Holtec International's vision for New Mexico

Ed Mayer
·3 min read

Holtec International is a private technology and manufacturing innovation company founded in 1986 by Dr. Kris Singh. Recognized as the foremost technology leader in the nuclear power industry, the Florida-based company has over 190 patents in design, materials, and manufacturing processes. Holtec has Technology Development Centers in Camden, New Jersey, and Pune, India, and Manufacturing Centers in Orrvilon, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Camden, NJ, and Gujarat, India, and is the largest exporter of capital equipment in the world.

Holtec has positioned itself for accelerated growth by developing innovative technologies for the clean energy future. Technologies include a Small Modular Reactor (SMR-160 MWe), Green Boiler, High-Efficiency Solar Panels, and Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs. The Hydrogen Hubs integrate the SMR-160 and Green Boiler to produce Hydrogen via electrolysis - Green Hydrogen.

Holtec International was invited to New Mexico by the Eddy Lea Energy Alliance (ELEA) to pursue the proposed Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) in Southeast New Mexico. ELEA and Holtec are partners in this endeavor. The company is also on the precipice of a massive expansion and intends to leverage the proposed CISF in Lea County as an opportunity to bring additional economic development to the region.

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Holtec and the New Mexico Building Construction & Trades Council (NMBCTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide a highly skilled and productive construction labor force to build Holtec’s Technology Development and Manufacturing Center in New Mexico. The Center will include four facilities: the CISF, a Manufacturing Center, a Technology Development Center, and a World-Wide Workforce Training Center.

  1. Consolidated Interim Storage Facility: Located in Lea County to store spent nuclear fuel from U.S. utilities. Will bring 100 operations jobs and 100 long-term construction jobs with an average pay of $75K/yr. Facility is a $150M capital investment or a $3B investment if all 20 phases are built.

  2. Manufacturing Center: To be in a New Mexico community with a rail line. Will bring 300 jobs at startup with an average pay of $75K/yr. Will initially build equipment required for CISF then expand to green technologies and other Holtec wet and dry storage technologies. Holtec’s current manufacturing facilities are operating at capacity.

  3. Technology Development Center: Located in New Mexico. Like centers in Camden, NJ, and Pune, India. Will bring 100 jobs at startup with an average pay of $100k/yr. and will leverage New Mexico’s National Labs. The facility will develop the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub and supporting technologies, solar, and other green technologies. Holtec already integrates development workforces in Camden, NJ, and Pune. Adding New Mexico reinforces the partnership with ELEA to create and train New Mexicans for high-paying jobs in the state.

  4. World-Wide Workforce Training Center: Co-located with CISF in Lea County. Will include 50 trainers at startup. Will train local workers to handle fuel and conduct dry storage operations in the U.S. and world-wide. The center will coordinate with the Hobbs Chapter of the New Mexico NAACP and the Hobbs Hispano Chamber of Commerce to provide opportunities for local workers to learn a trade and then travel throughout the U.S. and the world. High-paying jobs averaging $100K/yr. The facility will also bring workers from the U.S. and world-wide utilities to train them on Holtec’s technologies, which will provide another opportunity to introduce New Mexico to the U.S. and the world.

It should be clear that Holtec International is on the verge of significant expansion into green technologies and must increase its workforce to design, engineer, manufacture, and operate the technologies. The proposed CISF in Southeast New Mexico is the down payment for Holtec’s commitment in New Mexico, allowing for a public-private partnership that benefits all New Mexicans. The other three facilities will complement the CISF and Holtec International and bring high-paying jobs to New Mexico while creating a Green Technology Hub.

Ed Mayer is a Program Director at Holtec International where he is responsible for the Consolidated Interim Storage Facility in southeastern New Mexico. Mayer served 28 years in the U.S. Submarine Force where he commanded the USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723) and USS Florida (SSGN-728). He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Holtec International's vision for New Mexico