On Tuesday, a federal judge dismissed a bid by Native American tribes and environmentalists to halt the construction of a $10 billion electric transmission line in southeastern Arizona. This line, intended to transport wind-generated power from New Mexico to California, was approved in 2015 after extensive evaluations and is noted as the most significant U.S. electricity infrastructure project since the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s.

The lawsuit, filed by two tribes alongside archaeologists and environmental advocates in January, claimed that the U.S. Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had ignored substantial evidence of the cultural significance of the San Pedro Valley to tribes such as the Tohono O’odham, Hopi, Zuni, and San Carlos Apache. They described the valley as one of southern Arizona’s most preserved prehistoric landscapes, and sought court orders to stop the construction.

However, Judge Jennifer Zipps ruled against the injunctions, pointing out that the claims were made too late and that the BLM had adequately identified historic sites and inventoried cultural resources in the area.

During the proceedings, Tohono O’odham Attorney General Howard Shanker criticized the federal land managers for allegedly disregarding evidence of the valley's significance, which is detailed in an academic publication and supported by testimonies from tribal cultural resource officers. Shanker argued that the transmission lines would irrevocably damage a sacred site used for generations for spiritual connection.

On the other side, representatives for the government and Pattern Energy, the company behind the SunZia project, defended the initiative as a crucial renewable energy project. They argued that tribal representatives had opportunities to survey and identify cultural resources in 2018, and no significant sites were discovered during these surveys. They also emphasized that the project had been carefully planned to avoid any identified cultural sites.

Judge Zipps agreed with these assertions, confirming that the project's planning was sufficient to prevent direct impacts to cultural resources. Pattern Energy further argued that halting the project at this stage, with over 90% already completed, would cause severe disruptions and financial losses, affecting the project's timeline to start service in 2026.

The SunZia transmission line, once operational, aims to deliver over 3,500 megawatts of wind power to 3 million people, extending 550 miles from New Mexico through Arizona to California. This project is aligned with President Joe Biden’s environmental objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite these setbacks, including a brief halt in construction last November after tribal pleas for environmental review reassessment, the project has largely progressed. This continuation has left community leaders like Tohono O’odham Chairman Verlon M. Jose expressing deep disappointment, referring to the resume of work as "a punch to the gut."

The case is also pending further scrutiny in the Arizona Court of Appeals, where the appropriateness of state regulatory decisions regarding the project’s benefits and impacts is being evaluated. This ongoing legal and public discourse underlines the complex balance between advancing renewable energy infrastructure and preserving indigenous cultural heritage and environmental integrity.