New Mexico

Near $1 billion solar cell factory announced in New Mexico

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2024

Press Room

Near billion solar cell factory announced in New Mexico

Ebon Solar will invest $942 million in a solar cell manufacturing facility, bringing over 900 jobs.

August 12, 2024 Ryan Kennedy

Ebon Solar, a Delaware-based solar cell manufacturing company, released a joint announcement with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham that it will open a manufacturing facility in the Southwest.

New Mexico, which has become a center for advanced manufacturing particularly for silicon computer chips, will now become home to an Ebon Solar facility spanning 834,000 square feet.

Over $942 million will be invested to create the facility, which is expected to generate 900 full-time jobs. The project is developed in Albuquerque’s Mesa del Sol industrial development area.

The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) served as a key project management partner throughout Ebon Solar’s market evaluation process, facilitating many visits, interviews, and data analysis of the region and site selection support.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ebon Solar to the market; it not only represents a significant capital investment and new jobs to the community but aligns with PNM’s sustainability goals,” said Don Tarry, president and chief executive officer of electric utility PNM and the 2024 AREA Board Chair.

The Ebon Solar factory addresses a critical early upstream stage of the solar panel supply chain. Solar panels are made in a process from raw polysilicon mining, to refining into ingots, cutting into wafers, manufactured into cells, and finally assembled as modules.

While module assembly plants are opening in droves in the United States, with total cumulative capacity growing 71% nationwide in Q1 2024 alone, the need for earlier stages of the chain to be addressed becomes clear. However, cell manufacturing and other early-stage manufacturing processes are quite expensive to build and operate, as evidenced by Ebon Solar’s nearly $1 billion price tag.

(Read: “Can the U.S. fill its domestic solar supply chain gaps?”)

“Ebon Solar is proud to be an innovator in technologies that support renewable energy,” said Judy Cai, chief executive officer, Ebon Solar. “The choice of Albuquerque for our investment aligns with our commitment to sustainable innovation, and New Mexico offers abundant solar resources, favorable renewable energy policies, and a dedicated, skilled workforce.”

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New Mexico

New Mexico Forward Party moves toward recognition as minor party

Published

4 hours ago

April 10, 2026

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New Mexico Forward Party moves toward recognition as minor party

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New Mexico

Route 66 Visitors Center hosts free New Mexico concert series in Albuquerque

Published

16 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Route 66 Visitors Center hosts free New Mexico concert series in Albuquerque

BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. – Bernalillo County says the reopened Route 66 Visitors Center will host free Saturday concerts for eight weeks featuring New Mexico artists.

The concert series starts Saturday April 11 at 12 p.m. The New Mexico Music Hall of Fame will present the shows.

The lineup for the opening event includes Ivon Ulibarri and Café Mocha followed by Son Como Son. The release says local food trucks and Tractor Brewing will provide food and drinks.

The programs will run every Saturday in April and May beginning at 12 p.m. Other performers include Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra, Mariachi Promesa, Picoso, Red Wine Band with David Nunez, Sorela, Hillary Smith & Chill House, Animated Jukebox and others.

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New Mexico

Rain and thunderstorm chances increase across New Mexico Friday

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Rain and thunderstorm chances increase across New Mexico Friday

Grant’s Thursday Evening Forecast

Showers and storms will become more widespread across New Mexico Friday afternoon and continue into Saturday. Windy weather will then return Sunday and early next week.

Upper-level moisture is increasing across New Mexico Thursday, leading to a few isolated showers and thunderstorms. Unfortunately, the air near the ground is still very dry, so much of that rain is evaporating before it reaches the surface. That is also creating some locally gusty winds. Thursday has been even hotter statewide, with more of New Mexico climbing into the upper 70s and 80s.

The isolated showers showing up on radar will fade overnight, but cloud cover will continue to increase. Better low-level moisture will move into New Mexico tonight and Friday, helping produce more showers and thunderstorms by Friday afternoon. With that increase in moisture, more rain will make it to the ground Friday afternoon and evening. A couple of storms could become strong in far eastern New Mexico. Rain chances in the Albuquerque Metro will increase after 3 p.m. High temperatures will stay very warm to hot across the state.

Rain will continue overnight into early Saturday morning in parts of New Mexico. That broader area of rain will weaken through Saturday morning, with a few isolated showers and thunderstorms lingering into midday. Areas that miss out on overnight rain will have a better chance of seeing storms Saturday afternoon. A few storms could become strong to severe in eastern New Mexico, with gusty winds and small hail as the main threats. Temperatures will be cooler Saturday afternoon.

Drier air moves in Sunday, leaving just a couple of showers possible in northwest and northern New Mexico. Winds will start to increase Sunday afternoon, with the strongest winds expected Monday. Southwest wind gusts Monday afternoon could reach 45 to 55 mph. Rain chances will return to western, central, and northern New Mexico Monday into Tuesday as a strong Pacific cold front sweeps across the state. Cooler temperatures will follow Tuesday afternoon. Warmer, drier, and calmer weather returns later next week.

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