New Mexico approves DE Shaw’s Carne solar and storage project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
DESRI has four projects in planning or operation in New Mexico. Alta Luna (pictured) is a 25MW asset that went online in 2016. Image: DESRI

The New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission (NMPRC) has approved the offtake contracts for the Carne solar facility, proposed by DE Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a US renewables developer which owns the project.

DESRI plans to bring the project online by mid-2025, and NMPRC approval has helped finalise many of the facility’s more ambitious targets. The project consists of a 130MW solar project, alongside a 65MW battery storage facility.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

David Hawkins, vice president of system operations and resource strategy at El Paso Electric (EPE), with which the offtake contracts were agreed, hailed the approval of the offtake contracts as a “significant milestone”. EPE has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with DESRI for the project, but considering that EPE plans to decarbonise its entire 2GW capacity by 2045, other similar deals will likely be required.

“The project allows us to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to our customers,” said Hawkins. “We are proud to be a part of this collaborative effort with DESRI and look forward to the positive impact it will have on the region we serve.”

However, the project has received some local opposition, with New Mexican newspaper The Deming Headlight reporting that a December 2022 hearing concerning the project’s funding was dominated by “members of the audience opposed to the financing or to the project itself”.

Regardless, the Carne project will go ahead and become DESRI’s fourth facility in New Mexico and second in Luna County, as the state looks to decarbonise its energy mix. According to the US Energy Information Administration, last year the state produced the second-most oil in the US, behind only Texas, and ranked seventh for natural gas production.

Last year New Mexico produced the ninth-most electricity from wind power among the 50 states, and in February this year, the state’s net electricity generation from non-hydroelectric renewables was greater than its net generation from natural gas and coal. With New Mexico making strides towards a more renewables-driven industry, both DESRI and EPE are eager to involve themselves in the transition.

“DESRI is thrilled with the Carne project’s NMPRC approval, along with its continued progress towards construction start and producing power for New Mexicans,” said Hy Martin, chief development officer of DESRI. “We appreciate the ongoing support from the project’s stakeholders, including Luna County and the local community.”

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
June 30, 2025
Solargis CEO Marcel Suri explores three areas where new standards could help underpin greater efficiency, accuracy and market resilience.
June 30, 2025
Heliene has completed the sale of Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credits in association with Minnesota-based U.S. Bank.
June 30, 2025
Eni subsidiary Plentiude has started operations at the northern block of its 330MW Renopool solar portfolio in Spain.
June 30, 2025
Voting on the US tax reconciliation bill is expected to begin in the Senate today, following a draft published on Friday that hit clean energy tax credits hard.
June 30, 2025
US clean energy developer Clearway Energy Group has received corporate credit facilities over US$1 billion.
June 27, 2025
Statkraft has signed PPAs with Better Energy to purchase energy from two solar power plants in Poland with a total capacity of 64GWh.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece