New Mexico task force locates three possible sites for solar energy plant
Albuquerque Journal, N.M. --Nov. 8--ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.
Nov. 8--ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The governor's solar energy task force has released a feasibility study showing three sites in southern New Mexico and two near Belen as suitable for a commercial solar power plant.
The task force is also looking at the type of technology and financial
incentives the state could offer to induce a developer to build a such a plant,
O'Hare said.
The task force should give its recommendation to the governor's Clean Energy
Development Council in December or early January, he said.
Gov. Bill Richardson established the council in April as part of the state
Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
Black & Veatch, the Overland Park, Kan., engineering and construction
company that conducted the study, picked the sites because of their abundant
sunshine, proximity to power transmission lines and access to water.
The three southern New Mexico sites are all near gas-fueled power plants:
-- Northwest of Deming near the partially built 570-megawatt gas power plant
owned by Duke Energy. Duke is trying to sell the plant. The study estimates it
could be completed 12 to 18 months after construction is restarted.
-- About 12 miles southeast of Lordsburg near Tri-State Transmission and
Generation's 40-megawatt Pyramid plant.
-- Immediately northeast of Lordsburg near Public Service Company of New
Mexico's 80-megawatt Lordsburg plant.
The two Belen locations are within a few miles of the site where
Chicago-based People's Energy Resources plans to build a 280-megawatt gas-fueled
plant.
Locating a field of solar heat collectors next to a gas power plant would
ensure a back-up source of heat to turn the solar turbines when the sun is not
shining, O'Hare said.
A hybrid solar and gas plant would provide a reliable source of electricity
so utilities could incorporate more renewable energy into their portfolios, he
said.
The task force is also looking at technology developed by Sandia National
Laboratories that would allow solar heat to be stored in molten salt for several
hours after the sun sets.
"This is homegrown technology that we're getting out of the R and D lab
into the marketplace," O'Hare said.
Developers could also recoup costs faster with a solar and gas plant because
it could produce most of its electricity during the summer, when demand and
prices are highest. O'Hare estimated it would cost about $150 million to build a
50-megawatt solar plant.
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