Affordable Solar, local leaders, and CCSA celebrate milestone in clean energy access with ribbon-cutting in Belen
Belen, NM — After years of planning and a long-awaited launch of the state’s community solar program, New Mexico’s first-ever community solar project is ready to power up. The Cuidando Los Niños Community Solar Project hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 30 at 11:00 AM in Belen — marking a historic step toward affordable, accessible clean energy for all New Mexicans.
The project, developed by Affordable Solar, demonstrates the power of community solar to lower bills, expand energy choice, and deliver local benefits. Affordable Solar was awarded seven Community Solar projects across New Mexico, totaling 35 megawatts (MW) — which cumulatively will offset the energy usage of 15,000 homes. In addition to providing clean electricity to subscribers, the project is supporting Cuidando Los Niños’ mission to break the cycle of childhood homelessness. As part of the celebration, Affordable Solar will present a $45,000 donation to the nonprofit.
“We are honored to bring the state’s first community solar project to life right here in Belen,” said Dylan Connelly, Project Developer at Affordable Solar. “Community solar is about more than clean energy—it’s about putting people first. By helping families save on their bills and supporting Cuidando Los Niños with this donation, we’re demonstrating the wide-ranging impact this program can have across New Mexico.”
Community solar allows residents, small businesses, and nonprofits to subscribe to a shared solar project and receive guaranteed bill credits, even if they can’t install solar on their own property. New Mexico passed its community solar law, SB84, in 2021, but the rollout has been delayed by regulatory proceedings and utility processes. Today’s ribbon-cutting shows that the program is finally moving forward, unlocking a pipeline of projects that will deliver savings and resilience to households statewide.
“This project proves that community solar works,” said Cory Felder, Mountain West Regional Director for the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). “It delivers affordable power, local investment, and community benefits in a way no other clean energy program can. New Mexico has been working toward this moment for years, and today we’re proud to see the vision becoming reality.”
The Cuidando Los Niños project is fully subscribed, thanks in part to the efforts of community solar subscription provider Solstice, ensuring that New Mexicans, especially those who otherwise could not install solar, can benefit from renewable energy. Importantly, 50 percent of the project’s energy production is reserved to support qualified low-income households, directly lowering electricity bills for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
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About CCSA
CCSA is a national trade association representing over 125 community solar developers, businesses, and nonprofits. Together, we are building the electric grid of the future where every customer has the freedom to support the generation of clean, local solar energy to power their lives. Through legislative and regulatory advocacy, and the support of a diverse coalition — including advocates for competition, clean energy, ratepayers, landowners, farmers, and environmental justice — we enable policies that unlock the potential of distributed energy resources, starting with community solar. For more information, visit https://www.communitysolaraccess.org and follow the group on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Youtube.