has a total net summer generating capacity of 3,650 MW and consists of 916 wind turbines spread across multiple counties in New Mexico. Once fully operational, SunZia will significantly expand wind generation capacity in the state, nearly doubling New Mexico’s existing installed wind fleet.
Developed by Pattern Energy, construction on the project began in 2023 after nearly two decades of planning and permitting. The facility has already begun contributing electricity during its testing phase.
The project is supported by the SunZia Transmission Project, a 550-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that delivers power from central New Mexico to Arizona and California. The line has a total capacity of 3,021 MW, with a significant share of electricity ultimately delivered to Southern California through the Palo Verde Substation.
The EIA reports that wind generation from SunZia is already impacting grid performance. On May 15, 2026, the California Independent System Operator recorded 7,122 MW of hourly wind generation, marking a new record for wind output in the region.
With SunZia online, wind power now represents a major share of New Mexico’s generation mix, alongside solar and natural gas, and strengthens long-distance renewable energy transfers across the U.S. Southwest.
Source: eia.gov
