D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) has partnered with utility El Paso Electric (EPE) to begin construction of the Carne solar and storage project, which is a 130 MW solar and 260 MWh storage facility located in Deming, New Mexico.
The facility is DESRI's second solar facility in Luna County followed by the Alta Luna project, which began operations in 2017. The project is intended to help EPE achieve its 80% clean energy goal by 2035 and 100% by 2045.
"DESRI is pleased to continue our investment in the energy transition in New Mexico with our fourth utility scale renewable energy facility in the state, and to build on our long-standing relationship with EPE," said Hy Martin, Chief Development Officer of DESRI. "Carne will provide reliable, cost-effective clean power to EPE, transmission grid support with the planned large battery storage facility as well as support the local community with economic development opportunities for years to come."
The facility has a 20-year power purchase agreement with EPE and is expected to begin commercial operations in 2025. It is anticipated to generate enough clean energy to power approximately 37,600 homes each year, according to metrics provided by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Galehead Development and Lacuna Sustainable Investments were responsible for the initial development of the project.
"The Carne facility is dedicated 100% to serving our New Mexico customers and will be a critical resource in enabling EPE to meet the needs of customer demand and requirements of New Mexico's Renewable Portfolio Standard goals," said James Schichtl, Vice President of Regulatory Operations and Resource Strategy at EPE. "The battery storage component of the new facility will be the largest serving EPE customers and provide much needed capacity and reliability for our New Mexico customers."
SOLV Energy is appointed as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor and will also provide ongoing operations and maintenance services to the project once operational.
"In addition to supporting EPE's clean energy goals, Carne will create more than 300 construction jobs and provide the local workforce with on-the-job skills training and career development opportunities," said SOLV Energy CEO, George Hershman. "SOLV Energy and DESRI have partnered on nearly four gigawatts of renewable capacity across the U.S."
State regulators approved the project in 2023. The Carne site is DESRI's fourth battery storage investment in New Mexico.
