News

After months of opposition, public hearings, and hours of testimony, the commissioners voted 4-1 on Tuesday to approve the controversial project.

According to Joshua Mayer, senior development manager for The AES Corporation, a REIA-NM member and the developer behind Rancho Viejo, this is “an essential step toward delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the local grid as energy demand continues to rise, while directly advancing New Mexico’s clean energy goals.”

Read the full article for statements from proponents, opposition, commissioners and more. 

The New Mexico Climate Investment Center (NMCIC) is excited to announce the launch of a Small Loan Program for small businesses and nonprofits serving New Mexico. The program will provide affordable financing in the form of individual loans of up to $250,000 to help fund energy efficiency, clean energy, electrification, and other emissions-reducing projects.

NMCIC is New Mexico’s first “green bank”, an investment fund created to accelerate the state’s transition to clean energy and climate resilience. Its mission is to reduce energy burdens and greenhouse gas emissions while fostering economic prosperity and equity for communities across New Mexico. In addition to the Small Loan Program, NMCIC offers bridge financing, permanent, construction, and C-PACE loans for projects that reduce GHG emissions, increase energy or water efficiency, lower energy costs, and bring benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Please visit the NMCIC website for more information and to apply for financing through the online intake form. Application deadline is August 31, 2025. 

The U.S. battery supply chain just got a little stronger.

LG Energy Solution, a division of the major Korean battery manufacturer, is now producing battery cells for grid-scale energy storage at a site in Holland, Michigan.

The company spent $1.4 billion to expand the factory, and the investment onshores production of a popular battery chemistry that had been almost exclusively made in China, amid tariff and tax policy uncertainty.

Read more here. 

This week, SEIA and Wood Mackenzie released the Solar Market Insight Report for Q1 of 2025.

The report finds that solar added 10.8 GW of new electricity generating capacity and 8.6 GW of new solar module manufacturing capacity in Q1. Solar and storage accounted for 82% of all new generating capacity added to the grid and communities added 8 new or expanded factories in Texas, Ohio, Arizona, and South Carolina while American solar cell production capacity doubled.

According to SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper, “Solar and storage continue to dominate America’s energy economy, adding more new capacity to the grid than any technology using increasingly American-made equipment... But our success is at risk. If Congress fails to fix the legislation passed by the House – which would render the energy tax incentives unusable – lawmakers will trigger a dangerous energy shortage that will raise our electric bills and stop America’s manufacturing boom in its tracks."

Read more highlights and access the full report here. 

New Mexico is stepping up its commitment to energy efficiency! The state's Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Division has secured $5.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish an Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund.

This fund offers low-interest loans (2% fixed rate, $250,000-$1 million) for crucial energy efficiency upgrades like smart thermostats, HVAC, insulation, and lighting. Solar and electric panel upgrades are also eligible as part of comprehensive projects. The program targets private nonprofit and for-profit entities with buildings benefiting the public, such as healthcare and educational facilities.

This initiative will help reduce utility bills, decrease building emissions, boost New Mexico's economy, and protect our environment. It's a significant step towards a sustainable future for our state!

Learn more about this exciting development here. Original coverage by Beth Anton at Renewable Energy Magazine. 

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on coal production.

During the Electrify New Mexico conference Friday morning, the mayor signed his own executive order to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels at city buildings.

That includes fully converting to renewable energy for all city operations by the end of the year.

Check out KRQE's coverage here.