Rural New Mexico counties have scored a significant victory in their fight against a massive federal land corridor proposal, winning unanimous support from the National Association of Counties (NACo) to oppose the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs), proposed by the failed Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration before leaving office.
Representatives from eight directly affected New Mexico counties worked together to bring their case to NACo’s annual meeting on July 14, 2025, securing national backing for their resolution to halt the NIETCs until the federal government coordinates with state, tribal, and county governments.
The corridors plan, first announced on May 8, 2024, calls for 10 federally designated routes — each 5 to 15 miles wide — to move electricity across the country. One of them, the Southwest Grid Connector, would cut through eight New Mexico counties, four Colorado counties, and part of the Oklahoma Panhandle, impacting more than 1.84 million acres in New Mexico alone.
While federal officials have described the corridors as necessary to expand electrical distribution, local leaders have raised alarms about the scale of land loss, potential harm to agriculture, and the erosion of local authority.
Concerns grew after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) changed its rules in October 2024, giving itself authority to approve projects even after states deny them. By December, the Southwest Grid Connector advanced to Phase 3 in the Federal Register, alongside two other proposed corridors — the Tribal Energy Access Corridor and the Lake Erie–Canada Corridor — triggering a short public comment period.
Many residents only then realized the scope of the federal power, including the ability to take land without congressional approval. Questions about the use of eminent domain, funding for land acquisitions, and the exclusion of local decision-makers quickly followed.
In response, local ranchers and the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association partnered with county leaders to host six town hall meetings across the affected counties. Hundreds attended, and county commissioners pledged to take action.
Soon after, county boards passed formal resolutions opposing the NIETCs and sent them to state, local, and federal officials. They also began working together to pursue further actions and raise public awareness.
Those efforts culminated in March 2025, when New Mexico counties presented their resolution at NACo’s legislative conference in Washington, D.C. The proposal was adopted as an interim measure by the Environment, Energy, and Land Use Committee and co-sponsored by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Public Lands Committees, with support from counties across multiple western states.
At the Philadelphia meeting in July, the resolution passed the NACo General Assembly without opposition — a clear signal that rural concerns over the NIETCs have national resonance.
“This was about making sure our communities are heard,” said Chaves County Manager Bill Williams, one of the leaders in the effort. “Local governments must be part of the process before any action is taken on these corridors.”
Why not include the names of the affected counties? Did I miss it?
I was looking for that also.
What eight New Mexico counties?
Hey, Pinion Post, which counties
According to the Constitution of the U.S., Agencies do not have the authority to make their own laws. The Constitution gives the LAWMAKING AUTHORITY to the U.S. Congress. The clarification that Agencies cannot make their own laws, apart from Congress, is defined in the NON-DELEGATION DOCTRINE that says Congress cannot DELEGATE its lawmaking powers to AGENCIES. So — why do they try this? Because Saul Alinsky (Hillary Clinton and Obama’s influencer) said: Rule #1 — You have power and you have the power that your enemy THINKS you have.” Obama used that to create DACA and DAPA and Common Core and other Education Programs. He violated the Constitution 10 times. He knew what he was doing but he was counting on the citizens and elected officials NOT knowing. Thank God for those Rural Community Protectors that had the courage to step up against big government. We need to teach each other. The kids aren’t getting a sound education. They need family and community input.
Well said
I’m in agreement with you! We need to know exactly what counties and the actual route they want to take. Give us a map on here.
I’m in agreement with you!
Great comment, Rachel. If only the Constitution was still in effect, de facto, instead of simply existing as an interesting historical document, de jure. An honest student of history would have to conclude that the Constitution was a nice try. The government it created began to violate it during the term of our first president. Granted, the violations along the way were not quite as pervasive, nor quite as evident as they have become. The point is that this is not a process that suddenly began in more recent history. We are simply living with the results that could easily be expected from such a process.
Our Supreme law of the Land still is, and always shall be. It is not enforced and upheld because the people apathetic ignorant and outright stupid and do not know their rights, nor do they care. The people allow the egregious violations of their God given rights hundreds of times a day and when given the opportunity to learn, they refuse.
Those who know and use the law correctly receive justice as the law intends.
When elected representatives gave up their responsibilities to government agencies so they could say it wasn’t their fault. They don’t represent the voters anymore. Especially democrat representatives. There is a change happening with the Republicans but don’t hold your breath if they are from New Mexico.
Since Chaves County (Roswell) is one of them, I’m assuming most are in SE NM which always gets treated poorly by the elite parts of the state even tho our oil & gas finds at least half of the entire state budget. But since the article also mentions several counties in CO & tribal sovereignty also, perhaps counties in parts of the Navajo nation. But seriously, why not name them?!
We need to know exactly what route they want. Please put a map of their route on here.
Thanks
Hey y’all,
The article may not mention the counties but you can certainly see in the map at the top of the article–it’s SE NM, which always gets the short end of the stick.
RACHEL MELZO, thank you for the info you provided. I consider myself and many of my friends just the boots on the ground American citizens and don’t know all the legality in the corruption perpetrated by corrupt government. It’s good to hear the truth and that the local representatives are watching and doing something about the abuse of power. Thank you again
The large scale map is at the top of the article. Keep up the good fight and don’t stop. This is another big gov’t. racket.
Who cares about the counties!!! The point is to stop the whole process that will have negative consequences on our state! Don’t give govt unlimited powers to just take everything from us! Fight for the Betterment of NM people!
Great job, “Eight-County Citizens!” May we all follow your lead — inspiring!
You think you get the short end of the stick?? Try coming up here in the North East part of the state. We get NO news from the southern part of the state. It’s like we don’t even exist! No one covers here with any news and rarely even mentioned on the weather! There are things up here that we (locals) should know about and at best are heard through GOSSIP.
The corridor (land grab) was going to run up the Eastern side of the state taking private land in a swath of up to 25 miles wide.
I did a little research and found this .pdf document. It shows exactly what counties will be affected.
https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/NIETCSouthwesternGridConnectorMaps-Phase3.pdf
All the counties are down the east side from Clayton to Hobbs. And 5 to 15 miles doesn’t cover the total. There is wording that would allow them to take 125 mile wide areas. Guess what? Most all the land they seek is private deeded land. Agricultural land. Give that thought. Just like the Muleshoe Reserve debacle. It would remove much of Roosevelt, some of Lea, and other east side counties. Removing private land seems to be the goal. Heard any peeps from.our legislature?
The eight affected counties in New Mexico are Curry, Eddy, Lea, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, Union and Chaves. Of particular interest in these counties is that they encompass a large part of our agricultural areas and all of our oil and gas counties. Thank you to everyone that is responding to this. We have to keep our citizens informed because bad things get passed when no one pays attention.