Pattern Development, sister company to US wind yieldco Pattern Energy, announced that regulators in New Mexico have issued a key permit that will allow it to begin construction on its 2.2GW Corona portfolio of wind projects in the southwestern state.

New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission voted 4-0 to approve the local control permit for the Corona portfolio, which will see around 950 wind turbines installed by the end of 2020, Pattern Development says.

The Corona projects will bring $3.8bn of investment to the state and hundreds of temporary construction jobs, with 100 jobs expected to remain during the operational phase, the developer claims.

Pattern has become the largest renewables player in New Mexico, which alongside neighbouring Colorado represents one of the most important growth markets for the US onshore wind sector.

Pattern’s push into New Mexico is based in part on the view that wind farms there will find a profitable future exporting power to California, with New Mexico’s strong afternoon winds making a nice complement to California’s solar generation.

This spring Pattern Development acquired the 1GW Mesa Canyons wind project and the associated Western Spirit transmission project in New Mexico from Clean Line Energy Partners, while its 221MW Grady wind project is currently under construction using Siemens Gamesa turbines.

Pattern’s 324MW Broadview project in New Mexico was the single largest US wind project completed last year, also using Siemens Gamesa turbines.

This summer Pattern announced 15-year PPAs with two public agencies in California from its 200MW Duran Mesa project in central New Mexico, due on line in 2020 as part of the Corona portfolio.

Pattern is hoping to bring wind power into California on the proposed SunZia transmission line, which could be completed by 2020 if it receives its remaining regulatory approves. Pattern would be an anchor tenant for SunZia.

“We greatly appreciate the commission’s diligent work to ensure that we had an effective review process, that our filing was complete and that New Mexico residents will continue to benefit from our initiative,” says Pattern Energy chief executive Mike Garland.

“Our team is now able to move forward with the Corona Wind Projects, creating over a thousand new construction jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic impact, while continuing to progress New Mexico as a leader in wind energy.”