NRG at Santa Teresa

NRG Energy, through its wholly owned subsidiary NRG Solar, completed construction recently on the Roadrunner Solar Generating Facility, which is one of the first large-scale solar projects built in New Mexico.  The Roadrunner Solar Generating Facility is located on 210 acres near the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. Its 340,000 photovoltaic solar panels can produce up to 20 megawatts of electricity, which is enough power to supply 6,600 homes in El Paso Electric’s system. (Related story)

NextEra at Hatch

NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, recently completed one of the largest concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems in North America 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, was funded by Village of Hatch Industrial Revenue Bonds. The Village put an emphasis on New Mexico jobs for New Mexicans. (Related story)

SunEdison at Las Cruces

SunEdison, one of the largest solar energy providers in North America, has begun construction of the solar power generation facility at the City of Las Cruces West Mesa Industrial Park.  The 12MW solar power project is expected to require 230 construction jobs for a 6-9 month period.

By Marvin Tessneer

The Las Cruces community will connect with renewable energy when NRG Energy starts generating power this fall at its Roadrunner Solar Plant in Santa Teresa.

The solar panel plant is being set up on 210 acres of privately owned land, 10 miles west of El Paso adjacent to El Paso Electric Co. transmission lines.

The plant is designed to create 20 megawatts of solar generated electrical power that will be sold to El Paso Electric Co. under a 20-year power purchase agreement. NRG also plans to invest $21 million in the project in the next three years, according to an NRG Energy news release.

“We’re very pleased that the NRG Roadrunner Solar Facility in Santa Teresa is coming along according to schedule, and we’re looking forward to the site’s presentation this fall,” said El Paso Electric Chief Executive Officer David Stevens. “Our 20-year contract to purchase the power from the facility demonstrates El Paso Electric’s on-going commitment to solar energy research, education and utilization in this area.”

At full capacity, the Roadrunner Solar plant will, in domestic terms, supply enough energy for 16,000 families, according to an NRG Energy news release.

The electricity is generated by what is referred to in the industry as photons in solar photovoltaic panels that are manufactured by First Solar, a company in California.

When photons strike solar cells in the panel, they are reflected, absorbed or passed through the panel. When they are absorbed, they have the energy to knock electrons loose, which flow in one direction within the panel and leave the panels through transmission wires as electric power, according to a First Solar fact sheet.

Voltaic solar panels generate direct current, and El Paso Electric converts it to alternating current with an inverter for domestic and business use, the power company reported.

Electric power generated at the Roadrunner plant will avoid an annual emission of 27,000 tons of carbon when compared with fossil fuel generation, NRG Energy reported.

The advantages of solar power, zero-emission, sustainable energy, coincident with peak demand and compliant with the state are convincing, said David Crane, NRG president, in an earlier news release.

By Eric Wesoff

A 5-megawatt project in the world of photovoltaics doesn’t always warrant news coverage.

But a 5-megawatt project in concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) is a big deal and we’ve learned of an under-the-radar deployment that is currently online and producing power.

The Hatch, NM CPV project would seem to hold title as the largest CPV system in North America. Amonix is the supplier of the CPV equipment.

I spoke with Jim Hayhoe, an economic consultant to the Village of Hatch and he confirmed that the project is indeed online. According to Hayhoe, the project came online on July 2 with 2.7 megawatts and as of a week ago was generating 4.1 megawatts. Construction for the project started in mid-January and was completed on schedule, according to Hayhoe.

The Hatch CPV project employs Amonix CPV systems, although Amonix isn’t commenting publicly, and sits on 39 acres in New Mexico’s Hatch Industrial Park, 7 miles west of the Village of Hatch, New Mexico. The 5-megawatt system uses 81 Amonix trackers and is being built and operated by NextEra Energy Resources, a unit of NextEra Energy.

Each of the Amonix modules puts out about 60 kilowatts.

Blattner Energy of Albuquerque, NM is the EPC and construction contractor for the solar project. The project employed approximately 60 people during the construction phase. We’ve contacted Blattner for comment.

Electricity generated from the projects will be sold to El Paso Electric under a Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) to help meet New Mexico’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.

The project was funded by Industrial Revenue Bonds.

GTM Research has written the definitive analysis of the CPV market — here’s a link to the report. The CPV Ecosystem chart shown below is excerpted from that report.

You can visit the working CPV site and attend The Hatch Chile Festival scheduled for Labor Day. Hatch lays claim as the home of the world’s best chili pepper and can now add home to the largest CPV project. At least until the 30 megawatt Alamosa project comes online.

