Dive Brief:
- New Mexico's Public Lands Office has opened a competitive bidding process to locate two major solar facilities on public lands.
- The first facility would be located in Otero County north of El Paso, Texas, on about 2,770 acres, and would be capable of generating 150 MW.
- A second project is being bid as well, a 50-MW commercial lease in Dona Ana County on about 640 acres.
Dive Insight:
New Mexico's proposed 150 MW facility would triple the size of the state's current largest solar array, a 50 MW plant in Luna County. Albuquerque Business First reported that the combined solar facilities would generate enough electricity to power 72,000 homes and would help create about 1,300 construction jobs along the way. There will also be up to 40 permanent jobs created once the plants are complete.
The projects “will provide a constant stream of revenue for our public schools, universities, and hospitals and additional clean energy supplies,” said State Land Commissioner Ray Powell, KRWG.org reported. The lands office is holding a 10-week bidding period for applications to bid at a public auction on Jan. 5, 2015.