Solar site ready to generate

PNM’s newest center in Rio Communities goes online Thursday

RIO COMMUNITIES — The newest PNM solar-energy center in Rio Communities is the fourth and largest in Valencia County, with more than 40,000 panels that will generate energy equivalent to that used by more than 4,000 residential customers in one year.

PNM is testing the power at the new 10-megawatt facility off Navajo Loop, and the power will be 100 percent online by Thursday. PNM invested about $20 million in the project, which is built on about 103 acres of land.

The other three centers in the county include a 9-megawatt facility in Meadow Lake; a 7-megawatt center in Los Lunas; and an 8-megawatt center in Manzano.

“PNM is delivering enough renewable energy to power 150,000 homes, reducing carbon-dioxide emissions by the equivalent of taking more than 200,000 cars off the road,” said Ron Darnell, senior vice president of Public Policy, PNM. “PNM is proud of and greatly values our relationship with Rio Communities.”

S-Energy solar panels were chosen through a competitive bid process. Construction of the site created about 240 local temporary jobs. The facility will generate about $189,000 in new tax revenue for Valencia County.

The solar center features solar photovoltaic panels mounted on single-axis tracking devices that follow the sun for increased energy output. The panels are about 10-feet high at their maximum angle and utilize thin film technology.