# Cunningham Solar I & BESS

SPP asset profile · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/cunningham-solar-i-and-bess

72 MW solar paired with a 36 MW battery

Cunningham Solar I & BESS is Southwestern Public Service's 72 MW solar facility paired with a 36 MW/36 MWh lithium-ion battery near Hobbs, New Mexico. Both units entered service in April 2026 and reuse the existing Cunningham thermal-plant interconnection. The two technology ratings are shown separately rather than summed as solar capacity.

## Profile

- **Current registry:** The June 2026 preliminary EIA inventory lists Southwestern Public Service Co as operator and status OP.

## Metrics

- **Plant nameplate:** 108 MW — Combined EIA nameplate across the plant's technology records; component ratings follow.
- **Solar nameplate:** 72 MW — June 2026 preliminary EIA inventory; 1 generator record.
- **Storage nameplate:** 36 MW / 36 MWh — June 2026 preliminary EIA inventory; 1 generator record.

## Facts

- **EIA operator:** Southwestern Public Service Co — June 2026 preliminary EIA inventory; status OP.
- **Location:** near Hobbs at the Cunningham generating site · Lea · NM
- **Technology:** Solar photovoltaic + Lithium-ion battery
- **Operating records:** 2026-04

## Related parties

- **parent company and public project publisher:** Xcel Energy — Cunningham solar and battery placed in service ([source](https://newsroom.xcelenergy.com/news/xcel-energy-expands-solar-and-battery-energy-storage-to-manage-energy-costs-and-support-electric-reliability))

## Sources

- [June 2026 EIA-860M generator inventory](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860m/xls/june_generator2026.xlsx) — U.S. Energy Information Administration · authoritative — Current generator capacity, technology, operating status, operator, and service-date records.
- [Cunningham solar and battery placed in service](https://newsroom.xcelenergy.com/news/xcel-energy-expands-solar-and-battery-energy-storage-to-manage-energy-costs-and-support-electric-reliability) — Xcel Energy · authoritative — The 72 MW solar and 36 MW/36 MWh battery units entered service in April 2026.
- [New Mexico solar and battery certificate filing](https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/rates_and_regulations/filings/nm_solar_and_battery_ccn) — Xcel Energy · authoritative — The source identifies Southwestern Public Service Company as developer/self-build sponsor and owner and operator; Xcel Energy as parent company and public project publisher.

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Canonical page: https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/cunningham-solar-i-and-bess
Website: [Southwestern Public Service Company](https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/rates_and_regulations/filings/nm_solar_and_battery_ccn)

Source: Ask the Grid — https://askthegrid.com/