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Rio Rancho Emerges as Finalist for Castelion Rocket Motor Plant as County Sets Vote

A county vote on a construction ordinance follows a packed Q&A over safety, noise, and environmental risks.

Overview

  • The Sandoval County Commission will vote Wednesday on an ordinance to support construction of Castelion’s proposed Project Ranger facility.
  • More than 100 residents packed a meeting at Cielo Azul Elementary to question potential impacts near the Northern Meadows and Camino Crossings neighborhoods.
  • Castelion’s CFO told neighbors the site would not conduct heavy chemical synthesis, would not launch anything on site, and would not use processed water in producing solid rocket motors.
  • The county previously approved $125 million in industrial revenue bonds under a lease-to-own model in which the county holds the land, buildings, and equipment for about 30 years.
  • Project backers project roughly 300 jobs with average pay near $100,000 and say the motors would go into long-range hypersonic missiles, while the other finalist locations remain undisclosed.