Origis Energy today (Aug 30) announced construction has begun on the Escalante Solar Project near Grants, N.M. The 200-megawatt solar project is at the site of the decommissioned Escalante Station, a 253-megawatt coal-powered plant that Tri-State closed in 2020. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has entered into a power purchase agreement for the output of generation from the Escalante Solar Project.
Image is a representation of the Escalante Solar project upon completion.
"We are excited to help create a milestone for Tri-State in their renewable energy goals," said Tanya Sessions, vice president, business development of Origis Energy. "It's always a celebration when clean, reliable energy is meeting the needs of homes and businesses in a community."
"It's meaningful that the first solar project to start construction as part of the Responsible Energy Plan we announced in 2020 will be built alongside our retired coal plant," said Duane Highley, Tri-State's chief executive officer. "We continue to reinvest in the local community and advance our goal of having 50% of the energy used by our members coming from renewable resources in 2025 and meeting the 2030 renewable energy requirements of the Energy Transition Act five years early."
Origis Energy, one of America's leading renewable energy platforms, acquired the development rights for the Escalante Solar Project from TurningPoint Energy, which originally developed the project. The project, located in Continental Divide Electric Cooperative's (CDEC's) service territory, will serve all of Tri-State's members, including CDEC and its other ten members in New Mexico.
"It is gratifying to finally deliver on the commitment of this project we made to Tri-State and its members back in 2020," said Jared Schoch, president of TurningPoint Energy. "CohnReznick Capital helped engage us with Origis and we ultimately partnered with Origis on this project because they are uniquely qualified to deliver on utility-scale solar projects in today's business environment."
Gridworks, headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M., is providing construction services for the project, employing an estimated 400 people during that time. Upon completion in 2024, Origis Energy Services will provide operation and maintenance services for the project, employing approximately 4-6 on site jobs once the project is completed. Roughly 500,000 solar panel modules will be installed at Escalante Solar, powering an estimated 40,000 homes.
"Tri-State's investment in Escalante Solar is vital for the community," said Robert E. Castillo, CDEC chief executive officer and general manager. "While the solar project cannot replace jobs at the retired coal plant, the addition of new tax base for McKinley County and our local school district is impactful, and we appreciate Tri-State and the project partners for bringing Escalante Solar to our region."
By adding such a significant solar plant at the site of the former coal plant, a new tax base is being created for the area from power generation, while providing a stable cost of power for Tri-State's members. Additionally, the project negotiated an Industrial Revenue Bond with McKinley County, N.M., which documents the project will pay approximately $7,100,000 in taxes to the County and $2,400,000 in taxes to the School District over the life of the project.
For more information about the project, visit the project website.
About Tri-State
Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with 45 members, including 42 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states that together deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. For more information about Tri-State, visit www.tristate.coop.
About Origis Energy
Origis Energy is bringing clean and cost effective solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen solutions within reach for utility, commercial and industrial as well as public sector clients. The Origis team has worked to ensure the interests of all stakeholders are upheld in 170 projects worldwide totaling more than 5 GW to date of developed solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen capacity. Headquartered in Miami, FL, Origis Energy delivers excellence in solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen development, financing, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and operations, maintenance and asset management for investors and clean energy consumers in the U.S. For more information visit: www.OrigisEnergy.com.
