New Mexico cuts the ribbon on Milagro Energy Center | Projects Weekly
This edition of the Projects Weekly highlights several milestones in the world of solar. To start things off, EDF power solutions North America and El Paso Electric announced the start of commercial operations at the Milagro Energy Center in New Mexico. Avangrid has begun install solar panels for the Tower Solar project in Oregon. TurningPoint Energy and Pivot Energy have launched a new solar project in Maryland. Ameresco and the city of Olympia, Washington, have broken ground on a nearly $17 million building retrofit project at the 86-year-old Olympia Armory. X-ELIO has powered on a solar + storage plant in Texas that will supply BASF Freeport operations. A car dealership in Pomeroy, Ohio, flipped the switch on a new solar energy system to power operations. Bearing manufacturer Schaeffler has added a rooftop solar system at its facility in Connecticut. Finally, after years of planning, New Mexico has launched its long-awaited community solar program. And speaking of projects, don’t forget to vote for the 2025 Project of the Year Awards.
EDF and El Paso Electric begin commercial operations at Milagro Energy Center
EDF power solutions North America and El Paso Electric (EPE) have started operations at the Milagro Solar + Storage project in New Mexico with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by 100 guests. The 150 MWdc solar photovoltaic project combined with a 75 MWac / 4-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) will supply electricity to EPE under a 20-year PPA.
“Launching our first solar and storage project in New Mexico is an exciting milestone, and we look forward to supporting EPE as this project delivers long-term price stability, stimulates economic growth, and reduces emissions,” said Kate O’Hair, senior VP of U,S, development for EDF power solutions.
Situated on private land in the Santa Teresa area of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, the Milagro Solar + Storage project is designed to store electricity during peak hours for solar generation in a series of batteries. This stored energy is then dispatched when needed to help manage capacity demand, creating a balance between electricity generation and demand. Energy storage can manage evening energy ramps, mitigate curtailment and provide grid stability.
Cool factor: The project created approximately 200 jobs during its peak construction phase, with 100 positions filled by New Mexico residents. Over Milagro’s operating lifespan, it is expected to generate around $18 million in tax revenue for Doña Ana County, and its school districts supported under the Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB).
“This achievement involved 300,000 labor hours dedicated to installing 282,000 solar panels, all completed without a single recordable incident,” said Nick Bergren, project manager for Blattner Energy, which constructed the project.
Avangrid begins panel installation on Tower Solar project
Avangrid Inc. has started to install solar panels at its Tower Solar project in Morrow County, Oregon. When completed, Tower Solar will deliver energy to the Portland General Electric (PGE) power grid and help power a new QTS data center campus that will support Meta’s operations in the region.
“Installing these first panels marks a major milestone for this new solar project in Oregon and adds to Avangrid’s growing fleet of energy facilities across the nation,” said Jose Antonio Miranda, Avangrid CEO. “Tower Solar will bring much needed capacity to the regional electric grid, improving the reliability and availability of electricity.”
Tower Solar is located just west of Boardman, Oregon, and located on about 900 acres of industrially zoned land owned by the Port of Morrow. The project will utilize more than 200,000 solar panels assembled by SEG Solar in its newly built Houston manufacturing facility. Avangrid was SEG Solar’s first utility-scale customer to receive solar modules assembled from its new U.S. facility. The total installed capacity of Tower Solar will be 166 MWdc (120 MWac).
Cool factor: At the peak of construction, Avangrid expects Tower Solar to create more than 200 jobs, the vast majority of which will be sourced from the region. Tower Solar is expected to pay about $20 million in combined PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes) and property taxes which will support a variety of public services, including education. Tower Solar will deliver energy to PGE’s grid through Green Future Impact (GFI), a voluntary program designed to help large commercial, industrial, and municipal customers meet their ambitious sustainability and carbon reduction goals through the development of new clean energy facilities in our region.
“The Tower Solar project represents a meaningful step in Morrow County’s continued economic diversification,” said David Sykes, Chair of the Morrow County Commission. “By embracing renewable energy, we’re not only creating jobs and strengthening our local economy. We’re investing in a more resilient future for our citizens.”
