NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), through its subsidiary, NRG Solar, plans to break ground by year end on the Company’s first generation site in New Mexico, the 20-megawatt (MW) Roadrunner Solar Electric Facility.
Power from the facility will be sold to El Paso Electric Co. (NYSE: EE) under a 20-year power purchase agreement. NRG Solar plans to invest a maximum of $21 million in the project over the next three years, subject to final negotiation of the financing terms and conditions.
The Roadrunner facility will be one of the first large-scale solar projects built in New Mexico and will be the state’s second-largest photovoltaic facility when completed in 2011.
The Roadrunner Solar Electric Facility will be built on a 210-acre privately owned parcel of industrial-zoned land near Santa Teresa, about 10 miles from El Paso, Texas.
First Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) will provide engineering, construction and procurement services for the project using its advanced thin film photovoltaic solar modules.
NRG Solar is developing a portfolio of more than 1,000 MW.
NRG currently operates the largest photovoltaic solar project in California, a 21 MW facility in Blythe. Under a partnership with Eurus Energy America, NRG is building the 45 MW Avenal photovoltaic solar facility in California. NRG is also the lead investor in the Ivanpah Solar Generating Facility, the world’s largest solar thermal project.
