The dispute over the proposed SunZia Southwest Transmission Project shouldn't be a choice between a valuable economic development project and the historically vital importance of White Sands Missile Range and other regional military installations.

SunZia proposes to build more than 500 miles of distribution lines to move wind- and solar-generated energy. The proposed route would bisect much of New Mexico, including running more than 40 miles through WSMR's Northern Extension Area that abuts the range. The Defense Department, concerned that the route favored by SunZia and the Bureau of Land Management would impact on White Sands' mission, favors a more northerly route that that would stay clear of the extension area. That would undoubtedly add extensive cost to the project.

Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., shares the military's concern, as do Texas Democratic Reps. Beto O'Rourke and Pete Gallego and the Greater El Paso Area Chamber of Commerce.

They all fear that SunZia's plans could adversely impact the missions not only of WSMR, but of Fort Bliss and Holloman Air Force Base.

SunZia representatives wave off those concerns, and have expressed a willingness to change the size of towers to reduce impact on low-flying aircraft. But they have said re-routing the project would kill it, because it would trigger a new round of environmental studies that could take years.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is optimistic that routing issues could be addressed.


"The transmission project is an absolute necessity. We can work through the details in terms of routing," Heinrich said.

The $1.2 billion SunZia Project would bring economic benefit to New Mexico, including 270 full-time jobs, a $16 million annual payroll and $14 million in yearly property taxes, said Tom Wray, a former New Mexico state senator and SunZia's project manager. The construction phase would generate tens of thousands of jobs.

But critics are rightfully concerned that the current favored route could impact national security and the region's historic military economic engine. As military officials look at ways to save money, anything that inhibits training and testing ability at White Sands is a threat to that installation and other nearby military posts that share contiguous space with WSMR.

The BLM is scheduled to decide on the proposal in September.

The possible impact on the region's military mission must be thoroughly vetted and understood. SunZia, the military and BLM should further explore Heinrich's assertion that the routing details can still be worked through.


The SunZia plan is promising, but it carries risk. The company, BLM and others interested in the project must work to make sure any risks to White Sands' mission is minimized before moving forward.