Xcel Energy has broken ground on the 522MW Sagamore wind farm in the US state of New Mexico.
The $900m project, which is located near Dora in Roosevelt county, will feature 240 Vestas turbines and is scheduled to come online in late 2020.
Wanzek Construction is carrying out the build, which will employ up to 400 workers.
The initial work at the site, which covers about 40,468 hecatares, involves construction of roads and preparations to build the 240 foundations.
Xcel Energy expects 20 to 30 full-time permanent positions will be created to support the operation and maintenance of the plant once it is completed.
Invenergy developed Sagamore before entering into an agreement with Xcel Energy in 2017 to acquire and build the project.
Sagamore is the largest and final component of a 1230MW wind energy expansion on Xcel Energy’s New Mexico-Texas system.
The 478MW Hale project near Plainview, Texas, was completed in June.
Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas president David Hudson said: “This is a historic investment for Roosevelt County, but its benefits reach far beyond.
“We’ll see a significant economic boost to the New Mexico economy through increased jobs, royalty payments to landowners, and more revenue for county and school budgets.
“And for the next 25 years, Xcel Energy customers in both New Mexico and Texas will benefit from lower fuel costs since our fuel source is the free and abundant wind of eastern New Mexico.”