
New Mexico Public Lands Commissioner Aubrey Dunn Thursday announced the receipt of nearly $218,000 from Macho Springs, one of New Mexico’s largest solar energy facilities.
The Macho Springs project is located on approximately 600 acres of state trust land 25 miles northeast of Deming.
The Macho Springs plant was constructed by First Solar, one of the world’s largest solar developers, in 2014.
The plant generates about 50 megawatts of energy which is sold to El Paso Electric to power approximately 18,000 homes.
The $218,000 is the first of a series of payments to be distributed to the trust beneficiaries which, over the life of the lease, are projected to total approximately $10 million.
Dunn said the payment also represents the beginning of potential revenue from renewable energy projects.
He added that State Land Office officials are actively seeking opportunities to facilitate similar projects that will provide significant long-term revenues to the state’s public schools and other beneficiaries.