New Mexico
New Mexico’s community solar program expands as projects deliver bill credits
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Lawmakers created a special program in 2021 to help more New Mexicans voluntarily support solar projects—without needing panels on their homes or apartments. Now, nearly five years later, dozens of those community solar farms are finally coming online.
As of September, the first few solar farms connected to the New Mexico Community Solar Act have been going live, with almost 50 new community solar farms going up next year for El Paso Electric, Xcel Energy, and PNM customers.
Alaric Babej, Director of Customer Energy Solutions for PNM, said, “We are currently putting on the first bill credits on subscriber bills right now, so there are subscribers to community solar that are already receiving credits from PNM. So it’s a really exciting time to be in the industry.”
He said PNM is the first utility in the state to get community solar farms interconnected under the new program. “Community Solar is unique because you don’t have to actually put panels on your house. You’re able to get the benefits of participating in the solar energy industry without directly installing it,” Babej said. “And so the goal of the program is to open up those benefits to customers that couldn’t install traditional solar. So, for example, folks that live in apartment buildings, or maybe they’re renters.”
To take part, customers must contact a subscription management company. The state has vetted and approved five such companies. Ratepayers enroll and are set up with a subscription fee tailored to their usage patterns, based on previous yearly electricity use.
Credits appear on the utility bill before the subscriber pays their subscription fee. For income-qualified users, the credit can be anywhere from 20–30 percent of the subscription fee.
For example, if an income-qualified family typically pays $100 on their monthly electricity bill and then pays a $50 subscription fee, the credit could be around $70 (depending on the subscription management company). That would result in a net, monthly savings of $20.
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission said that this discount will always result in net savings, and income-qualified subscribers may save up to three times more than non-income-qualified participants.
Income-qualified subscribers must make at or below 80% of the area’s median income.
Christian Casillas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico, said the state has tasked the coalition with outreach and education. The group is hosting in-person and online seminars about the program and how to enroll.
“Just as an example, if you’re living in Bernalillo County and you’re a household of two people, your income would need to be below $58,000 a year,” Casillas explained. “And if you qualify for that, then you should expect to see something like 15% to 28% savings in your electricity costs over the course of the year. And if you are not an income-qualified household, you should expect to see something like six to 7% savings over the course of the year.”
Casillas said the state hopes this first phase of solar farms will reach as many as 35,000 households—or roughly 10 percent of the state’s low-income population who would qualify.
The program is open to more than income-qualified residents. Homeowners, businesses, schools, churches, and nonprofits can also participate.
Participants don’t have to live near the solar farm they are subscribed to.
Troy McGee, founder of WattsUp New Mexico, a company helping connect customers to the state-endorsed program, said there are multiple reasons beyond savings to get involved. He noted that participating helps the state transition to renewable energy, and that developers have pledged 50% of farm capacity (and are required by statute to reserve at least 30%) for income-qualified ratepayers. “It’s the easiest way to save on electricity, you’re not switching providers. It’s an easy way to help other income-qualified homes. And it makes a ton of local jobs,” said McGee.
He added that there’s no risk of paying more in fees, subscriptions can be adjusted as household energy needs change, and there’s no cancellation fee.
McGee said building trust is essential in the communities he serves.
“There’s been a lot of scammy sales in the solar industry, so there’s a lack of trust, but I think when people know that we’re local and they talk with us, they quickly begin to trust us,” he said.
So far, the Public Regulation Commission said three community solar farms are live, 10 are expected to be ready by the end of the year, and approximately 47 more are anticipated by the end of 2026.
According to the Coalition, each five-megawatt farm creates a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the course of the year that would be equivalent to removing about 1000 gasoline-powered vehicles.
Cities getting one or more community solar farms interconnected with PNM:
- Alamogordo – 2
- Albuquerque – 1
- Belen – 2
- Clayton – 1
- Deming – 6
- Las Vegas – 1
- Lordsburg – 3
- Los Lunas – 4
- Rio Communities – 1
- Rio Rancho – 1
- Santa Fe – 1
- Silver City – 2
- Tularosa – 5
Cities getting one or more community solar farms interconnected with El Paso Electric:
- Chaparral – 1
- Las Cruces – 3
- Salem – 1
- Vado – 1
Cities getting one or more community solar farms interconnected with Southwestern Public Service Company:
- Carlsbad – 1
- Clovis – 4
- Hobbs – 1
- Portales – 2
- Roswell – 3
New Mexico
Landlord AC ordinance, Rio Grande water levels, Spotty rain, New legislative office, New Mexico Motorfest
Monday’s Top Stories
Monday’s Five Facts
[1] ABQ City Councilor aims to bolster protections for renters amid unseasonable warmth – Albuquerque city councilor is looking to make sure city landlords are not only providing cooling systems, but also ensuring they actually work when they’re needed. City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn spearheaded an ordinance in December of 2024, requiring all Albuquerque rental properties to have a cooling system. Now, Fiebelkorn is taking it a step further, hoping to establish cooling system performance requirements. The ordinance is expected to be voted on in final action at Monday’s city council meeting.
