Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 2:51:37 PM - by Danny Vo

A proposed project in New Mexico is generating considerable attention over the boost it could provide to solar energy and other renewable power sources in the coming years.

The Tres Amigas project aims to link the nation's main power grids covering the eastern and western United States while also facilitating the transmission of renewable energy from sites that are generally further away from major population centers.

"One of the biggest constraints on wind and solar power growth is the reduced capacity of the transmission grid to deliver energy to customers. This new transmission infrastructure will allow half of the United States to access vast wind and solar energy resources," said New Mexico Public Lands Commissioner Patrick Lyons.

The company Tres Amigas LLC will spend the next couple of years conducting various analyses with an eye on undertaking the major project. If completed, the project could result in the development of the Tres Amigas Superstation, to be located near Clovis.

The current electrical grid has long been seen as an obstacle to the full development of solar energy and wind power, which has prompted increased efforts such as this one and the drive towards introducing more smart grid technologies.