Pending the approval of state regulators, the agreement would allow the Tempe, Arizona-based company the ability to construct the power plants that would generate 22 megawatts of solar power - enough to power 7,000 average-sized homes - that will be utilized by PNM and its 500,000 customers across the state.
While the sites for the solar energy plants have not yet been determined, PNM president and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn said they would be chosen based on their cost, availability, and long-term sustainability.
"We are proud to have a company with First Solar's internationally recognized expertise and reputation building these facilities to help us meet the growing energy needs of our customers," said Vincent-Collawn. "More than 1,800 MW of First Solar's PV panel technology has been deployed in multiple projects throughout the world."
If all goes according to plan, construction on the energy plants will get underway at the beginning of 2011 with the goal of being finished by year's end. The project will help PNM complete a government-mandated goal of theirs to add 45 megawatts of solar power to its system in that same timeframe.
