After nearly two decades, this massive New Mexico wind project is now powering California

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The largest wind energy project in U.S.history is now online, delivering power from a massive array in New Mexico to Arizona and California — and signaling a new era for sending clean electricity across the West.Nearly two decades in the making, the estimated $11-billion SunZia project from Pattern Energy is composed of 916 turbines that can produce up to 3.5 gigawatts of capacity — a scale that would have been difficult to imagine even a decade ago.

It’s enough to power about 1 million homes and more than three times the amount of clean electricity as either of the next two largest U.S.wind farms, Alta Wind in Kern County and Great Prairie in northern Texas, according to the U.S.

Energy Information Administration.Critically, the project also includes a 550-mile high-voltage direct-current transmission line that delivers wind power from New Mexico to the Palo Verde substation in Arizona, where it then feeds into Southern California.In all, some two-thirds of the power sent across the line will be delivered here.

Experts say the project has already begun making a difference on the state’s grid: Since SunZia began testing in April, the state’s Independent System Operator, CAISO, has reported record-breaking amounts of wind power on the California grid at least five times, according to Dennis Wamsted, an energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.Wind output on May 15 hit a record 8,294 megawatts — almost 1,600 megawatts higher than the record before SunZia power began flowing into the state, he said.

“This is a milestone, there’s no doubt about it,” Wamsted said.“They’re tapping into a great wind resource in New Mexico, and that wind resource is now going to be used across the Southwest.

It’s good for consumers everywhere, and it’s really good for folks who are in favor of a transition away from fossil fuels.” Climat...