The Cimarron I Solar Project is adjacent to the Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico.

First Solar developed the solar PV project and is providing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. First Solar will also provide operation and maintenance services under a 25-year contract.

Construction of the solar PV project will begin this month, with completion and commercial operation expected by year end 2010.

It will employ approximately 500,000 solar PV modules manufactured by First Solar using its thin-film technology.

Electricity generated by the solar PV plant will serve a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a not-for-profit wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives serving 1.4 million customers across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.