Our Solar Plant in Progress
We are now in the planning stages of developing several solar projects in the McKinley County area to help residents meet their energy needs through clean, renewable energy, and reduce dependence upon fossil fuels.
Motivated largely by our values to have less impact on the environment, we seek to use our passion to help fill the madate that more renewable energy be used. A 20 percent shift to renewable energy by 2020 was mandated by the New Mexico Legislature in 2006.
Below is a timeline of our progress thus far.
November 2008-Present
Gallup Solar began working with Georg Schlueter, a consultant with HelioPower in December 2008. Together with members of the Planning and Design Committee, he has helped the group to identify key projects and crystalize its structure. The group is currently pursuing a number of projects that could result in supplying power to the area, creating green manufacturing jobs, and reducing carbon output in the area.
October 2008
- The Tribal Committee began working with local Navajo filmmaker Norman Patrick Brown on a short promotional film.
September 2008
- The group hired a new assistant office coordinator, Joshua Sandoval.
- The fall equinox forum draws over 200 people, including special guests to the Peterson Zah Museum in Window Rock, Ariz.
- Members of the vision and mission committee went to Farmington to assess a working power cooperative there.
- The mission and vision committee begins to look seriously at the group's organizational structure.
- Copies of the RFP were submitted to interested bidders.
August 2008
- The group decided to move meetings to the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Committee meetings take place on the second and fourth Wednesdays.
- The group began a process to hire an assistant office coordinator with the guidance of the vision and mission committees.
July 2008
- The group continued work on the RFP initially formulating an idea for proof of concept.
- The group visited Sandia National Labs to examine the CSP technology in use there
- The group held a retreat 12 July to come up with its current mission and vision statements, which were later approved by members.
- The Tribal Committee began planning the fall equinox forum and its topic of "bridging the gap" between various entities and their access to solar energy
- The membership committee began reforming to decide how to better use members' skills and develop a professional and detailed system of record keeping.
June 2008
- David Brunt reported on his findings from the Renewable Energy Financing Summit.
- Spurred on by information from Brett Newberry, a local business consultant, the group decided to set July 12 as a date for retreat to work on the mission, vision and action plans.
- Gallup Solar was mentioned in Solar Today through an ad purchased by McKinley County. held a forum June 28 to discuss ways in which residents of Gallup and its surrounding communities can contribute to quality of life and sustainability of the region.
May 2008
- David Brunt was selected to represent the Group at the 3rd Annual Renewable Energy Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Committees were formed to facilitate progress outside of group meetings. They were the website, mission/vision, and planning committees.
April 2008
- Held fourth public forum with Sr. Paula Gonzales as the speaker on alternative energy from a spiritual perspective.
- Launched gallupsolar.org
March 2008
- Received notification of award of $45,000 in capital outlay for feasibility and design studies
- Submitted the RBOG application
February 2008
- Began work on the Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) application
January 2008
- met with legislators about the possibility of capital outlay funding for the facility and obtained their support in getting $45,000 in capital outlay.
December 2007
- With utility information collected from the city and David Brunt, economist and member of Gallup Solar, the University of Colorado students complete the feasibility study stating that CSP is currently more efficient for larger-scale plants
- Held third public forum featuring Navajo inventor Garrett Yazzie and Renewable Energy Specialist Larry Ahasteen, who works with a tribal utility company.
November 2007
- Neal Kruis, a doctoral student at Colorado University, contacts the group about his interest in donating a photovoltaic vs. CSP feasibility study.
September 2007
- Gallup Solar holds its second public forum on the fall equinox.
- Gallup presents a proposal packet to PNM for consideration in where they will build the largest CSP plant in New Mexico.
August 2007
- The City of Gallup and McKinley County both pass resolutions of support to help the group in its efforts to bring a plant to Gallup; to see a copy, click here.
July 2007
- Obtained letters of support from local legislators, community groups and community members.
- Found two potential sites for plant
June 2007
- Membership doubles due to first public forum with Ben Luce and Robert Bernstein as speakers.
- PNM announces its feasibility study for a large-scale plant in New Mexico. Gallup Solar responds hoping to be chosen as the site of a proposed 50-500 megawatt plant becoming the first and only community group to do so.
March 2007
- Group formed with a mission to work with the community, our representatives and public utilities to bring a 40 MW solar power plant to Gallup, McKinley County, New Mexico, USA.
