Western Spirit Switching Station

Client Spotlight: Western Spirit Switching Station in Torrance County, New Mexico

Pattern Energy and the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA) requested Public Services of New Mexico (PNM) to connect more than 800 MW of new wind power to the New Mexico grid.  With this, addition of a new substation and additional transmission lines was required.  M&S Engineering designed a 345 kV substation and 155 miles of transmission line, which will be owned and operated by PNM.  Four transmission lines connected to a 4-breaker ring bus including a 72 MVAR shunt reactor.  Capacity for future expansion was included, as well as provisions for possible future conversion to breaker-and-a-half technology.