Jicarilla Apache Nation Celebrates Start of Operations on 140-MW Solar/50-MW Battery Project in New Mexico
The Jicarilla Apache Nation of New Mexico have welcomed a utility-scale solar energy and battery storage project within their reservation that will generate income and renewable energy for the tribe.
Shallow Basket Energy is a 140-MW solar/50-MW battery storage project which achieved commercial operations this month in Rio Arriba County. Developer National Renewable Solutions (NRS) oversaw completion of Shallow Basket Energy, which was started last year with Gridworks leading engineering, procurement and construction activities.
The project’s name is a nod to the band’s history: Jicarilla is a Mexican Spanish word for “little basket.” The tribe was long known for using small, sealed baskets as drinking vessels.
Jicarilla Apache Nation will benefit economically from the Shallow Basket Energy project through the wholesale power supply agreement with Guzman Energy, an independent power supplier for customers in New Mexico and Colorado.
"The Shallow Basket Energy Project represents more than just clean power—it's a powerful step forward in the Jicarilla Apache Nation's journey toward energy sovereignty and economic self-determination,” Adrian Notsinneh, president of Jicarilla Apache Nation, said in a statement. “By hosting this project on our land, we're honoring our legacy of environmental stewardship while creating opportunities for our people and contributing to a more sustainable future for the region."
Participating in the celebration of the start of commercial operations were tribal leaders and representatives from NRS, Guzman Energy and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, which also will be an off-taker of the energy generated and discharged into the grid from Shallow Basket.
"Shallow Basket Energy is a great example of what can be accomplished when community partners are aligned with common goals,” Luis Reyes, CEO of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, said. “The project will benefit the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative members with renewable energy and will also help us all meet New Mexico's state-wide clean energy targets."
NRS leased land from the Jicarilla Apache Nation to build Shallow Basket Solar and Storage, funding it through a $145 million financing package led by Deutsche Bank. This will be NRS’ first project to finance and manage.
Although the Jicarilla Apache Nation has suffered high unemployment for much of its recent history, the economy on its land is focused on mining, including oil and gas drilling owned and operated by the tribe.
About the Author
Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor
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Rod Walton has spent 17 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.
Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World.
EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023
Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.