Project Focus: GA-Solar to build 300MW solar PV power plant in New Mexico

Jan 28, 2010 - Tom Cheyney - PV-tech.org

Spanish renewable energy firm GA-Solar will develop and build a massive solar photovoltaic power plant in New Mexico's rural Guadalupe County, according to an announcement made by Gov. Bill Richardson. The project, to be sited on 2500 acres of land, could be scaled to more than 300MW and represents an investment of $1 billion by the solar company and its parent, Corporación Gestamp.

The project, which would be one of the world's largest PV arrays when activated, could take up to four years to build and end up putting 300 people to work, with 75 full-time employees maintained after completion.

Gestamp, a major global steel company, plans to source the racking equipment from local manufacturing facilities, according to the governor, with the potential to attract additional PV, inverter, and steel manufacturers to the state.

Additional financial details of the project were not disclosed, nor were any specifics about the construction timeline, modules to be deployed, and the like.

“I believe this unprecedented investment shows that New Mexico has not only become the center of the North American solar industry, but is ready to take its place as a global player in the production of renewable energy,” Gov. Richardson said. “Building a comprehensive clean energy economy is key to the economic stability and vitality of New Mexico’s future.”

The news comes a week after an announcement by utility company PNM and First Solar of plans to build 22MW of utility-scale PV power plants in the state.