SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION & PROPOSED PROJECTS
The solar electric power production industry is becoming increasingly interested in building solar installations – both Community and utility-scale solar facilities – in Santa Fe County. Several of these are proposed to be located in the area for which The San Marcos Association (SMA) advocates. To help our community understand these developments, SMA is providing links to important solar industry resources below. As we find more such reliable resources, we will add them to this page.
Additional timely information can be found in the emails we send out announcing public meetings concerning project applications. Links to past community mailings may be found at the bottom of this page.
This page is intended to provide background information, from which readers can generate their own questions, or support their positions. Any opinions expressed in these materials are not the views of The San Marcos Association.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND LETTERS
March 28th, 2023 San Marcos Association Letter to Hearing Officer re AES Rancho Viejo Solar
Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Projects as Developments of Countywide Impact (DCI)
September 12, 2023 County Manager Shaffer’s Letter in Response to SMA requests for clarity regarding DCI’s.
August 17, 2023 SMA Board of Directors’ Response to County Manager Shaffer’s July 24 DCI Letter
July 24, 2023 Response from County Manager Shaffer to San Marcos Association January 3, 2023 DCI Letter
January 3, 2023 San Marcos Association Letter to the Board of County Commissioners Regarding Designating Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Projects as Developments of Countywide Impact (DCIs)
Current Proposed Projects in our area
Pivot Energy Project
Proposed Location:
4396 NM 14 Santa Fe, NM 87508
Parcel Number: 99307749
*This project was not approved by the PRC.
One can view a statewide list of approved projects HERE.
Rancho Viejo Solar Facility - HWY 14
Proposed location:
1 mile off HWY 14 along the Northern boundary of the Rancho San Marcos Neighborhood
Parcel Number: 910008950
Turquoise Trail Community Solar Project
Proposed Location: Off HWY 14 behind Santa Fe Studios
Parcel Number: 99307749
*This project was not approved by the PRC.
One can view a statewide list of approved projects HERE.
Bonanza Creek Community Solar Project
Proposed Location:
48 A VAN NU PO SANTA FE, NM 87508
Near IAIA
PARCEL NUMBER: 99303136
*This project was not approved by the PRC.
One can view a statewide list of approved projects HERE.
Community Mailings From THE SAN MARCOS ASSOCIATION Regarding Proposed Solar Projects
USEFUL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Santa Fe County |Commercial Renewable Energy Projects
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/growth-management/building-development/large-scale-renewable-energy-projects-2023
Text of the New Mexico Community Solar Act – SB84.
https://lpdd.org/resources/new-mexicos-community-solar-act/
Public Regulation Commission Website re Community Solar
https://www.nm-prc.org/utilities/community-solar/
Santa Fe County Ordinance re Community Solar – Ordinance 2022-05 https://www.santafecountynm.gov/media/files/Planning/Ordinance%202022-05.pdf
YouTube Explanation of Community Solar in NM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUmc56AYNuQ
Coalition of Sustainable Communities in New Mexico – Community Solar
https://www.coalitionscnm.org/community-solar
Industry Guide to Energy Storage Systems
https://sustainableenergyaction.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/10/energy_storage_systems_1st_ptg-1.pdf
APA Solar at Scale Guidebook
Solar-at-Scale-Guidebook-V2