SunShare energizes two community solar gardens in New Mexico

Two new solar projects have come online in New Mexico that let residents subscribe to shared solar power instead of installing panels on their own roof. This setup is called community solar: a large solar array is built in one location, and nearby households sign up to buy a share of its electricity, typically at a discount, with the savings showing up as credits on their utility bill.

The larger project, Juniper Sol, is a 6-megawatt solar garden on 31 acres in Santa Fe, built by SunShare and CSolPower. It also includes agrivoltaics, meaning the land under and around the panels is planted with native, pollinator-friendly vegetation rather than left bare. About 2,000 families have subscribed and are expected to save on electricity costs over the next 25 years. Half the subscribers qualify based on income, including some residents connected to SunShare's affordable housing partnerships with Yes! Housing and Catholic Charities. The second project, Rockhound Sol, is a 4.5-megawatt garden in Deming, New Mexico.

For a homeowner in New Mexico, this means community solar subscriptions may now be available in Santa Fe County and the Deming area, offering a way to get solar savings without putting panels on your own house. Eligibility and subscription details would come from SunShare or CSolPower directly, since none of that is spelled out here beyond the income-qualified option.