Photo by Tom McConnell
One of the largest concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems in North America is expected to be online this summer on 39 acres in the Hatch Industrial Park, 7 miles west of the Village of Hatch. The 5-megawatt (MW) system, with 81 solar tracking concentrator panels, is being built and operated by NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. The project was funded by Village of Hatch Industrial Revenue Bonds. The Village put an emphasis on New Mexico jobs for New Mexicans.
Blattner Energy of Albuquerque is the construction contractor for the solar array and Warren Construction of Las Cruces will build the operations and maintenance building. The project began in February 2011 with approximately 60 employees during the construction phase.
The Village is actively working on a second solar project. Power generated from the projects will be sold to El Paso Electric under Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) to help meet the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) requirements of the New Mexico Renewable Energy Act.
