Tell the New Mexico legislature to support the Community Solar Act

Community Solar refers to local small-scale solar arrays that allow multiple energy consumers, such as apartment residents, to tap into solar installations near their communities. To do this, consumers would buy or lease part of the solar array, receiving economic benefits such as credits on their electricity bills along with environmental benefits for their communities.

Twenty states and the District of Columbia have already adopted legislation enabling community solar programs to benefit local families, businesses, and residents.

New Mexico is on the cusp of a renewable energy boom. However, many customers cannot install rooftop solar, including low-income families, renters, and Native American tribal members.

The Community Solar Act (HB106/SB 84) was introduced in the New Mexico legislature in January 2021, and just passed its first committee. It authorizes development of community solar facilities by cities, counties, pueblos, tribes, and solar developers, as well as nonprofit organizations supporting low-income housing and neighborhoods. By aggregating demand, communities gain leverage to negotiate better rates with competitive suppliers and choose greener power sources, providing community choice for renewable energy.

Community solar brings equitable access to the solar market, increases consumer choice, lowers costs for subscribers through competition in the energy market, and provides economic stimulus to the state.

This is our moment. Help keep the pressure on as the bill moves through committees in the coming weeks. The 2021 legislative session presents a critical window of opportunity for us to move community solar forward and pass it into law. We're gearing up for our biggest advocacy push for Community Solar to date in the upcoming virtual session. One of the most significant ways you can weigh in is by letting your legislator know that you support Community Solar.

All New Mexicans deserve to benefit from the renewable energy transition. Community solar provides a critical pathway that will make solar energy more affordable and accessible for all of us.

To the Members of the New Mexico Legislature:


I am writing to urge you to support the Community Solar Act (HB 106/SB 84).

Twenty states and the District of Columbia have already adopted legislation enabling community solar programs to provide the benefits they offer.


COVID-19 has had an immense impact across the country, and New Mexico has been hard hit, especially in rural communities and areas with large Indigenous populations. Community solar is a prime opportunity for new economic investment at the local level that will create clean energy jobs and boost economic development.


At a time when the state needs to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and transition its economy away from reliance on the oil and gas industry, Community Solar will provide new high-tech jobs and stimulate rural economic development.


A January report by the University of New Mexico, "The Potential Economic Impact of Community Solar in New Mexico" found that community solar could:



  • support 3,760 total jobs

  • generate over $517 million in short-term economic impact

  • benefit construction, restaurant, professional services, real estate, retail and healthcare sectors, which have been among the hardest hit in the COVID-19 pandemic


Many customers cannot install rooftop solar, including, especially, low-income families, renters and Native American tribal members. The Community Solar Act would make solar power available to many more New Mexicans, providing a more accessible, cheaper option than users installing their own solar arrays on their homes, while also allowing widespread use of solar power at the local level.


Community solar brings equitable access to the solar market, increases consumer choice, lowers costs for subscribers through competition in the energy market, and provides economic stimulus to the state.


This year presents an opportunity for us to move community solar forward. The Community Solar Act (HB 106/SB 84) authorizes development of community solar facilities by cities, counties, pueblos, tribes, and solar developers, as well as nonprofit organizations supporting low-income housing and neighborhoods. By aggregating demand, communities gain leverage to negotiate better rates with competitive suppliers and choose greener power sources, providing community choice for renewable energy.


All New Mexicans deserve to benefit from the renewable energy transition and have access to the solar savings. Community solar provides a pathway.


Please support the Community Solar Act (HB 106/SB 84).


Thank You.

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