Dec 14 2010
NRG Solar, an auxiliary company of NRG Energy, is anticipated to perform the groundbreaking ceremony of its proposed solar power generation site at the Roadrunner Solar Electric Facility in New Mexico by the year end.
The company has entered into a 20 year power purchase accord with El Paso Electric, a local utility company, to sell the 20 MW power generated from the facility. The solar panel installations at the facility will be completed in 2011 and the facility will remain the second largest solar facility in the state and first of its kind in high volume power generation facility in New Mexico.
NRG Solar has projected a maximum investment of $21 million for the project in the next three years, which will be finalized after concluding the terms and conditions of the investment financing. The solar power facility at the Roadrunner is proposed over a 210-acre privately possessed land under the industrial zone close to Santa Teresa located 100 miles away from El Paso, Texas. First Solar, who has been contracted to offer the engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) services for the solar installation is planning to install its sophisticated thin film solar photovoltaic modules. The proposed solar facility while creating over new 240 construction positions in the city will generate enough power to cope with the power requirements of around 16,000 families living in New Mexico. The electric power produced by Roadrunner Solar Electric Facility can offset nearly 27,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year, which can be equated to taking 4,800 cars off the road from usage.
Bill Richardson, Governor of the State, expressed his happiness about NRG Solar’s choice of New Mexico for its solar power generation expansion program. He added that his government has closely worked with NRG Solar, El Paso Electric and the administration of the local government to have the project for the state, which while bringing increased job opportunities to the state, will also enable the state to earn the name as Solar Valley of North America.