[2] Rio Grande showing dry spots in Valencia County amid record-low snowpack – Portions of the Rio Grande are now seeing dry spots earlier than expected. Officials say the timing is not normal. In Valencia County, parts of the river are already running dry. Near the river crossing in Los Lunas, the river has open pockets. Further south, it is being reported as dry as well. There is a slight positive outlook for the monsoon season, with forecasters and officials predicting a strong season in the Middle Rio Grande Valley.
[3] Very spotty rainfall, warmer, & mostly calm week – Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground. Temperatures will continue to increase through the middle of the week.
[4] NM representatives celebrate grand opening of new office with open house – A new state legislative office made its debut for representatives Eleanor Chavez and Yanira Gurrola. The new location is just one of the handful of new legislative offices now open across the state. They hosted a grand opening for the building that was open to the public. Representative Gurrola says it’s just one step towards modernizing the state’s legislature. The new office will allow residents to stay more connected to each representative.
[5] New Mexico Motorfest 2026 takes place in celebration of Route 66 Centennial – Another Route 66 celebration took place over the weekend and this one was all about cars. The New Mexico Motorfest happened at the Expo New Mexico racetrack. Over 300 vehicles from classic hot rods to lifted trucks were featured at the event. Some of the proceeds went to New Mexico veterans.
New Mexico
Los Alamos Public Schools Students Compete At 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair
Students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School, and Los Alamos High School at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair at New Mexico Tech. Photo CourtesyLAPS
LAHS junior Tate Plohr and freshman Linus Plohr qualified to attend the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Phoenix, Ariz. Photo Courtesy LAPS
Los Alamos Middle School student Branden Keller was awarded the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair. Photo Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Twenty students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) and Los Alamos High School (LAHS) competed, with several garnering awards at the 2026 New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair held at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
LAHS junior Tate Plohr qualified to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) next month in Phoenix, Ariz. He was awarded the 3rd-place Grand Award. Freshman Linus Plohr qualified as an alternate and will also be attending the Regeneron ISEF.
Students who participated in the state competition include, from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Sydney Chen, Mary Beth Kelsey, Lily Neale, Aurora Roberts Voss and Henry Rodarte; and Glyn Lo and Ernest Maupin, Mountain Elementary.
Students from LAMS who competed include Evelyn Fobes, Mason Garcia, Andrew Gilbertson, James Junghans, Sequoya Ke, Brandon Keller, Nejan Liyanage and Daniel Yampolsky.
LAHS students Julia Neale, Linus Plohr, Tate Plohr, Lilia Veteva, Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch competed at the senior level.
2026 Award winners:
Category Awards – Junior Division
- Animal Science, Cellular & Molecular
- Biomedical & Health Science
- Honorable Mention: Sequoya Ke
- Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, Software & Technology
- 2nd place: Nejan Liyanage
- Physics & Astronomy
- 1st place: Sydney Chen
- 2nd place: Mason Garcia
- Honorable Mention: Marybeth Kelsey
- Plant Science
Category Awards – Senior Division
- Behavioral & Social Science:
- Honorable Mention: Linus Plohr
- Earth & Environmental
- Honorable Mention: Lilia Viteva
- Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, & System Software
- 3rd Place: Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch
- Physics & Astronomy
Grand Awards
- ISEF finalist 3rd place: Tate Plohr
- Brandon Keller received the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. James Jungans and Marybeth Kelsey garnered Thermo Fisher Awards.
Other special award winners include:
- CO2 & Greenhouse Reduction Awards (Junior Division)
- Daniel Yampolsky, 2nd place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Sequoya Ke, 1st place, Biomedical & Health Science
- Brandon Keller, 1st place, Energy & Materials Science
- Andrew Gilbertson, 1st place, Physics & Astronomy
- CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Reduction Award (Senior Division)
- Lilia Viteva, 1st place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Office of Naval Research Award
- David Shortess Award
- New Mexico AVS Award
- Citadel Award
- Naval Research Award
- NM Network for Women in Science & Engineering Award
- Yale Science & Engineering Award
- Rose Baca Rivet Award
Related
Arizona State baseball will host a four-game homestand, beginning with New Mexico State on Wednesday, April 22.
The Sun Devils and Aggies faced each other in late March, with ASU winning 10-4. The two teams will meet for the final time at 6:35 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU will then welcome Baylor on Friday, April 24, for a three-game series. The Sun Devils have yet to face the Bears this season, but ASU has been doing well so far and has been in the top 25 for four weeks.
Sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston earned Big 12 player of the week honors on April 13, after delivering five home runs in five games. His 10 runs in that stretch were tied for the second-most nationally and his 14 runs batted in were tied for third-most nationally. All nine of his hits went for extra bases, three more than any other player.
ASU’s series against Baylor will start at 6:35 p.m. for the first two games, followed by a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 26.
April 19
Softball at Houston, Cougar Softball Stadium, noon.
April 22
Baseball vs New Mexico State, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
April 23
Women’s golf at Big 12 Championship, Dallas Athletic Club, TBA.
Track and field at Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 1:22 p.m.
Beach volleyball at Big 12 Championship, Bear Down Beach, all day.
April 24
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 7 p.m.
April 25
Lacrosse at Colorado, Prentup Field, 11 a.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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