SNC Lavalin and Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners to co-invest in New Mexico power project

Western Energy Partners has announced plans to develop the 750 MW Clean Path Energy Center located on privately owned land near Waterflow, New Mexico.

Western Energy Partners will move forward with plans to develop, permit, construct and operate the project.

SNC-Lavalin will serve as the engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) contractor for the project’s combined cycle power block and support project development. Stonepeak Partners will also be providing project development support. The project will be funded by SNC-Lavalin and Stonepeak Partners.

The Clean Path Energy Center will help fill an urgent and growing need that is being created by the announced retirement of aging coal-fueled power plants located in the Four Corners and Desert Southwest region. It will consist of a 680 MW clean-fueled natural gas combined cycle power plant co-located with an advanced 70 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project to create a first of its kind electricity generation system in the region.

Completion of the project is expected in mid-2019.

Curt Hildebrand, President of Western Energy Partners, commented:

“The Clean Path Energy Center is ideally located to take full advantage of the robust natural gas and electrical infrastructure in San Juan County. This uniquely configured project will feature unprecedented operating efficiencies, exceptionally fast ramping rates and will establish new standards for environmental stewardship. Further, the Clean Path Energy Center is ideally positioned to meet the future electrical needs of consumers in a highly economic and sustainable manner for many years to come.”

“The Clean Path Energy Center project is designed to take full advantage of the recent and dramatic technological advances in modern gas turbine and solar PV technologies. The 680 MW combined cycle plant will be capable of providing baseload generation around the clock in an exceptionally efficient and flexible manner, thereby enhancing the viability of intermittent renewable technology in the region. Additionally, the renewable 70 MW Solar PV power block will be capable of providing additional renewable peaking generation capacity that is critical during times of higher system loads,”

San Juan County Commission Chairman Keith Johns stated:

“The Commissioners consider this project to be a tremendous opportunity for San Juan County to proactively address the dramatic impact that the retirement of the region’s aging coal plants will have on our local economy and tax base.”

San Juan County Executive Officer Dr. Kim J. Carpenter added:

“By combining a state-of-the-art clean burning natural gas generator and an advanced PV solar array to produce electricity, the Clean Path Energy Center continues the process of establishing San Juan County and the Four Corners region as an environmentally-responsible source of energy for the west.”