Despite all the national conversation about investment in oil and gas resources, states across the West are dedicating more resources to wind energy and the electric transmission lines needed to move power.

California’s demand for wind energy is powering new projects, including a $5 billion wind farm in Wyoming. To close the 700-mile distance, another $3 billion project is underway to build transmission lines to transfer power from state to state.

According to a utility trade group, spending on transmission development is projected to reach $22.5 billion this year. 

Among the projects, the $1.5 billion SunZia line, which stretches 515 miles from New Mexico to a transmission hub in Arizona. The Arizona Corporation Commission approved the line about a year ago.

Last week, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved the approximate 370-mile Southline Transmission Project, an electric transmission line running from southern Arizona and New Mexico.

The approved route covers 100 miles of public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and other state agencies.