USA: SunZia, Largest Wind Farm in U.S. History at 3,650 MW, Fully Commissioned
Albuquerque, USA – Despite a more challenging policy environment for new wind energy projects under the Trump administration, wind power expansion in the United States continues. Project developer Pattern Energy has completed full commercial operations of the SunZia Wind Farm, which has an installed capacity of 3,650 MW.
18 Years of Development and More Than 2,000 Construction Jobs
Construction began in September 2023, following an approximately 18-year planning and permitting process. At peak construction, the project employed more than 2,000 workers, while more than 100 permanent jobs are expected to be created during operations.
Pattern Energy estimates the total investment in New Mexico and Arizona at more than USD 20 billion. According to the company, approximately USD 1.3 billion of that amount will be paid directly to local communities, schools and landowners during the project's first 30 years of operation.
"We have proven that we can still build the infrastructure this country needs," said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy.
Largest Single Wind Farm in the United States
SunZia reaches full commercial operation at a time when the Trump administration has halted several offshore wind projects through executive actions and slowed permitting procedures for new onshore developments. At the same time, new wind energy projects continue to move forward in numerous U.S. states.
With an installed capacity of 3,650 MW, SunZia is now by far the largest single wind farm in the United States. It significantly surpasses the previous largest projects, the Alta Wind Energy Center in California (1,098 MW) and Great Prairie Wind Farm in Texas (1,027 MW). Globally, only China's Gansu wind power cluster is larger, with a total installed wind generation capacity of around 10,000 MW.
Source: IWR Online, 02 Jul 2026