SANTA FE, N.M. – During National Clean Energy Week, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has executed a long-term lease for the first-ever community solar project to be constructed on state lands. Affordable Solar won rights to the lease when it submitted the highest and best bid at a public auction at the State Land Office building in Santa Fe on Wednesday, September 11. The array Affordable Solar develops on nearly 80 acres of state land in Valencia County is expected to generate about 5 megawatts of solar energy, enough to power about 1,000 homes. The project is expected to generate $2.7 million for New Mexico’s public schools over the lifetime of the lease.
The approval of the first community solar project on state trust lands is significant as it provides affordable, clean energy directly to local residents who otherwise may not be able to access energy from renewable installations. It also helps advance the state’s efforts to expand access to renewable energy for consumers statewide following the passage of the Community Solar Act in 2021. The State Land Office is planning to hold 10 more community solar auctions in the coming months.
“This is a historic moment in New Mexico’s renewable energy journey. Community solar projects like these bring clean energy directly to the people at an affordable rate. It’s more proof that state lands can be utilized to help communities across New Mexico meet their needs. In a state radiating so much solar energy, everyone should be able to reap the economic and environmental benefits of switching to renewables,” said Commissioner Garcia Richard. “I’ve made it a goal of mine from day one to expand renewable energy on state lands, which has the dual benefit of meeting the climate crisis head on by providing more sustainable energy sources while creating new, long-term revenue streams for New Mexico’s schools. I’m excited to say we will be pursuing many more community solar projects on state lands as we continue looking for ways to expand the state’s renewables footprint.”
Commissioner Garcia Richard created the first-ever Office of Renewable Energy within the Commercial Resources Division at the State Land Office with the goal of tripling renewable energy leasing and production on state trust lands. The Office has far exceeded initial expectations, as renewable energy on state lands has increased more than six-fold since its inception. When Commissioner Garcia Richard assumed office, there were 400 megawatts of renewable energy under lease on state lands. After today’s auction, there are now approximately 2,510 megawatts of wind and solar energy under lease. In addition, there are now 43 renewable energy leases at the state land office, up from 12 when Commissioner Garcia Richard took office in 2019.
Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has overseen the New Mexico State Land Office since 2019. In that time the agency has earned more than $10 billion for New Mexico public schools, hospitals, and universities. Over 13 million acres of state trust land are leased for a variety of uses, including ranching and farming, renewable energy, business development, mineral development, and outdoor recreation. The State Land Office has a dual mandate to use state trust land to financially support vital public institutions, while simultaneously working to protect the land for future generations.
