ToHajiilee Economic Development, Inc.(TEDI) Feasibility Study for Utility-Scale Solar Page: 2 of 5
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Final Report - TEDI DOE Grant For Feasibility
fold. First, some study elements would not actually be feasible unless predevelopment
progress was made on finalizing those elements. Second, positive momentum on project
elements allowed for progress toward feasibility on other project elements. RCI began by
locating the best-fit technology partner from among at least a dozen solar PV technology
companies. SunPower Corporation of Richmond, California was selected.
TEDI and its team of service providers have determined that constructing a 30
Megawatt utility-scale photovoltaic solar electrical generation facility (solar project) on tribal
trust lands held by the Cahoncito Band of Navajos (To'Hajiilee Chapter of the Navajo Nation) is
in fact feasible. TEDI has also created a project development company to partner with the
appropriate providers for ultimate success. That development company has been named
Shandiin Solar LLC. (Shandiin is the Navajo word for sunlight.) The Chapter will benefit from
the project in terms of economic impact on the local population, potential for job creation, and
Chapter-sustaining revenue.
The To'Hajiilee Chapter and the Navajo people desire to increase production of
renewable energy to promote economic development and meet local energy demands. They are
fortunate to have Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a neighbor. Economic modeling and energy
price forecasting undertaken by RBC Capital Markets as a part of the feasibility study shows
that renewable energy from the Project can be sold at a competitive wholesale rates to an
investor-owned electric utility such as Public Service of New Mexico (PNM), to publicly owned
non-profit utilities or a municipal utility with adequate price margins to create a viable
renewable energy business.
SunPower's efficient PV technologies will produce energy that can compete at the price
point in this market with fossil fuel power. In addition, TEDI is blessed with immediate access
to transmission lines connected directly to Albuquerque. Through DOE support of this in-depth
study, TEDI has determined that these transmission lines have unused available capacity.
While this 30MW solar project is the focus of our feasibility study, we have identified the
potential for additional renewable energy capacity on CBN tribal lands that can be developed in
the future. The To'Hajiilee Chapter has expressed great interest as a community in the potential
for this solar project. The production of sustainable, renewable power from the sun is very
much in line with our culture's ethos of respect for the earth and a sustainable way of life. It is
our Native way.
Project Objectives:
Objectives of the feasibility analysis and modeling included:
1) Site-specific resource assessment of solar potential;
2) Identification of viability of demand markets;
3) Assessment of transmission and interconnection capacity and costs;
4) Technology analysis and selection of best commercially available technology partner;
5) Assessment of environmental viability of the preferred site;
6) Economic modeling and price forecasting allowing for sale of power into the local or
regional demand markets;
7) A preliminary analysis of potential Chapter benefits;2
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Burpo, Rob. ToHajiilee Economic Development, Inc.(TEDI) Feasibility Study for Utility-Scale Solar, report, February 29, 2012; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc845242/m1/2/: accessed March 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.