Commercial, Solar, Wind  -  January 18, 2018

Facebook’s NM data center to add wind and solar

Facebook’s data center in Los Lunas, New Mexico is expected to welcome the addition of two new wind farms and a solar facility, adding 266 MWh of renewable energy. The Public Service Co. of New Mexico asked the Public Regulation Commission on Jan. 17 to approve PPAs to build new generating facilities in eastern, central and western parts of the state.

These new facilities are in addition to PNW’s own three solar plants already being built in Los Lunas to supply 30 MWh of power to the first two buildings of Facebook’s data center, according to a report in the Albuquerque Journal. Facebook previously announced plans for six building in the next five years.

Avangrid Renewables and NextEra Energy Inc have agreements in place with PNW to build and run the plants and sell the energy to PNM for delivery to Facebook. The new facilities will include a 166-MWh wind farm from Avangrid to open by 2020. NextEra Energy will build a 50 MWh wind farm, to be completed by the end of this year, as well as 50 MWh solar plant to be completed at the end of 2021.

The PPAs will be included in a green energy tariff arrangement that covers the full cost of electricity produced, the same as one approved by the commission in 2016 that allowed PNM to negotiate special rates with large-scale consumers, such as Facebook, who use renewables.  PNM has requested expedited approval of the PPAs, which could happen by April 4.

 "We look forward to working with Facebook and the commission on these new projects that will do even more to help the environment as well as bolster economic development," said Becky Teague, PNM vice president for external affairs. 

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