Bernalillo County Commissioners have unanimously voted to deny a proposed PNM substation project in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, following months of public opposition.
The proposal called for the construction of new power lines running east in the area of Paseo del Norte and Tramway Boulevard. According to county officials, the project would have impacted nearly 40 homes as well as a nearby hiking trail.
Residents in the area had pushed back against the proposal for months, expressing concerns about potential declines in property values, increased wildfire risk, and changes to the area’s scenic views, particularly along the Sandia Mountain foothills.
PNM had previously said the project was needed to support growing demand and improve service reliability in the Northeast Heights. However, following the commission’s decision, the utility company warned that the denial could lead to unavoidable outages in the area moving forward.
In a statement, PNM said it remains committed to identifying alternative solutions and ensuring reliable service for its customers despite the setback.
The vote marks a significant development in an ongoing debate over infrastructure expansion and neighborhood concerns in one of Albuquerque’s fastest-growing areas.
