BCC Grants 120-Day Continuance on PNM Project
Following a marathon 4-1/2 hour hearing on January 27, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted unanimously to grant a 120-day continuance regarding the proposed PNM substation and transmission lines. This decision followed testimony from three appellant groups and concerns voiced by approximately 50 members of the public.
The BCC has directed PNM and the county Planning Staff to use this time to address critical gaps in their proposal, specifically:
Undergrounding Analysis: A study on the cost and feasibility of placing transmission lines underground.
Substation Siting: Completion of the siting report, which was previously submitted as an incomplete draft.
Transmission Siting: Completion of a formal siting study for the power lines, a step that has not yet been performed.
The BCC directed the staff to engage an independent, third-party engineering firm to review these findings. The 120-day period concludes on May 27.
This is a significant step toward ensuring transparency and protecting the interests of Sandia Heights. We will continue to monitor the process and provide updates as the May deadline approaches.