Dec 22 2010
Xcel Energy held the ground-breaking ceremony for its 54 MW solar energy project in Lea and Eddy counties in New Mexico State. It is now moving towards the eastern part of the state for its solar projects. According to Wes Reeves, a spokesman for the company, the Lea and Eddy projects will help the utility company to achieve its renewable energy targets for the year 2011.
The eastern parts of New Mexico State are just catching up with solar energy and the solar projects of the company in the state are smaller in nature and less than 100 kW. The company has installed one such demo project in Roswell, N.M. The project installed near the walking path of Eastern New Mexico University campus over an area of 22,000 square feet includes six different types of solar photovoltaic technologies such as lollipop array, dual axis array, and single axis array and rooftop solar installations. Along the walking path information kiosks are kept to provide details on the various technologies utilized, showing the output of power to visitors with installed output meters to understand the energy output of each type of solar panel.
According to Reeves, the company has problems in transmitting the generated power to the other power hungry places and that is one of the reasons why the utility has installed all its new solar projects in places where it has its existing distribution facility. He explained that the transmission issue has become a problem because more number of private property owners are against the installation of power lines over their property.