Northern Rio Grande Corridor Collaborative is a research collaborative of five universities and two national research laboratories located along the northern banks of the Rio Grande. The maps shown below are maintained by the Hunt Institute at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Along the Northern Rio Grande Corridor there is favorable geothermal energy potential based on levelized cost of electricity. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Northern Rio Grande Corridor Collaborative lays with a class 1 favorable geothermal potential. As of 2019, Lightning Dock is the only geothermal power plant project located in or near the Northern Rio Grande Corridor Collaborative.
Geothermal Power Plant and Capacity by Energy Source
Geothermal Power Plant
Lightning Dock Geothermal HI-01, LLC (8.6MW)
The Northern Rio Grande Corridor Collaborative sits within the region of the United States with the highest solar energy potential. In particular, Doña Ana and El Paso County have the highest average levels of solar irradiance. However, the largest concentrations of solar power energy plants are in Bernalillo and Valencia counties. In total, 70 solar energy plants operate in the Northern Rio Grande Corridor Collaborative and surrounding areas.
Wind energy potential on the high plains east of the Rio Grande is significant. Eastern New Mexico and West Texas have considerable wind energy production.
Wind Power Plants and Capacity by Energy Source
Wind Power Plants
The natural gas industry has created a network for distribution of natural gas in the Northern Rio Grande Corridor Collaborative and surrounding areas that includes 24 natural gas processing plants and 25 natural gas power plants. While the San Juan Basin contains 4 processing plants, the Permian Basin has the highest concentration in the region with 20 processing plants in New Mexico. The El Paso and Doña Ana County region has the highest concentration of natural gas power plants with 8 locations.
The Northern Rio Grande Corridor Collaborative region and surrounding areas contain 3 petroleum power plants, 3 petroleum refineries, 3 crude oil terminals, and 16 petroleum product terminals. There is an extensive network of pipelines that deliver gasoline to key distribution points, which facilitates the large amount of international trade that flows through the region.
