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NG North America updates commissioners on Shiprock Solar proposal: 360 MW solar + 360 MW storage targeted
Summary
NG North America presented a progress update on the Shiprock Solar Project, describing site studies, permitting plans with BLM/Western Area Power Administration, estimated costs and job projections.
NG North America told San Juan County commissioners on April 15 that the Shiprock Solar Project has advanced to early design stages and is moving into permitting with the Bureau of Land Management and Western Area Power Administration.
Anthony Crutch, New Mexico state lead for NG North America, said the project site sits in front of the old San Juan generation station off Highway 64 and described a proposed configuration of 360 megawatts of solar paired with 360 megawatts of battery storage. "We do have a point of interconnect," Crutch said, explaining that interconnection and NEPA review are ongoing and drive the earliest target for commercial operations.
Crutch and colleague Russ Keane said the developer has spent about $22 million to date on surveys and design, that the EPC-level budget for solar equipment is currently estimated at about $476 million and the battery-storage equipment and EPC at about $383 million, for a combined indicative equipment/EPC cost in the high hundreds of millions. "We're looking at around $700 million to $800 million of investment in accounting," Crutch said when asked about total project cost.
On schedule, NG showed a draft commercial-operation date of 2030 tied to long-lead interconnection work but said that timeline could be shortened if permitting and grid work proceed faster. Crutch described the NEPA process and Western Area Power Administration review as the next regulatory milestones and said the developer had submitted baseline site studies and a plan of development to the BLM.
Commissioners asked about jobs and community benefits. NG said construction could support more than 100 temporary construction jobs and an estimated 8–12 permanent operations and maintenance roles on site, with additional indirect jobs from local contracting. Russ Keane said the company is seeking to hire locally where possible and intends to participate in regional workforce and educational partnerships.
Recognizing community concern about battery storage safety, the developers explained safety and monitoring features including thermal and gas detectors, remote monitoring and an emergency-response plan. Crutch described decommissioning and reclamation commitments and noted the BLM requires bonding for reclamation on federal lands.
Why it matters: The project would repurpose lands near the retiring San Juan Generating Station and could generate substantial property tax revenue, long-term operations jobs and local procurement opportunities, while raising questions about permitting, interconnection and battery-safety planning with local fire and emergency services.
NG said it has engaged the Bureau of Land Management, San Juan Citizens Alliance and the San Juan Chamber of Commerce and plans further community outreach as permitting advances.