Powering up Maryland with 16.6 MW solar portfolio near Baltimore
Maryland’s Baltimore region has a new 2.9 MWdc solar farm. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Clarksville (Howard County), Maryland solar site on Sept. 25 to celebrate the energization of the new community solar farm. Distinguished guests, as well as employees from TurningPoint Energy (TPE) and Pivot Energy, joined community members to mark the completion of the solar project.
“In addition to renewable energy benefits, this solar farm will support dual-use solar, sheep grazing, native pollinator planting, and other efforts to ensure the long-term productivity of this land,” said Samantha Frick, director of community relations and impact at Pivot.
The solar farm was developed by TPE, a leading greenfield developer in Maryland, and is owned and operated by Pivot, a national renewable energy provider and independent power producer. This solar farm is the first to go online in a six-project,16.6 MWdc, portfolio developed by TPE, and built, operated, and owned by Pivot.
Cool factor: With construction completed this summer, this project represents a significant addition to the state’s solar generating capacity and will play a role in helping Maryland achieve its 50% renewable electricity goal by 2030. It will generate approximately 4.25 million kWh of affordable renewable energy annually, enough to power the equivalent of up to 370 Maryland homes. The solar array is made up of nearly 5,500 solar modules, enough to fill nearly 10 football fields.
This project is part of Maryland’s innovative Community Solar Energy Generating System (CSEGS) Pilot Program, which expands access to affordable energy. Community solar enables Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) customers to gain access to lower-cost, renewable energy generated locally. Subscribers to this community solar farm will save an average of 10% off their electricity bill each year. Reflecting strong community engagement, the project is now fully subscribed, with 11 unique participants, including a local church, demonstrating local interest in shared renewable energy solutions.
Ameresco breaks ground on building retrofit in Olympia, Washington
Ameresco Inc. broke ground on a building retrofit project that will add a 150 kW solar system at the Olympia Armory, in Olympia, Washington. The approximately $17 million multi-phase adaptive reuse project will start with upgrades to the 86-year-old building that address safety requirements, improve accessibility, and enhance energy efficiency. Improvements to the building and the installation of a solar PV system will proceed in parallel. The solar technology will facilitate on-site energy generation and support ongoing cost reductions.
In total, the project is anticipated to take approximately 18 months to complete. The multiphase infrastructure improvement initiative is being delivered through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Ameresco, who provided price and performance guarantees and helped ensure participation from local businesses and key community stakeholders.
Cool factor: The Olympia Armory was first constructed in 1939, on the same site that was previously home to the city’s primary public school, built in 1890. The Armory served as the headquarters for various army units from World War II onward and hosted a range of events from art exhibitions to car shows. It was acquired by the city of Olympia in 2022, and the city contracted with Ameresco to support plans to repurpose the building as a creative campus and arts center for the community.
“We are excited to bring this next iteration of the Olympia Armory to life, building on the site’s history as a community gathering place,” said Valerie Roberts, Armory building manager. “Ameresco is the perfect partner to help execute our vision. Their expertise and innovative approach provide that the Armory is operating efficiently and equipped with the energy resiliency technology to serve our community in its new form.”
X-ELIO powers on Texas solar + storage plant to supply BASF operations
X-ELIO has launched operations at its Liberty Energy Project in Dayton, Texas. The project combines 72 MW of solar PV capacity with an additional 60 MW of battery storage, marking X-ELIO’s first combined solar PV and BESS project in the United States. With Liberty now operational, 100% of the expected imported power at BASF‘s Freeport site will be supplied by renewable energy.
“The inauguration of the Liberty Project marks an important milestone in our journey toward more sustainable operations and enabling the green transformation of our customers,” said Brad Morrison, senior VP and GM at BASF Freeport. “Thanks to our partnership with X-ELIO, we are able to supply 100% of our expected purchased power at our Freeport site from renewable sources. This project supports our long-term commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 and reflects the kind of collaboration needed to build a cleaner, more resilient energy future.”
Cool factor: BASF will source 48 MW of electricity from the Liberty Project to help power its Freeport site as part of a 12-year power purchase agreement (PPA) announced in 2022. Freeport is one of BASF’s six global Verbund sites, which takes an integrated approach to manufacturing, raw materials and energy management.
“The Liberty Project represents a major step in our planned expansion in the U.S., a key market for X-ELIO,” said Lluís Noguera, chairman and CEO at X-ELIO. “We are currently developing a pipeline of 2.8 GW of solar PV and 2.1 GW of storage projects to advance competitive energy solutions, support local communities, and power a growing American economy.”
