State lease advances power-grid project

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons has signed a 99-year lease with Tres Amigas LLC that will help move renewable energy through numerous states, Canada and Mexico by 2014.

The proposed Tres Amigas SuperStation on state trust land in Clovis would allow electricity to flow more freely across the nation's three massive power grids, breaking down barriers to ramping up alternative energy in the United States.

Lyons says once Tres Amigas' grid connection is operational, the project will provide an average annual income of more than $9 million to the State Land Office as part of the lease agreement.

Officials say the Tres Amigas project will provide both temporary construction jobs and permanent operational and maintenance jobs as well as increased reliability of the existing