By Diana M. Alba

 SANTA TERESA, N.M. – Amid a backdrop of national uncertainty about the economy, a slate of New Mexico’s top elected officials Monday heralded the growth that could originate with a new $400 million Union Pacific project in Santa Teresa.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and three of the state’s five congressional representatives – U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman, Democrats, and Rep. Steve Pearce, Republican – were on hand to mark the start of construction on a new rail yard and intermodal facility, along the international border.

Bingaman noted he doesn’t attend nearly as many groundbreaking ceremonies these days as he once did, acknowledging the country’s economic situation in recent years. Even so, he seemed optimistic.

“Union Pacific deserves great credit for reminding us, with the investment they’re now making today and the work they’re beginning today, that the economy of this country is going to come roaring back, and they’re going to be ready when it does come roaring back,” he said to a crowd gathered just south of a Santa Teresa industrial park.

The facility, expected to take four years to build, will create some 3,000 construction jobs over a four-year construction schedule, officials said. Some 600 permanent jobs would be created, once operations start.

The facility would serve as a place to refuel locomotives and transfer shipping containers from trucks to rail and vice versa. Union Pacific officials said it will serve as focal point for products being shipped to both the East and West coasts.

Martinez said the southern New Mexico region is ripe for economic growth along the international border, but the state hasn’t taken advantage of that in past years.

“New Mexico has not made the most of its strategic positioning in the region, and that changes today,” she said.

The company awarded 65 percent of its first wave of contracts to local companies and is making a commitment to continue that investment, said Jim Young, chairman and CEO of Union Pacific. Also, it’s working with Dona Ana Community College to make sure residents are trained to work at the facility when it’s done.

“We will do everything we can to hire local,” he said.

In the distance, two Union Pacific locomotives and a tailing train were positioned strategically behind officials, as they addressed the crowd of dignitaries and businessmen.

Instead of the stereotypical groundbreaking with shovels and hard hats, officials signed their names into wet concrete blocks, which a Union Pacific official said will eventually be incorporated into the rail hub.

“We’ll have a wall that will enshrine the folks who are here today kicking off this project in a way that will stay with this facility throughout its life,” said Bob Turner, Union Pacific senior vice president, corporate relations.

Attendee Victoria Perea of El Paso, who retired from El Paso Electric Co. as an economic development liaison, said talk of the rail hub has been in the pipeline for years, but the project is finally materializing. She credited the governor, who she also said is a longtime friend.

“Economic development happens over time,” said Perea, a La Mesa native. “I believe there’s a lot of potential, but the potential is in the future.”

Pearce said in a statement he’s promoted the project since 2005 and is “happy to see this work coming to fruition in the form of jobs for New Mexico.”

“New jobs are the key to economic security, which is why I have made jobs my top priority in Congress,” he said.

Udall, too, highlighted the jobs that will result.

“The best thing is the good news of growing jobs here in New Mexico, which is what we need to do in Washington,” he said. “It’s what we need to do at the local level, because that’s what people want right now.”

The facility will be 11.5 miles long and one mile wide and entail 26 buildings and 200 miles of railroad track, according to a Union Pacific news release.

Monday’s gathering was reminiscent of one in October 2006 in Santa Teresa, when Union Pacific officials said construction on the hub could have started in 2008, if a key train fuel tax break were granted by the Legislature. The project never started.

What put the project on hold in recent years was the national economy, said Aaron Hunt, director of corporate relations and media for Union Pacific. But Hunt said the company certainly is moving forward now.

“We’re in it for the long-haul at this point,” he said.

Diana M. Alba can be reached at (575) 541-5443

Clay Doyle

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News

LAS CRUCES – El Paso Electric has appointed Robert Clay Doyle to serve as vice president of transmission and distribution. In that position, Doyle – who most recently has been vice president of New Mexico affairs – will oversee the transmission and distribution divisions, which include substations, transmission and distribution design, operations, construction and maintenance.

Doyle has been with El Paso Electric since 1992 and has served in various capacities including manager of the corporate projects office, project manager of corporate transition to competition, supervisor of distribution dispatch and distribution monitoring engineer. He earned a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico State University and is a registered professional engineer in New Mexico and holds certification as a project management professional. Doyle has been a fund raising team leader for the local affiliates of Habitat for Humanity, the Kiwanis Clubs of Las Cruces and the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. He also is an active participant with the Boy Scouts of America and serves on the board of the Bridge of Southern New Mexico and the board of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance.

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.

