A West Texas solar project set to provide CPS Energy with 180 megawatts of clean energy — enough electricity to power 45,000 homes on a hot summer day — has officially gone online.
Earlier this month, Ashtrom Renewable Energy announced the Tierra Bonita solar project in Pecos County is now fully operational. CPS Energy spokeswoman Dana Sotoodeh confirmed Tuesday that the municipally-owned utility first started getting power from Tierra Bonita in July.
CPS Energy first struck the 20-year deal with independent power producer Kenlov Ashtrom Renewable Energy and its partner and developer, Austin-based OnPeak Power, for those megawatts back in 2022 as part of its FlexPower Bundle initiative.
That initiative sought to diversify CPS Energy’s generation mix by procuring up to 900 MW of solar, 50 MW of energy storage and 500 MW of natural gas. One megawatt of electricity can power roughly 250 homes on a hot day.
The Tierra Bonita project was able to obtain the required approvals for commercial operation earlier than the contracted date, according to a business wire press release. CPS Energy’s share of the power is about 60% of the farm’s total generated electricity.
Last year, CPS Energy agreed to buy an additional 100 MW of solar from Ashtrom Renewable Energy and OnPeak Power from the as-yet-built El Patrimonio solar project, which will be located in Bexar County. That solar farm is expected to start supplying power by May.
As part of the El Patrimonio agreement, Ashtrom Renewable Energy will contribute to CPS Energy student scholarships, as well as a mentorship program for local students during construction and will pay to construct an outdoor classroom.
Through power purchase agreements with operators from across the country, CPS Energy has 13 solar farms generating nearly 500 megawatts of renewable power. These solar farms are located throughout Texas.
Solar power makes up 7.4% of the utility’s generation portfolio.
