Haaland Highlights Community Solar as Part of Plan to Lower New Mexico Utility Costs

Democratic candidate for governor Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Juniper Sol Community Solar Garden in Santa Fe County, highlighting the project as an example of how community-based renewable energy can help lower utility costs for New Mexicans.

The event brought together Haaland, Navajo Technical University and the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women to celebrate the solar garden, the first community solar farm located in Santa Fe County.

The Juniper Sol Community Solar Garden features more than 10,000 solar panels and is expected to produce 5 megawatts of power. The project is designed to reduce carbon emissions while expanding access to renewable energy through affordable subscription options for residents.

Organizers say the project also emphasizes equitable access to energy savings by partnering with community organizations and prioritizing low-income households. The model allows renters and residents who cannot afford the upfront costs associated with installing solar panels to participate in renewable energy programs.

“People shouldn’t have to choose between putting gas in their car, paying for groceries, or paying their electricity bill. That’s why projects like this are so important. Juniper Sol is making the cost-saving benefits of renewable energy accessible to all, including renters and those who can’t afford the upfront installation of solar,” Haaland said at the event.

“As we look to fight rising costs, we have an opportunity to expand creative and smart local projects like community solar,” she said.

Haaland has made lowering utility costs and improving electric reliability a component of her campaign platform. Her plan calls for creating a centralized hub for existing programs, including federal programs, that can help New Mexicans save money on utilities.

The plan also calls for reducing administrative barriers to community solar, balcony solar and porch solar programs. Haaland has proposed eliminating red tape associated with accessing tax credits, requiring consolidated billing and providing greater flexibility for solar installations on public buildings.

Her platform also includes investments in renewable energy projects and workforce development.

Haaland previously served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior, where she oversaw a federal department with approximately 70,000 employees and programs involving billions of dollars in public investments. Her campaign says that during her tenure she directed more than $10 billion in investments to New Mexico through infrastructure projects, conservation initiatives and clean energy development.

The Juniper Sol project comes as New Mexico continues expanding renewable energy development while addressing concerns over household energy costs and access to reliable electricity.

For Haaland, community solar represents an opportunity to connect those priorities by allowing more residents to benefit from renewable energy without having to own a home or make a major upfront investment.

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