By Mike Smith
El Rito Media

Consideration of an interim county manager and possible approval of $230 million dollars of industrial revenue bonds for an energy storage system top Tuesday’s agenda for the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners.

Commissioners are scheduled to convene behind closed doors in executive session at the end of Tuesday’s meeting to discuss appoint of a temporary county manager to replace Roberta Gonzales, who announced her intention to return to the finance director position during an Aug. 20 meeting. If commissioners agree on an appointee during the executive session they can make the appointment official after reopening the regular public meeting.

Gonzales was named county manager in 2023 after Alan Davis retired. Gonzales served as the county’s finance manager for nine years before moving to the chief administrator’s position.

Savannah Cabezuela, Eddy County spokesperson, did not provide any information about potential candidates for the interim position.

Battery storage facility gets county help?

Commissioners could approve industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) of $230 million to support a Boulder, Colorado, clean energy technology company’s plan to build a 150-megawatt (MW) battery energy storage unit.

Peregrine Energy presented a proposal for the facility to commissioners July 16.

In a memorandum to commissioners, Gonzales and Eddy County Attorney Cas Tabor stated the proposed facility would be located on approximately 30 acres of land north of Carlsbad along the George Shoup Relief Route.

IRBs are used as a tool encouraging business expansions and locations along with job growth and capital investment, according to a New Mexico State Legislature document.

During the July meeting, Peregrine Project Manager Dustin Ingram said the proposed facility could house nearly 100 individual battery storage units in a shipping container type building.

He said the facility would connect with Xcel Energy electrical lines and provide energy capacity during high demands for electricity.

In the memorandum, Gonzales and Tabor noted the IRBs would provide tax exemptions to defray part or all of the costs associated with the project.

Peregrine Energy Solutions would agree to an annual payment in lieu of taxes (PILT), read the memorandum.

Mike Smith may be reached at 575-308-8734 or by email at msmith@currentargus.com.