EPE, Newman Solar to develop new solar power plant in US

US-based El Paso Electric (EPE) and Newman Solar, owned by juwi solar (JSI), have inked an agreement for setting up of a 10MW solar power plant in Northeast El Paso, Texas.

As per the deal, JSI will develop, design, build and operate the new solar power project to be built on approximately 100 acres of the land.

The design phase of the project is set to commence in early summer 2014, while the construction work will begin in 2014 end.

Once completed, the new solar power plant will generate enough electricity to power over 3,800 homes annually.

For the project, the required land will be subleased by EPE in partnership with the El Paso Water Utilities.

EPE Chief Executive Officer Tom Shockley said the company focuses on building clean power projects using renewable energy technologies.

"We continue to look for opportunities to add cost effective solar energy such as the Newman Solar project, which in the long run helps reduce emissions and provide cleaner air," Shockley added.

"EPE is at the forefront in the solar energy industry, which is fitting given our location and abundance of the solar resources."

EPE and JSI have already signed a 30-year power purchase agreement for the solar PV project under which all of the electricity, renewable energy credits and associated attributes will be purchased by EPE.

The ground mounted PV project will be interconnected to EPE’s new Patriot substation via a dedicated 13.8kV distribution feeder.

The contractual commercial operation date for the project is December 2014.