WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2017) - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, welcomed the announcement from Xcel Energy that it will be building a wind farm in Roosevelt County, highlighting the impact it will have to the local economy.

"The Sagamore Wind Project will be the largest wind farm in the state, resulting in hundreds of clean energy jobs in rural New Mexico and more affordable electric bills for consumers" said Senator Heinrich. "This project and the jobs it will create in rural New Mexico is precisely why I worked so hard to pass the wind production tax credit. I applaud Xcel Energy for investing in infrastructure projects that lower the cost of energy production and boost our economy here in New Mexico."

Xcel Energy will be developing the Sagamore Wind Project in Roosevelt County, approximately 20 miles south of Portales. At 522 megawatts, this would be the largest wind facility in the state. Federal production tax credits helped reduce the cost and allowed Xcel Energy to partner with Vestas-American Wind Technology Inc., a company that manufactures the wind tribunes that will generate the electricity at the new wind facility.

"Wind is at historic low prices, thanks to both advances in wind technology and the production tax credit incentive approved by Congress at the end of 2015," said Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy. "Our plan delivers on both economic and environmental fronts, as we provide customers the cleaner, renewable resources they want, while continuing to deliver the reliable and low-cost energy they need for decades to come."

Over the last few years, New Mexico has seen an increase in construction of more utility-scale wind farms made possible by pro-growth tax policies. Last year, Senator Heinrich celebrated the construction of the 56,000 acre El Cabo Wind Farm in Torrance County.

Senator Heinrich has been a leading advocate of tax credits to support the development of wind and solar energy. He spearheaded efforts in 2015 to secure a multi-year extension of wind and solar production and investment tax credits that encourage companies and investors to support major projects like El Cabo and Sagamore Wind Project.