New Mexico land boss signs lease for Gladstone Wind Farm

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - An Illinois-based company that develops wind farms in the United States and Canada has won a bid for thousands of acres of state trust land in New Mexico where it plans to build its next project.

Applications for the 7,636 acres (31 square kilometers) of trust land were open to potential bidders for several weeks, with final applications due to the State Land Office in late November. The lease with PNE USA Inc. was approved and signed last week by Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard.

The Land Office says the company sweetened their bid application with a bonus bid of $110,000.

The Gladstone Wind Farm will be located in Union and Colfax counties in an area has been designated as prime for wind energy generation. It's also close to two existing transmission lines. The project also will include 8,000 acres (32 square kilometers) of private land.

The portion on state trust land is expected to generate 31 megawatts of electricity from 11 turbines, or enough capacity to power about 6,200 New Mexico homes. State officials say the project is expected to generate $8 million over the course of the lease.

Garcia Richard said her agency has approved three wind projects this year.