19 147 MW Enchanted Wind Farm, New Mexico
The proposed 147 MW Enchanted wind farm will be located on farm land in Lea County, New Mexico. We are currently working on project engineering and site development activities. A photo of the project site and tranmsission line is shown here.
The Enchanted wind farm would provide the average energy supply for about 144,000 homes in New Mexico.
Climate & Environmental Benefits. The renewable energy produced by wind power is clean, without any air pollution / emissions, and thus, helps reduce the impacts of global warming and climate change. As compared with the energy produced by a coal-fired power plant, the environmental attributes and air pollution/emissions SAVINGS benefits of this 147 MW wind farm are estimated as follows:
● reduces equivalent coal consumption and mining of 60,000 tons per year
● equivalent reduced natural gas consumption of 1.5 billion cubic feet per year
● reduces dependence on imported oil, saving the consumption of 259,000 barrels per year
● reduced water pollution/consumption of 216,000,000 gallons per year
● equivalent avoided emissions/air pollution of 850,000,000 lbs of CO2 per year, which reduces the impacts of global warming and climate change
● equivalent to planting about 34,000,000 trees (or a 140,000 acre forest), because trees naturally absorb CO2
The toxic air pollution SAVED (or prevented) during the Enchanted wind project’s life of 20 years — over 17 billion pounds of NOx, SOx, PM and CO2 — would cover the entire city of 
Albuquerque, New Mexico (181 square miles) about 83 feet deep! Wow!
Health Benefits/Savings. Further, the hidden economic burdens placed on society from toxic air pollution (such as, NOx, SOx, Particulate Matter and CO2) created by coal and gas-fired power generation is huge — such pollution causes premature deaths, heart attacks, lung cancer deaths, asthma attacks, hospital admissions, and lost work/sick days. So, the costs to “medicate” and “repair” our society, based upon the various air pollution values mentioned above over 20 years, is roughly estimated at $440 million, which comprises health care and disease costs, plus damage to crops, livestock, property, climate, etc., as well as, impacts to public services. Therefore, the clean, renewable power from this wind farm would save our society roughly $440 million over 20 years in health and societal costs.
Ahhh, breathe the clean, natural air from the Enchanted wind farm…
Avian & Wildlife Benefits. Not only does the use of clean, natural wind power save human lives, it also saves the lives of birds and other wildlife. Birds are far more sensitive to air pollution than humans due to the thinness of the bird's lung's air-sac gas-exchange tissue, roughly half of the thickness of mammals, plus the large amounts of oxygen required for flight. Therefore, birds are far more sensitive to airborne particulates and pollution. Birds absorb almost twice as much air pollution in their respiratory system as humans. Therefore, this wind farm will save birds, as well as, other wildlife.
Social & Economic Benefits. Wind power is a renewable energy resource that would lessen the region's dependence on fossil fuels. The “fuel” for this energy resource — the wind — is natural, abundant, and free/renewable, which would reduce the impact of fossil fuel price volatility on local utilities and 
their customers.
This Project would be a boost to New Mexico's economy through local construction jobs and expenditures on materials, tools, supplies, and equipment purchases, as well as through the creation of long-term employment. The local economic benefits (direct and indirect) from this wind project over 20 years is estimated to be roughly $400 million, including property taxes, payroll from high-skilled jobs, land owner/farmer land leases, sales taxes, business taxes, various services purchased from local retailers, etc. (both during initial construction, plus continuing services for operation and maintenance).
For more information about the climate, environmental, health, and economic benefits of wind power, please visit our Health and Climate Benefits of Wind Power page.
All values contained herein are preliminary and approximate.
April 2009. Please check back for updates in the future.