Under the umbrella of its Community & Nature Plan Program, X-ELIO coordinated with local partners on several initiatives to benefit the surrounding neighborhoods. These include the creation of the Dwelling Garden in Liberty, a shared green space for the community to gather; the construction of a boardwalk at Kleb Woods Nature Preserve, improving accessibility for people with reduced mobility, families with children, and all community members; and the restoration of the drainage system at the Liberty Food Bank, enhancing safety and enabling the organization to better serve families in need.
Pomeroy, Ohio car dealership adds 196.7 kW solar array
Mark Porter Auto Group in Pomeroy, Ohio, hosted a “flip-switching” event to celebrate the completion of a new solar energy system at its Pomeroy location. The 196.7 kW solar array, designed and built by Kokosing Solar, will generate more than 70% of the dealership’s annual electricity needs.
“This solar array is a great example of how, in the face of increasing electricity costs, local businesses can benefit from proven, cost-saving technology,” said Roberta Washburn of Kokosing Solar.
Cool factor: The system is expected to produce over 236,000 kWh of electricity each year, covering the majority of the dealership’s power demand and significantly reducing utility costs. By lowering reliance on the electric grid, the system also provides long-term stability against unpredictable energy prices.
Funding for the project came from a combination of federal tax incentives and a USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. These tools helped reduce upfront costs, making it possible for a small business in rural Ohio to invest in advanced energy technology.
Schaeffler adds rooftop solar to roller bearing plant in Connecticut
Schaeffler, the Motion Technology Company, announces the successful implementation of its first fully owned rooftop solar energy system in the Americas region at its plant in Danbury, Connecticut, marking a major step forward in renewable electricity generation.
Schaeffler’s Danbury facility specializes in the production of high-precision roller bearings, ball bearings and related components that are critical for various aerospace applications. Installed directly on the facility’s rooftop, the solar system began producing electricity in June.
Cool factor: The 1,154 MWp solar system, installed in partnership with Solect Energy, is now fully operational and is expected to supply approximately 13% of the plant’s annual electricity needs.
“This is a major step forward in our journey toward energy efficiency and on our decarbonization pathway,” said Wendell Fenner, plant manager, Danbury. “We are proud that Danbury is leading the way for the Americas region, setting an example of how clean energy can be integrated into our operations to benefit both the environment and our business.”
New Mexico launches first community solar project
After years of planning, the long-awaited launch of New Mexico’s first-ever community solar project is ready to power up. The Cuidando Los Niños Community Solar Project hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 30, in Belen, New Mexico.
“This project proves that community solar works,” said Cory Felder, Mountain West regional director for the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). “It delivers affordable power, local investment, and community benefits in a way no other clean energy program can. New Mexico has been working toward this moment for years, and today we’re proud to see the vision becoming reality.”
New Mexico passed its community solar law, SB84, in 2021, but the rollout has been delayed by regulatory proceedings and utility processes. The ribbon-cutting shows that the program is finally moving forward, unlocking a pipeline of projects that will deliver savings and resilience to households statewide.
Cool factor: The project, developed by Affordable Solar, demonstrates the power of community solar to lower bills, expand energy choice, and deliver local benefits. Affordable Solar was awarded seven community solar projects across New Mexico, totaling 35 MW — which cumulatively will offset the energy usage of 15,000 homes. In addition to providing clean electricity to subscribers, the project is supporting Cuidando Los Niños’ mission to break the cycle of childhood homelessness. As part of the celebration, Affordable Solar will present a $45,000 donation to the nonprofit.
“We are honored to bring the state’s first community solar project to life right here in Belen,” said Dylan Connelly, Project Developer at Affordable Solar. “Community solar is about more than clean energy—it’s about putting people first. By helping families save on their bills and supporting Cuidando Los Niños with this donation, we’re demonstrating the wide-ranging impact this program can have across New Mexico.”
The Cuidando Los Niños project is fully subscribed, thanks in part to the efforts of community solar subscription provider Solstice, ensuring that New Mexicans, especially those who otherwise could not install solar, can benefit from renewable energy. Importantly, 50% of the project’s energy production is reserved to support qualified low-income households, directly lowering electricity bills for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
