New Mexico State Land Commissioner Ray Powell announced today that the Land Office will be offering a tract of land, through a competitive bidding process, for developing what will be the state’s largest solar array, to be located on 2,770 acres of State Trust Land in Otero County about three miles north of Chaparral.
The proposed utility scale plant would generate 150 megawatts of electricity – which is three times as large as the state’s largest existing solar plant, the 50-megawatt Macho Springs solar plant in Luna County, which is also located on State Trust Land. Once complete, the proposed plant would generate enough clean energy to power more than 54,000 average New Mexico homes.
“This solar project could provide up to a 1,000 jobs during the construction phase, which is a huge boost to New Mexico’s ailing construction industry,” said State Land Commissioner Ray Powell. “Also, it will provide a constant stream of revenue for our public schools, universities, and hospitals and additional clean energy supplies.”
Other potential benefits of the project to the local and regional economy include millions of dollars in direct and indirect economic benefits, as well as and 30 to 40 permanent operations and maintenance jobs when the solar plant is completed.
The advertisement for bids began on October 10, 2014 and will run for a 10 week period, in which time interested bidders will need to submit applications in order to qualify to bid at the public auction. The auction for the development lease will be held on Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Otero County Courthouse in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
More information about the lease process can be found on the New Mexico State Land Office website at www.nmstatelands.org or by contacting Will Consuegra with the Commercial Resources Division in Santa Fe at 505-827-1252 or at wconsuegra@slo.state.nm.us