By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — One of the nation’s largest energy infrastructure developers and builders wants nearly 3.5 square miles of land on the Pajarito Mesa in Bernalillo County for a solar and battery project, promising hundreds of jobs, millions in new revenue and a boost to the region’s power grid in exchange for a tax break.
Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources is proposing the Magpie Energy Center, a $696 million project that would span about 2,227 acres on the Pajarito Mesa near the intersection of Dennis Chavez Blvd. and Atrisco Vista Blvd. The facility would generate up to 300 megawatts of solar power and store up to 300 megawatts of energy, according to the company.
NextEra Energy Resources spokesperson Laura Gies says construction could begin in 2027 and create up to 350 jobs, with operations anticipated in 2029. The project is expected to generate about $27 million in bond revenue for Bernalillo County and local school districts over 30 years, according to the company. Gies said projects like Magpie “help strengthen grid reliability while supporting growing communities” and that NextEra “looks forward to continuing to work with Bernalillo County as development progresses.” The company has also donated to local food banks, supported training for fire departments and community organizations and partnered with Audubon Southwest on Rio Grande cleanup efforts, according to Gies.
Bernalillo County is evaluating an Industrial Revenue Bond for the project which sources say is expected to come before the commission before the end of the year. As part of the request, NextEra must negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement, a project-specific pact required under county requirements adopted in April. The requirements call for companies seeking tax abatements to outline community benefits, including workforce development, small business support and environmental sustainability, according to the county’s summary of CBAs.
The proposal follows the county’s approval of industrial revenue bonds for other large solar and battery storage projects in recent years, including DESRI’s $1.2 billion Estrella project, Corazon Energy Storage’s $225 million project and Sun Lasso Energy’s battery storage facility. Magpie still requires local and state approvals, according to NextEra’s project website.