July 29, 2008

New Mexico Utilities Issue RFP for Large Solar Parabolic Trough Plant

On July 1, 2008, four of New Mexico’s major utilities—Xcel Energy, El Paso Electric, PNM, and the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association—issued a request for proposals for the construction of a large solar parabolic trough generation facility and an associated long-term purchase power agreement. The utilities hope to have a contract in place by year-end…

On July 1, 2008, four of New Mexico’s major utilities—Xcel Energy, El Paso Electric, PNM, and the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association—issued a request for proposals for the construction of a large solar parabolic trough generation facility and an associated long-term purchase power agreement. The utilities hope to have a contract in place by year-end 2008 with the facility becoming operational by 2011-2012. Solar parabolic trough technology uses a series of trough-shaped mirrors to focus sunlight onto an oil-filled tube, and then uses the hot oil to generate steam.