Extend success stories with funds for local solar access
Communities across New Mexico are already reaping the benefits of smart investments in renewable energy. My home, the town of Silver City, presents many examples of how solar and storage systems can save taxpayers money and improve local resilience. The Local Solar Access Fund, House Bill 108, is an opportunity to support more solar and storage projects that benefit our communities.
As a member of Silver City’s town council, I have witnessed numerous successful, well-documented public renewable energy projects in New Mexico, both in my town and in similar communities. For example, in 2013, the town of Silver City invested in a 5,000-panel, 1 megawatt solar array on 6 acres adjacent to our wastewater processing facility. That solar energy system is saving our town $4 million through 2033.
The town of Silver City also has a solar parking structure at our Visitor’s Center. This system, which came online in 2011, entirely offsets the energy needs of our Visitor’s Center and mainstreet corporation offices.
These solar projects at public facilities have not only opened up discretionary spending, a rarity without increasing consumption-based tax revenue or rates, but also enabled rapid diversification and expansion during economic downturns and lowered the marginal costs associated with critical infrastructure.
Further, solar and storage systems provide reliable energy that improves resilience to disruptions, such as the historic flooding that recently cut communications to communities in western Grant County or the multi-hour power outages our communities already experience. Our five-year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan contains numerous shovel-ready projects that can be enhanced with solar and storage to build resilience.
Critically, communities like mine need state funding to unlock more solar and storage projects. State funding was critical to enabling our projects so far: In 2011, the Legislature offered funding for photovoltaic arrays through power purchase agreement with zero cost down.
The Local Solar Access Fund represents a new opportunity to grow local, public solar and storage projects, especially for rural towns like mine. House Bill 108 specifically prioritizes grants and technical assistance for rural communities.
The opportunities for solar have been recognized and are already being utilized by our rural towns. Extending these success stories throughout New Mexico is possible with the grants and technical assistance the Local Solar Access Fund would provide.