190 MW solar and battery storage project is now online providing reliable power for Jicarilla Apache Nation, as well as municipalities and electric coops

 

Minneapolis, MN and Farmington, NM, August 15, 2025 — National Renewable Solutions (NRS), a US-based renewable energy developer, announced today that Shallow Basket Energy is now operating. The 140 MWac solar energy and 50 MW battery storage project, located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, reached commercial operation in August 2025.

To recognize the start of Shallow Basket Energy’s operations, NRS hosted a grand opening event on site. Officials from NRS, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Guzman Energy, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC), and other organizations joined to celebrate the project. Shallow Basket Energy is located on land owned by the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Jicarilla Apache Nation will benefit from power produced by the project through its wholesale power supply agreement with Guzman Energy.

Jicarilla Apache Nation President Adrian Notsinneh, said, “The Shallow Basket Energy Project represents more than just clean power—it’s a powerful step forward in the Jicarilla Apache Nation’s journey toward energy sovereignty and economic self-determination. By hosting this project on our land, we’re honoring our legacy of environmental stewardship while creating opportunities for our people and contributing to a more sustainable future for the region.”

Jeffrey M. Heit, Founding Managing Director of Guzman Energy, said, “Power generated by Shallow Basket is an important addition to the overall Guzman Energy power supply portfolio. Guzman Energy customers, including the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, will benefit from this new local power source.”

Luis A. Reyes, Jr., CEO of KCEC, said, “Shallow Basket Energy is a great example of what can be accomplished when community partners are aligned with common goals. The project will benefit the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative members with renewable energy and will also help us all meet New Mexico’s state-wide clean energy targets.”

Shallow Basket Energy is now producing enough power for 38,000 homes annually and boosting local grid reliability by storing and dispatching power when it’s needed. Leveraging the U.S. supply chain for renewable energy, Shallow Basket Energy incorporates Tesla’s grid forming technology and Megapack 2XL units which were manufactured in Lathrop, California. Albuquerque-based Gridworks completed construction of the project.

Since announcing project financing in November 2024, NRS has refinanced the debt for Shallow Basket Energy with MUFG Bank, Ltd., Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale, New York Branch (NORD/LB), Siemens Financial Services, and Zions Bancorporation, N.A. The refinancing provides better terms that will in turn support NRS’s growth.

Bill Whitlock, CEO, National Renewable Solutions, said, “The on-time, on-budget completion of Shallow Basket Energy is a major milestone for our partners and especially for NRS as it completes our transition to an IPP. Importantly, Shallow Basket Energy demonstrates how we are meeting rising demand for reliable energy while delivering on our customers’ commitment to environmental stewardship.”

 

About National Renewable Solutions

NRS is a renewable IPP with a rich history and demonstrated success deploying a community-based stakeholder engagement model for its utility scale wind and solar projects. Founded in 2011, NRS originates, acquires, and develops renewable energy projects throughout the US at various stages from greenfield through operations. NRS is owned by an investment fund managed by a subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. With its capital markets support and global reach, NRS has positioned itself as a major player in the U.S. renewable energy market. For more information on NRS, please visit www.natrs.com.

 

Media Contact

Ally Copple
Ally@InnovantPR.com

Minnetonka, MN and Cuba, New Mexico—November 19, 2024 — National Renewable Solutions (“NRS”), a US-based renewable energy developer, owner and operator, announced today that it has closed $145 million in project financing for its 140 MWac solar and 50 MW storage project located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, about 30 miles west of Cuba, NM (the “Shallow Basket Project”). The Shallow Basket Project is under construction and is expected to be operational in 2025.

Deutsche Bank provided the construction financing. Guzman Energy will purchase 100 percent of the power and associated renewable attributes. An experienced developer with more than 1.2 GW of projects commercialized, NRS developed Shallow Basket Project and will continue to own and operate the project, marking the company’s first project to finance and manage.

“We are proud to support NRS with the financing of the Shallow Basket Project,” said Jeremy Eisman, Head of Infrastructure & Energy Financing at Deutsche Bank. “This project builds on Deutsche Bank’s dedication and expertise in providing bespoke and creative capital solutions to support the renewable energy transition.”

NRS held a groundbreaking event along with officials from the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Guzman Energy to commemorate the start of construction. Jicarilla Apache Nation is leasing its land for Shallow Basket Project and will also benefit from power produced by the Shallow Basket Project through its wholesale supply agreement with Guzman Energy.

