MACHO SPRINGS
OperatingSolar power plant
- Capacity
- 52 MW
- Primary fuel
- Solar
- County
- Luna County
- Operator
- FIRST SOLAR ENERGY LLC
- Status
- Operating
- Commissioned
- 2014
- EIA plant ID
- 59010
- Generators
- 1
- Technology
- Solar Photovoltaic
- Net generation (2024)
- 123 GWh
- Capacity factor (2024, EIA nameplate)
- 25%
- Data vintage
- EIA-860 2024 final; EIA-923 2022-2024 final
- Coordinates
- 32.5700, -107.4800
MACHO SPRINGS, a 52 MW Solar power plant in Luna County, New Mexico. Operated by FIRST SOLAR ENERGY LLC, commissioned 2014.
How MACHO SPRINGS compares
With 52 MW of capacity, MACHO SPRINGS ranks 24th among the 65 operating power plants Bywatts maps in New Mexico and is the largest of the 27 operating Solar plants in the state. It accounts for about 23% of New Mexico's operating Solar capacity and 0.7% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 44th-largest of the 639 operating Solar plants in the database. Commissioned in 2014, it is newer than 90% of the 63 operating New Mexico plants with a recorded commissioning year. Its operator, FIRST SOLAR ENERGY LLC, runs 8 operating plants in New Mexico totaling 131 MW. It shares Luna County with 2 other operating plants, LUNA ENERGY FACILITY and MACHO SPRINGS POWER I.
EIA-860 lists 1 generator at the site with 55 MW of nameplate capacity, all solar photovoltaic technology. Net generation was 123 GWh in 2024 (a 25% capacity factor), down 8% from 2022.
Grid neighborhood
The nearest named substation is MACHO SPRINGS (345 kV), about 2.3 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 115 kV line owned by SIERRA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, under 0.1 miles away. Another 2 operating power plants totaling 55 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is MACHO SPRINGS POWER I (50 MW, Wind).
Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant, substation and transmission line records and EIA-860/923 survey data; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology
Weather peril exposure
MACHO SPRINGS is a 52 MW solar power plant in Luna County, NM, operated by FIRST SOLAR ENERGY LLC, commissioned in 2014. Luna County carries low modeled catastrophe exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index, scoring 1.6 of 5 at the 14th national percentile. Riverine flooding is the leading peril, rated Relatively Low by FEMA at the 76th percentile.
Luna County hazard ratings
| Peril | FEMA rating | National percentile | Peril score | Share of modeled loss | Events per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine flooding | Relatively Low | 76th | 4.0 of 5 | 21% | 1.1 |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 76th | 4.0 of 5 | 6% | <0.01 |
| Heat wave | Relatively Moderate | 60th | 3.4 of 5 | <1% | 3.6 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57th | 3.3 of 5 | 1% | <0.01 |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 55th | 3.2 of 5 | 1% | 52.4 |
| Hail | Very Low | 31st | 2.2 of 5 | 69% | 0.24 |
| Ice storm | Very Low | 21st | 1.9 of 5 | <1% | 0.01 |
| Winter weather | Relatively Low | 7th | 1.3 of 5 | <1% | 2.6 |
| Strong wind | Very Low | 7th | 1.3 of 5 | 1% | 0.21 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 3rd | 1.1 of 5 | <1% | 0.06 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 3rd | 1.1 of 5 | <1% | <0.01 |
Perils not assessed in Luna County
These perils carry no usable National Risk Index figure for this county, so they are excluded from the scoring rather than scored zero. A zero would claim the peril was assessed and found benign.
| Peril | Why it is not scored |
|---|---|
| Coastal flooding | FEMA rating is "Not Applicable" for this county |
Hail exposure and deductible structure
Hail scores 2.2 of 5, which sits in the 1% to 2% percentage deductible range carriers are quoting for that exposure. Named windstorm and severe convective wind score 1.3 of 5, indicating a 1% to 1% wind deductible. Ranges, not single figures. The final structure is set by the carrier.
Percentage hail deductible range: 1% to 2% of insured value. Wind deductible range: 1% to 1%. These are the structures commonly seen at this exposure, not an offer and not a rate.
Modeled annual loss for a 52 MW solar array
At an assumed replacement value of $0.90 per watt, or $46.8M insured, the modeled expected annual loss for a fixed tilt ground mount array in Luna County is $12,092 a year, $233 per MW, 0.03% of insured value.
Heat is modeled as a production risk rather than a property loss: 1.8% of annual yield in this county.
Insurability signal: Standard. Hail carries 69% of modeled loss.
Model hail, wind and flood exposure for Luna County in the weather risk calculator
Ratings are the FEMA National Risk Index county hazard ratings; the peril score is a Bywatts transform of the FEMA national percentile, and the modeled loss applies the Bywatts solar vulnerability layer. Full data sources and the solar vulnerability methodology are in the weather risk calculator.
Modeled estimate for screening and negotiation. Built from FEMA National Risk Index county hazard data and a solar vulnerability layer documented above. Not a quote, a binder, or actuarial advice, and not a substitute for a carrier's own model. Hazard data: FEMA National Risk Index December 2025, synced 2026-07-24. Resolution is county level, not site level. The solar vulnerability layer that turns FEMA building loss into modeled solar loss was derived by Bywatts and revised on physical reasoning. It has not been reviewed by a practising underwriter.