Federal officials address Southwest's potential for renewable energy, transmission challenges

Two top officials in President Barack Obama's administration say the potential for renewable energy development in the Southwest is tremendous but much work needs to be done to meet the challenges of exporting that power to market.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz were among state and tribal officials meeting Monday in Santa Fe. The meeting is part of the administration's effort to develop recommendations regarding the transmission, storage and distribution of energy.

More than a dozen meetings are being held around the country. A final report is expected in January.

Jewell and Moniz say one of the biggest challenges has been working across jurisdictions to site and permit projects. They pointed to the $2 billion SunZia project between New Mexico and Arizona as an example.