It was as inspirational as a scene from "Rocky" when rural New Mexico counties garnered the support of the National Association of Counties, in Philadelphia, to oppose the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, during their annual meeting. Representatives from eight New Mexico Counties, directly affected by the planned 5-to-15-mile-wide corridor through their counties, teamed up, planned, presented, and fought to assure that 1,841,000 acres will not be taken by the federal government.
The plan for 10 National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors was announced on May 8, 2024, with a high-level explanation of the basis for those "corridors." Describing a "must have" scenario for all of these 10 corridors to assure electrical distribution across the entire nation and into areas that did not have adequate power available. Immediately, counties in the affected areas began to question the plans and the vast quantities of land that could be lost to agriculture and other uses.
Then, in October of 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), who originally planned to have their application process take place simultaneously with the local government's processes, changed direction giving themselves the authority to issue transmission permits even after states deny an application in these areas. Many counties took actions and succeeded in their efforts to have the "corridors within their states and counties removed from consideration.
On December 16, 2024, Phase 3 was announced in the Federal Register and advanced three corridors with the Southwest Grid Connector being one of the three. This corridor dissects eight New Mexico Counties, four Colorado Counties, and runs along the western end of the Oklahoma panhandle. It is comprised of over 2 million acres. Additionally, the Tribal Energy Access Corridor and the Lake Erie-Canada Corridor were named. Hypothetically, these areas have been selected to enhance grid reliability and reduce consumer costs. A short window for public comments and for entities to request Cooperating Agency Status was announced.
It was after the Federal Register listing that people in the impacted areas began to realize what the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors would allow. Serious questions about a government agency's ability to take vast quantities of land without the consent of Congress began to surface. Many concerns about the eminent domain process were raised as well as how the land acquisitions would be funded. The federal plan would empower government agents to determine land use, without the involvement of the residents of that land. It would disregard the local government's policies that are responsible for ensuring that the custom and culture of their communities are considered in any governmental actions. The potential for wrongdoing, and "backroom deals," is exponentially greater without the oversight of Congress, who determines the law, and the Local Governments, who are in tune with their communities.
Local ranchers reached out to the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, who in turn reached out to the County Commissioners across the affected areas. Within days, a series of six town hall meetings were held, by New Mexico Cattle Growers working with county leadership, in various New Mexico Counties. County Commissioners, managers, and other State and Local elected officials, and members of the public were invited. Several hundred people attended the town hall meetings; local government officials committed to doing whatever they could to assure that the concerns of their communities were heard.
Immediately, the County Boards of Commissioners passed resolutions in opposition to the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, those were forwarded to State, Local, and U.S. elected officials and agencies, to request relief and assistance. Additionally, local governments began working together to determine additional actions that could be taken to raise awareness as well as to get the Department of Energy, or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to engage with the local governments and their constituencies.
It was at this time that several county government officials drafted a resolution to go before the National Association of Counties for their consideration and, if approved at the annual meeting, to be lobbied for on the national level, for the upcoming year. It was our hope that the National Association of Counties, who represent over 3,000 counties nationwide, would adopt the resolution opposing the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, until such time as the federal government coordinates with state, tribal and county governments.
In March, the request was presented at the NACo Legislative conference, in Washington D.C. and was adopted as an interim resolution by the Environment, Energy, and Land Use Committee, and was cross-claimed by Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Public Lands Committees. With the support of dozens of co-sponsors from not only New Mexico and Colorado, but also, California, Washington, Oregon, and other western states, the resolution was successfully presented at the annual meeting and approved, without opposition, at the General Assembly on July 14, 2025.
Upon reflection, our New Mexico counties standing up against people who do not understand us, might better fit the role of "Rambo." The takeaway being: do not underestimate rural New Mexico's strength or sophistication in a battle!
Respectfully submitted by: Bill Williams, Manager Chaves County, New Mexico
