Pattern Development to acquire two wind-energy assets

• Acqusition announced last week

Officials with Pattern Development, a company pursuing projects in northern Lincoln County, announced last week Pattern is acquiring two pending wind energy assets in New Mexico from Clean Line Energy Partners.

The purchase would be Clean Line’s second divestiture of wind energy developments of the Houston-based company, according to reports from James Miller of Placer Mountain Services, a management consultant on energy project development and grant writing. Last year, Clean Line sold the Oklahoma portion of its planned Plains & Eastern high voltage direct current to NextEra Energy Energy Resources.

Mesa Canyons and Western Spirit will be interconnected once they are completed. Construction is expected to begin next year with a targeted in-service date of 2020, according to the release.

No financial terms were disclosed for the transaction.

“As the leading wind developer and operator in New Mexico, Pattern Development is uniquely positioned to bring the Western Spirit Transmission Line and the Mesa Canyons Wind Farm to fruition,” Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development, said in the release. “New Mexico is home to one of the strongest wind resources in the country and Pattern Development is committed to developing and constructing these new projects as excellent additions to our portfolio, expanding our investment in this enchanting state.”

Clean Line CEO Michael Skelly said his company has been successful in bringing the Western Spirit transmission line and Mesa Canyons wind farm to advanced states of development. Pattern Development “will now take both projects over the finish line,” according to reports.

Several of New Mexico’s Congressional leaders expressed support for the transaction and Pattern moving the wind projects forward to fruition and bringing New Mexico one step closer to exporting the state’s renewable resources to major energy markets.