SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard and Affordable Solar celebrated the first community solar project on state lands at a groundbreaking ceremony in Valencia County yesterday. The array that Affordable Solar will develop on nearly 80 acres of state land will generate about 5 megawatts of solar energy when operating at full capacity, enough to directly serve about 1,000 residences in the in the Los Lunas area, according to State Land Office estimates of typical output. The project is expected to generate $2.7 million for New Mexico’s public schools over the lifetime of the lease.
The first community solar project to be built 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 rooftop solar 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 has approved 8 community solar projects on state land so far. These 8 projects are among the 45 community solar projects approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission in 2023. The State Land Office expects to approve two more community solar leases in the coming months.
“We view ourselves as problem solvers at the State Land Office. This groundbreaking is about meeting a community’s needs head-on. Community solar projects like this one will deliver clean electricity directly to New Mexicans who may not otherwise be able to access renewables. And this project is just the first of many to come on state trust lands,” said Commissioner Garcia Richard. “Since I became Land Commissioner, the State Land Office has seen a nearly seven-fold increase in the amount of renewable energy on state lands. I will keep looking for ways to expand renewable energy production in all parts of the state to diversify our sources of revenue and meet our climate goals. I thank Affordable Solar for being great partners in our efforts to make renewable energy more attainable for New Mexicans.”
“We’re proud to break ground on our second project and the first on state land,” said Dylan Connelly, Project Developer at Affordable Solar. “It reflects everything we care about—partnership, innovation, and delivering clean energy where it’s needed most. The State Land Office has been an amazing partner, and we’re thrilled to be working with them on three projects.”
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 nearly seven-fold since its inception. When Commissioner Garcia Richard assumed office, there were 400 megawatts of renewable energy under lease on state lands. Today, there are now approximately 2,745 megawatts of wind and solar energy under lease. In addition, there are now 51 renewable energy leases at the state land office, up from 12 when Commissioner Garcia Richard took office in 2019.
View maps of solar and wind projects on state lands here.
Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has overseen the New Mexico State Land Office since 2019. In that time the agency has raised more than $11 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.
Commissioner Garcia Richard and others break ground at the site
Commissioner Garcia Richard speaking at the groundbreaking
