Three years after the passage of New Mexico’s Community Solar Act, the state’s first community solar project has officially begun construction. Developed by Affordable Solar, the 35 MW Cuidando Los Niños Community Solar Project consists of seven solar installations and is expected to be operational by the summer of 2025.

The project is named after Cuidando Los Niños, a nonprofit organization providing essential services for children and families experiencing homelessness. It is being built in Valencia County in partnership with Gridworks, a New Mexico-based engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm.

Expanding Access to Solar Energy

Community solar programs allow customers—including renters, homeowners, and businesses—to subscribe to local solar projects and receive credits on their utility bills for their share of the power produced. This model enables individuals who may not be able to install solar panels on their roofs to benefit from clean energy and lower electricity costs.

The Cuidando Los Niños project comprises seven ground-mounted installations, each under 5 MW. Together, they will generate enough electricity to power an estimated 15,000 homes, with half of the energy production dedicated to low-income households, helping lower electric bills for qualified New Mexicans.

Prioritizing Domestic Solar Equipment

Dylan Connelly, project developer at Affordable Solar, told pv magazine USA that the company selected domestically manufactured components for all seven installations, ensuring compliance with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) domestic content requirements.

“We selected equipment with domestic content to meet the IRA requirements for domestic content,” said Connelly.

Each installation features:

• First Solar Series 6 Modules
• PV Hardware’s Axone Due Infinity single-axis trackers
• Solectria XGI 1500-250-Series-DCG inverters

Regulatory Challenges and Supreme Court Ruling

The path to launching community solar in New Mexico was not without obstacles. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission approved community solar regulations in 2022, allowing up to 200 MW of community solar capacity across utilities. Regulations also mandated that at least 30% of the power generated by each community solar facility be reserved for low-income subscribers.

However, progress was stalled when three investor-owned utilities challenged the state’s community solar program. The legal battle lasted until March 2024, when the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled against the utilities, upholding community solar regulations and allowing projects like Cuidando Los Niños to proceed.

“After nearly four years of hard work, we are ecstatic to begin construction on this historic project and to play a role in bringing renewable energy to communities across New Mexico,” said Connelly. “This project not only reflects our commitment to clean energy but also highlights our dedication to giving back to the communities where we live and work.”

Enrollment and Cost Savings for Low-Income Households

While construction is underway, Affordable Solar expects official sign-ups to begin once bill credit tariffs are finalized in the next 30 days. The company is working with a subscription management firm and partnering with local nonprofits to help connect low-income households to the program.

Subscribers can sign up for free, with no long-term contracts, and are expected to save approximately 20% on their electric bills, according to Connelly.

Leading the Way in Community Solar

“It is a source of pride that we are a New Mexico company developing and building these projects and we’re the first out of the gate to get started on construction for our New Mexico Community Solar Program,” Connelly concluded.

Affordable Solar, founded in 1997, has played a major role in expanding solar energy access in New Mexico. The company reports that it has completed over 3,000 solar installations in the state and supplied more than 20,000 solar systems to commercial, industrial, scientific, community, and residential customers across 96 countries.

With the Cuidando Los Niños Community Solar Project, New Mexico takes a major step toward expanding renewable energy access, ensuring more residents can benefit from clean, cost-effective power.

Originally reported by Anne Fischer in PV Magazine.