300 MW Solar Farm in New Mexico Moves to Phase Two

Electrical Services Consultants (ESC) in Ft. Collins, Colorado, the company that assembled the study documents for New Solar, stated "What this means is that the Transmission Authority has determined there is capacity for New Solar to place 300 megawatts of its solar-generated power on the Western Power Grid at the Luna Substation in Deming, New Mexico.

New Solar is now moving into the Second Impact Phase of the study -- establishing the cost of connecting into the distribution system at the Luna Substation. A key component of adequately establishing the cost is that of identifying power purchaser(s). Therefore, New Solar is actively seeking to place long-term power contracts with customer on the WECC network, pursuant to the Public Service Company of New Mexico's Open Access Transmission Tariff (as approved by the federal authority).

"We have achieved a major milestone following eight months of joint effort with El Paso Electric and its partner, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), the majority owner of the transmission system into which New Solar will connect its first 300 megawatts of power," said Ed Balch, spokesperson for the company.

New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission Portfolio Standards for Renewable Energy require that by 2011, public utilities in New Mexico must acquire or generate at least ten percent (10%) of their electricity from a renewable resource -- one that is self-regenerating, such as solar, wind, and/or hydro electric.

For further information, contact Edwin H. Balch, Jr., Director of Contracts, New Solar Ventures, Inc., phone: 505-545-7201, e-mail: edbnsv1415@msn.com, fax: 505-544-9119.

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