The desert southwest is undergoing substantial growth, and with it, there’s an increasing demand for energy.
The Southline Transmission project was proposed as a solution to both strengthen the regional transmission grid, and facilitate the development of renewable energy projects in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
The project extends approximately 360 miles, from eastern New Mexico near the Texas border to north of Tucson, Arizona. It includes both 345 kV new build and 230 kV rebuild lines. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Western Area Power Administration (Western) served as the federal lead agencies responsible for implementing NEPA for the Southline Transmission Project. SWCA was selected to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the BLM and Western.
The EIS addressed a myriad of land use, natural and cultural resource considerations, was completed on schedule and budget, and commended for its clarity, thoroughness, and practical alternatives.