“The Shallow Basket Project embodies our commitment to a sustainable future and economic self-sufficiency for the Jicarilla Apache Nation,” said President Adrian Notsinneh, Jicarilla Apache Nation. “By harnessing renewable energy on our lands, we’re building a legacy of environmental stewardship. We are protecting our environment and creating new opportunities for economic growth that will ensure prosperity for future generations.”

“The financing of Shallow Basket Project represents an exciting turning point for NRS,” said Bill Whitlock, CEO, National Renewable Solutions. “The culmination of years of planning, this solar and storage project supports our strategy of retaining our projects through operation. Thank you to Deutsche Bank for their support. We are grateful for the opportunity to grow our relationship with the Jicarilla Apache Nation as we complete construction and operate the project for the long haul.”

NRS selected Albuquerque-based Gridworks as the engineering, procurement and construction provider. Shallow Basket Project is expected to create 250 jobs over a 12-month construction period.

About National Renewable Solutions

NRS is an emerging renewable IPP which has a rich history and success deploying a community-based stakeholder engagement model for its utility scale wind and solar projects. Founded in 2011, NRS originates, acquires, and develops renewable energy projects throughout the US at various stages, including from greenfield through operations. NRS is owned by an investment fund managed by a subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. and with its capital markets support and global reach, NRS has positioned itself as a major player in the U.S. renewable energy market. For more information on National Renewable Solutions, please visit www.natrs.com.

Media Contact

Ally Copple
Ally@InnovantPR.com

    

The Jicarilla Apache Nation published the below press release regarding the Shallow Basket Energy groundbreaking.

RIO ARRIBA COUNTY – August 14, 2024 – The Jicarilla Apache Nation (the Nation) is proud to announce the groundbreaking of Shallow Basket Energy, a significant step forward in sustainable energy development and economic growth for the Nation and the surrounding region. This monumental project, a collaborative effort with National Renewable Solutions and Guzman Energy, will bring a 190 MWac solar and storage installation to the leased land in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.

Shallow Basket Energy will consist of 140 MWac dedicated to solar power generation and an additional 50 MW dedicated to energy storage. Once operational in 2025, National Renewable Solutions, the project developer, will own the project and Guzman Energy will purchase 100% of the power and associated renewable attributes generated by this project.

Jicarilla Apache Nation is leasing its land for Shallow Basket Energy and will also benefit from power produced by the project through its wholesale supply agreement with Guzman Energy. Shallow Basket Energy will be part of Guzman Energy’s power supply portfolio, serving current and future Guzman Energy wholesale customer power loads.

“Shallow Basket Energy is going to create an affordable, renewable source of power. The fact that it is on Jicarilla Apache Nation land, and will benefit its residents, is especially gratifying,” said Christopher A. Miller, Co-founder and CEO of Guzman Energy.

This initiative represents one of the largest renewable energy installations on tribal land in the United States, showcasing the Jicarilla Apache Nation’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. The project will not only harness the sun’s power but also significantly boost local grid reliability.

“We are excited to partner with National Renewable Solutions and Guzman Energy on Shallow Basket Energy. This project symbolizes our commitment to sustainable energy solutions and economic growth for our community,” said Vice President Sonja Newton of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. “We are proud to be at the forefront of renewable energy development on tribal land.”

Currently, the Jicarilla Apache Nation hosts a 50 MWac solar project that powers 87% of City of Albuquerque offices demonstrating the Nation’s ongoing leadership in renewable energy. Shallow Basket Energy builds upon this foundation, promising economic benefits, job creation and a more resilient energy infrastructure for the community.

Once operational, Shallow Basket will produce enough power for 38,000 homes annually and will boost local grid reliability by storing and dispatching power when it’s needed. The energy that this project produces will offset carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 266,000 metric tons annually.

“Communities are the foundation of each project we develop, and we are thrilled to celebrate the foresight and wisdom of the Jicarilla Apache Nation that helped lead to the creation of the Shallow Basket Project,” said Bill Whitlock, CEO, National Renewable Solutions. “Today we commemorate the start of construction for a major infrastructure project that will produce clean energy and bring annual revenue to the Jicarilla Apache Nation.”

Guzman Energy will offtake 100% of renewable power generated by Shallow Basket, a new 190 MW solar + storage development in northern NM

DENVER & MINNETONKA, MN – September 13, 2023 – Guzman Energy and renewable developer National Renewable Solutions (NRS), today announced the execution of a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the 140 MW Shallow Basket PV solar project to be paired with 50 MW of battery storage. The Rio Arriba County NM solar power generation and battery storage site is in the final stages of development and is expected to be operational in 2025.

NRS will build and operate the solar project, leasing the land from the Jicarilla Apache Nation. When completed, the project will be capable of supplying enough electricity to power approximately 38,000 homes in the region.

