Xcel dedicates transmission line linking New Mexico, Texas

CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — Xcel Energy has finished the first segment of a $400 million transmission project that will deliver power from a hub in West Texas to southeastern New Mexico's booming oil and gas region.
Officials gathered Thursday in New Mexico to dedicate an 86-mile transmission line that stretches from Hobbs to Carlsbad.
The company says the rapid growth of energy development in New Mexico happened in an area with few major transmission lines. As part of initiative launched in 2011, Xcel planned for new lines to boost capacity and to broaden the electricity import and export market.
Xcel says it has seen more requests for new electricity supplies in southeastern New Mexico in recent years. On July 19, the system that serves portions of New Mexico and Texas handled a record demand of 6,151 megawatts when temperatures reached triple digits.