]]> http://www.mveda.com/blog/2011/03/hatch-solar-project-nearing-completion/feed/ 0 http://www.mveda.com/blog/2011/02/solar-developer-schedules-pre-bid-briefing/ http://www.mveda.com/blog/2011/02/solar-developer-schedules-pre-bid-briefing/#comments Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:36:22 +0000 mveda http://www.mveda.com/blog/?p=1473 As part of its “Business Connection Series,” the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA) will host a pre-bid briefing for solar developer SunEdison on Monday, March 7^th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Dona Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Boulevard. The purpose of the briefing is to communicate the types of services that will be needed as SunEdison moves forward in developing a solar energy project at the City’s West Mesa Industrial Park.

SunEdison representatives will discuss the company’s construction plans and the opportunities for local contractors and vendors to bid on the project. Immediate needs will include:

• Electrical contractors and certified electricians
• Civil engineering specialties including:

o    Grading

o   Access road work

o   Surveyors

o   Concrete work

o   Trenching

o   Underground boring

• Mechanical engineering  specialties including:

o   Tracker systems

o   Racking assembly

o   Welding

o   Fencing

• Other specialties including:

o   Re-vegetation

o    Sanitation

o   Water and temporary facilities

Local vendors in these specialties are encouraged to RSVP to the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance by calling (575) 525-2852 or by email to biz@mveda.com.

About SunEdison

SunEdison is North America’s largest solar energy services provider, currently managing more than 135.8 MW of photovoltaic solar power plants in North America. SunEdison is currently in negotiations with the City of Las Cruces to lease land at the West Mesa Industrial Park to develop a 12MW solar power plant under a Purchase Power Agreement with El Paso Electric.

Photo courtesy of Fred Shepherd

Bill Connor (pictured right), Chair of the DACLC, began the briefing with background on the Coalition. The Coalition was formed in the fall of 2007 to identify and promote significant legislative initiatives to benefit Las Cruces and the surrounding communities’ economic and developmental needs. Members include: City of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico State University,  Las Cruces Public Schools,  Gadsden Independent School District, Hatch Valley Public Schools, The Bridge of Southern New Mexico,  Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces, and the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA).

Connor discussed three legislative appropriations requests which include: $850,000 for planning of a new Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority facility; $2,100,000 for construction of a Crisis Triage Center; and $6,000,000 for access roads and infrastructure for new Las Cruces schools under construction on the East Mesa.

The DACLC economic development priorities include the support of existing incentives, support of funding for the New Mexico Partnership, passage of the Locomotive Diesel Refuel Tax Exemption, creation of an overweight border commercial zone, and creation of a permanent Border Infrastructure Fund.  The passage of the Locomotive Diesel Refuel Tax Exemption is critical for the announced expansion by Union Pacific in the Santa Teresa area.

The Coalition’s presentation included a number of legislative actions for education restructuring and policy changes. They included: reducing bureaucracy in the public and higher education departments; more efficient reimbursements to the public schools systems; reassessing tuition credit funding formulas; and support of expansion of dual credit courses.

In the final presentation, Clay Doyle, Vice President of New Mexico Affairs for El Paso Electric, discussed the forecasts of future electricity usage in the region.  He noted that during the next 5-7 years the company will invest approximately $600 million in new generation and between 2015 and 2020, EPE will need to add 150-175MW of generation annually.

In his closing remarks, Carruthers reminded the audience of the upcoming Las Cruces Day in Santa Fe, which is hosted each year by the Chamber’s Conquistadores. This year’s event will be held January 29-31^st at the La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza.

By Steve Ramirez

LAS CRUCES – To buy or lease? That is the question for SunEdison. The answer could mean at least an additional $1 million profit to the city.

In consecutive weeks, SunEdison, a global leader among solar companies, has entered into one-year options with the city of Las Cruces to either buy or lease city land to develop and operate a solar generation plant. Monday, the Las Cruces City Council unanimously approved a proposed sale agreement with the company that could bring as much as $1.2 million to the city’s West Mesa Economic Development Fund.

Last week, the council approved a lease agreement that has the possibility of raising as much as $2.3 million during a 30-year term stipulated in the agreement. Those proceeds would go to the city’s Airport Fund.

Both agreements include one-year options to enable company officials and engineers to conduct feasibility and technical tests to determine the best location for the solar generation plant. The option year is also expected to provide SunEdison with enough time to learn if a proposed power purchase agreement with El Paso Electric is approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. Those options include a $1,000 payment to the city, and there is a provision that if another option year is needed, SunEdison would pay the city $1,500 for the extra year.

Christine Logan, city administrator for economic development and revitalization, clarified to the council and city administrators there will only be one solar generation plant. “Contrary to prior information, it’s important that the public understands that there is potential for only one solar project on the West Mesa,” Logan said. “The purchase agreement is one of two options SunEdison is considering, and they will pick one of them.”