Guzman Energy will own 100% of the power and associated renewable attributes, including renewable energy credits (RECs), generated by Shallow Basket. In addition, Guzman Energy will operate and manage the battery storage system, including scheduling charging and discharging of stored energy.

“The power purchase agreement for Shallow Basket Solar is an important addition to the ever-expanding Guzman power supply portfolio,” said Christopher A. Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of Guzman Energy. “Guzman wholesale customers in New Mexico and Colorado will benefit from this new source of affordable and renewable power.”

The power generated by Shallow Basket solar and stored in battery will be part of Guzman Energy’s power supply portfolio serving current and future Guzman Energy wholesale customer power loads.

Patrick Pelstring, President and CEO of NRS said, “This project represents a cornerstone for NRS. We’re extremely pleased to be partnering with Guzman and look forward to working with them on this and other opportunities to come.”

NRS has an active development portfolio consisting of over 4 GW of renewable projects. The Shallow Basket project is the fourth renewable project the company has developed in New Mexico.

Transaction with National Renewable Solutions overcame stringent timelines in complex market conditions.

Summit, New Jersey (November 16, 2022) – Nautilus Solar Energy®, LLC (“Nautilus”), on behalf of its affiliate Nautilus US Power Holdco, LLC (“NUPH”), announces the acquisition of a 7.6MW community solar portfolio of two projects in Maine from National Renewable Solutions, LLC (“NRS”), a renewable energy company.  Located in Presque Isle, Aroostook County, the projects are in the late stage of development and are expected to reach operation by third quarter of 2023. Once completed, the community solar projects will provide an alternative energy option to the City of Presque Isle and other commercial off-takers within Versant Power’s Maine Public District utility territory.

The transaction between the two parties overcame several challenges, including a stringent timeline was also in place to accommodate weather constraints for designing and building in northern Maine.   

“We are very proud of our team for managing a quick and complex transaction in a creative, flexible, and proactive way. It was also a pleasure to partner with NRS as their expertise helped expedite timelines and reduce development risks in this emerging solar market,” said Daniela Pangallo, Business Development Director at Nautilus. “This acquisition exemplifies Nautilus’s commitment to working closely with our development partners and expands our overall footprint as a leading Community Solar company in the U.S.,” added Jeffrey Cheng, CEO of Nautilus.

“Consistent with our community model, NRS has enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with the City of Presque to execute a shared objective of building clean, affordable, and sustainable community solar projects on local land. The Nautilus team was able to mobilize quickly and proved very effective in collaborating on key late-stage development issues. We are excited to see Nautilus bring these projects through construction and into operations,” said Ryan Pelstring, CFO of NRS.

The projects are part of the Maine Net Energy Billing Commercial program (NEB Tariff) that allows customers to receive renewable energy benefits and a monetary bill-credit at a prescribed rate. NUPH is the long-term owner of the projects and Nautilus is responsible for overseeing construction, maintaining its long-term performance, and acquiring and managing customer subscriptions. When fully operational the projects are expected to generate over 11 million kilowatt hours (kWhs) annually, contributing to Maine’s goals of providing economic growth, workforce opportunities, and relying on 80% clean energy by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050.

About Nautilus Solar Energy

Nautilus Solar Energy, LLC is a leading community solar company, providing clean energy to residential and commercial customers in local communities. Nautilus operates and manages solar farms in 10 states and is responsible for financing, development, maintenance, and customer service for the lifetime of the project. Founded in 2006, Nautilus has helped shape the future of solar to provide an equitable and affordable renewable energy choice for all. Nautilus is owned by Power Sustainable, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada. Power Sustainable is a multi-platform alternative asset manager with a long-term investment approach focused on sustainable strategies. For more information on Nautilus Solar Energy visit nautilussolar.com.  Join Nautilus on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Contact:

Nautilus Solar Energy

Carlene Pruitt

908-795-3038

Carlene@nautilussolar.com

About National Renewable Solutions

NRS is an emerging renewable IPP which has a rich history and success deploying a community-based stakeholder engagement model for its utility scale wind and solar projects. NRS originates, acquires, and develops renewable energy projects throughout the US at various stages, including from greenfield through operations. NRS has a current active development portfolio comprising over 4 GW of renewable projects. In mid-2021, NRS was acquired by BlackRock Real Assets – Climate Infrastructure Group (“BlackRock”) with the intention of accelerating the development of its pipeline of projects toward financing, construction, and operations.

For more information on National Renewable Solutions visit www.natrs.com.

Contact:

National Renewable Solutions

Brad Wilson

651-233-3217

bwilson@natrs.com

Source – Nautilus Solar