SANTA FE, NM - On August 12, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it will not move forward with designating three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC). The proposed NIETC map had identified more than 2 million acres — 24% of the state of New Mexico — along with a corridor area in southeastern Colorado. Agricultural production alone in the affected areas contributes $1.9 billion annually in New Mexico and another $504 million annually across the three affected Colorado counties.
County leaders from Chaves, Curry, Eddy, Lea, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, and Union, actively opposed the proposed NIETC designation, which would have relied on federal eminent domain to seize 1,841,000 acres from these counties. Over the past two years, they worked closely with the National Association of Counties, unanimously passing resolutions opposing the proposal and giving voice to the concerns of the landowners, ranchers, and farmers who would bear the cost. That sustained, unified advocacy ensured the Department of Energy heard directly from local governments, landowners, and the agricultural community about the designation's impact on working lands, ranching operations, agricultural production, and local planning authority.
"Extensive review, including public feedback and stakeholder input, made clear that the current designation process for these three proposed transmission corridors should not continue," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. "Transmission policy must serve the American people — not special interests or a climate-alarmist agenda that drives up costs, worsens reliability, and disregards the concerns of local communities. The Trump Administration is committed to strengthening America's electric grid with common-sense policies that prioritize delivering affordable, reliable, and secure electricity to American families and businesses."
"This outcome belongs to the counties and their collaborative stakeholders," said Joy Esparsen, New Mexico Association of Counties. "For two years, our member counties stood united — passing resolutions, showing up at hearings, and making sure the voices of the landowners, ranchers, and farmers who work on this land every day were impossible to ignore. This fight was never about opposing energy infrastructure; it was about ensuring the people who would lose their land had a real seat at the table. We are grateful the Department of Energy listened, and we thank our member counties for the persistence, unity, and teamwork that made this victory possible."
New Mexico Counties is a non-profit, nonpartisan association representing New Mexico's 33 counties since 1936. Its mission is to strengthen New Mexico counties' ability to govern their own affairs and to improve the well-being and quality of life of their constituents. NM Counties provides numerous services to counties including legislative advocacy, self-insurance administration, legal assistance, and professional development. For more information, please visit www.nmcounties.org .
