If approved, the SunZia transmission line would blaze a path of destruction across some of America's richest and most fragile wildlife habitat in Arizona and New Mexico.
This is our last chance to influence the BLM before they permit the project. Please join us in telling the BLM the proposed plan is unacceptable.
As a resident of the Southwest, I'm writing to you in opposition to the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project and am calling on you to deny the rights of way across our public lands that would enable this poorly-conceived project to move forward. The damage that would be caused to wildlife and sensitive lands from this project far outweigh the benefits that the proponent has proclaimed. I support responsibly-sited renewable energy development and transmission lines. However, SunZia is not responsibly sited - and therefore it should not be approved by the BLM. Perhaps the worst of the project's fatal flaws is a route that would have SunZia slice through the San Pedro River Valley - one of the most biologically rich and fragile watersheds in North America. The San Pedro River Valley is a major north-south bird migration corridor that supports crucial habitat and layover for some 4 million birds every year, and has been recognized for having among the highest bird, mammal and snake diversity on the entire continent. SunZia would also bisect three ranches acquired in the lower San Pedro by Pima County - a $20 million investment in mitigation lands for the county's landmark conservation plan. The lower San Pedro is also the site of a proposed National Wildlife Refuge. This is not an appropriate place to route a major new utility corridor, and is contrary to BLM and USFWS goals for management and conservation of the San Pedro watershed. Other special places that would be negatively impacted by SunZia include the Rio Grande River just south of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge; a host of BLM roadless areas and Wilderness Study Areas that would lose wilderness character in SunZia's shadow; and extensive tracts of grassland habitat for the endangered Aplomado falcon and other sensitive grassland species like pronghorn. From every angle, SunZia just doesn't make sense and it isn't in the best interest of the public to approve. I'm urging you to deny the rights of way that would enable this controversial, damaging project to move forward. Thank you for your consideration.