Community Solar Program

Community solar lets you save on electricity bills by subscribing to a shared solar facility without installing panels on your property. You can subscribe to a system serving your utility territory, with at least 40% of capacity reserved for subscriptions of 25 kW or less; if you qualify as low-income, 30% of each system is reserved for you. Visit the New Mexico Community Solar Program website to find a provider in your area and compare offers.

Community solar facilities can be up to 5 MW in capacity and must have at least 10 subscribers, with no single subscriber taking more than 40% of output. You must reserve at least 40% of generation for smaller subscriptions (≤25 kW) and 30% for low-income subscribers; native community projects are exempt from these restrictions. The program cap is 500 MW total across three utilities (200 MW through April 2024, plus 300 MW added November 1, 2024), with annual reviews of future capacity.

New Mexico's community solar program (S.B. 84, April 2021) manages a 500 MW capacity split among three major utilities, with native and rural cooperative projects exempt from the cap. The program opened to the public in April 2023 and operates through provider enrollment and consumer protection oversight. Low-income targeting is built in via the 30% reservation; smaller customer access is protected through the 40% reservation for subscriptions ≤25 kW. Annual capacity reviews will inform future program growth.