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June 11, 2009 – Vol.14 No.12 NRG Energy, eSolar to Develop 92 megawatt (MW) Concentrating Solar Power Plant for El Paso Electric. The plant is expected to be the first commercial-scale solar thermal project in New Mexico when fully operational in the summer of 2011. The project will help El Paso Electric meet New Mexico’s renewable portfolio standard. Governor Bill Richardson signed New Mexico’s aggressive renewable portfolio standard law in March 2007 and has enacted 37 incentive measures to attract renewable energy companies to the state. This project, to be developed in southern New Mexico, is also part of NRG and eSolar’s recently announced plans to develop up to 500 MW of solar thermal power in California and across the Southwestern United States. “With 300 days of sun every year, a highly skilled labor force and a friendly business environment, New Mexico is well-positioned to lead the nation in solar energy production,” said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. “eSolar, NRG and El Paso Electric are helping us make New Mexico’s renewable energy potential a reality.
The site for the development is a 450-acre property in Dona Ana County, southwest New Mexico, about 10 miles from El Paso, Texas near the City of Sunland Park.Tthe land parcel is ideal for modular solar power tower development: its adjacent to industrial development and does not contain sensitive cultural, biological or environmental resources and is also adjacent to an existing 115 kilovolt El Paso Electric transmission line, avoiding additional construction. “This project with NRG and eSolar underscores El Paso Electric’s commitment to developing more clean and carbon-free energy projects in the future,” said David Stevens, El Paso Electric chief executive officer. “The NRG and eSolar team made the most sense for us due to NRG’s development expertise and the scalability of eSolar’s technology.” NRG Energy has extensive portfolios of diverse generation across the southwest with plants in California and Texas, including recently completed gas and wind developments. “This plant will turn New Mexico sunshine into zero-carbon power that is at peak capacity when demand is the highest,” said David Crane, NRG’s president and chief executive officer. “eSolar and El Paso Electric are tremendous partners to maximize the potential of this valuable renewable resource and help efficiently meet New Mexico’s aggressive renewable portfolio standards.” The project will use eSolar’s modular approach to solar concentrating power, which requires approximately one-quarter square mile to produce 46 MW, enables utilities of any size to incorporate solar energy at a scale specific to their needs. This unique modularity, along with a proprietary combination of prefabricated parts, optics and software, allows eSolar to address the hurdles commonly encountered in bringing solar power online: price, scalability, speed of deployment and grid impact. “eSolar’s modular technology can be installed at any scale and in variable configurations. Combined with NRG’s resources and development expertise, eSolar’s technology is the preferred solution for environmentally responsible mid-sized utilities like El Paso Electric,” said Bill Gross, eSolar’s chief executive officer. (6/10/09)
Links: esolar El Paso Electric NRG Energy
Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: No
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