SunEdison has entered into a planned power purchase agreement with El Paso Electric. That agreement calls for SunEdison to sell 24 megawatts of solar power to the utility. El Paso Electric Co. provides electricity to about 80,000 customers in southern New Mexico, most in Las Cruces.

The proposed power purchase agreement has been submitted to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, and Jared Schoch, Southwest Regional Sales Manager for SunEdison, said company officials are hopeful PRC approval could happen within the next few months. “We’re hopeful there will be a decision by the end of December,” Schoch said.

If the purchase power agreement gets PRC approval, SunEdison would be able to increase its solar power production in North America by more than 21 percent. According to the company’s website, it currently manages more than 112.5 megawatts of photovoltaic solar power plants in North America, not including the 24 megawatts it wants to produce for El Paso Electric.

To produce 24 megawatts of photovoltaic power, Logan said SunEdison would probably need a generation plant of 150 to 170 acres. The location for the potential facility at the West Mesa Industrial Park is south of F&A Dairy and adjacent to a city wastewater treatment plant that serves the industrial park.

But whether SunEdison buys or leases city land, city officials still believe the deal is worth consummating. “This is a good project to go with,” Councilor Gill Sorg said.

Some residents aren’t as concerned about the city selling or leasing the land, as much as they have questions about how the proposed generation plant will affect their future monthly electric bills. “I haven’t heard, and would like to know, if this solar generation plant is going to be able to lower our bills,” said Kyle Ivery, a retired draftsman who has lived in Las Cruces for about eight years. “It makes complete sense that a company like that would be interested in coming to Las Cruces. But I hope there’s some kind of incentive or motivation to help out the local guy who lives here.”

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.

By Steve Ramirez

LAS CRUCES – The lease approved Monday may be just the start of plans by SunEdison to build two solar power plants in Las Cruces and sell the power to El Paso Electric Co.

Along with the one-year option on a lease agreement approved Monday by the Las Cruces City Council, there’s also an agreement in place between the worldwide solar energy company and El Paso Electric for SunEdison to provide 24 megawatts annually, in renewable energy. A megawatt is equal to 1,000 kilowatts or 1 million watts. That means SunEdison’s option to build one – and very likely two – solar generating facilities in west Las Cruces appears more likely than conceptual.

“That’s our hope and plan,” said Ricardo Acosta, director of resource and delivery planning for El Paso Electric. “At this point we’re awaiting regulatory approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. We have a hearing on Thursday to gather facts of the case, and hopefully, we could hear something from them in November or December.”

Jared Schoch, Southwest regional sales manager for SunEdison, said as many as 200 construction jobs could be created when work begins to build the two generating facilities and there would be jobs, although fewer in number, to maintain and operate the two facilities. “For the construction phase there could be anywhere from 20 to 30 different contractors working on the project,” Schoch said. “A lot of that labor is going to be local.” Schoch added that construction to build the two facilities could take 18 to 20 months to complete.

Clay Doyle, vice president of New Mexico Affairs for El Paso Electric, said SunEdison was selected earlier this year from the more than 20 companies after El Paso Electric issued a request for proposals.

The council voted 6-0, with Councilor Dolores Connor abstaining – because her husband works for El Paso Electric, to approve the lease agreement for land near the Las Cruces Airport. There was also quick consensus to bring forward a proposed land sale of as much as 200 acres at the West Mesa Industrial Park for a second generating facility. The land sale agreement will be formally considered by the council at its Nov. 1 meeting.

“It’s great to have private-sector partners,” Councilor Nathan Small said. Added Councilor Olga Pedroza, “It’s a good thing all around and I’m glad to be working in partnership.”

But Las Crucens Jim Hayhoe and Leon Billstone, who said they supported the development of solar energy, expressed concerns that the council could get a better financial return. “I cannot believe you’re getting fair market value,” said Hayhoe, of the $500 per acre lease agreement for land located just south and west of Las Cruces International Airport. “(And) One thousand dollars is a ridiculous option amount.”

Billstone said, “It looks awful cheap to me. But the project is good, as long as it’s not going to hurt the airport.” Billstone was also a bit concerned that the generating facility could hinder glide paths of aircraft approaching the airport’s Runway 4-22. However, city officials heeded a recommendation from the city’s Airport Advisory Board and stipulated in the lease agreement that the facility cannot interfere with aircraft or airport operations.

Christine Logan, economic development and revitalization administrator for the city, pointed out that the site for the generating facility is near El Paso Electric’s airport substation, just off of Interstate 10. El Paso Electric also has a power line that runs above the property SunEdison is interested in leasing. Power from the generating facility would either be transmitted to the nearby substation or to the power line above it.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452