New Mexico Land Commissioner Ray Powell says construction is well underway on what will be the state's largest solar-power generating station.
Powell shared photos this week of the Macho Springs solar power project near Deming, where workers have been busy installing the tracking systems on which thousands of solar panels will be placed.
Ground was broken in July, and the work is expected to be complete in May.
The solar project covers about 400 acres of state trust land, and Powell says the decades-long lease could generate as much as $14 million in trust benefits for public schools, universities and hospitals.
First Solar Inc. is developing the solar project. It has contracted with El Paso Electric Power to provide about 50 megawatts of solar power for 20 years.
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