
NEW MEXICO LOCAL SOLAR ACCESS FUND
It’s time to invest in our communities and our children’s future.
What is it?
HB 128, the Local Solar Access Fund, is a proposed grant fund at the New Mexico Finance Authority, which will issue both planning and implementation grants to Tribes, Counties, Municipalities, School Districts, and Land Grants for solar and storage projects to power public buildings like community centers, libraries, schools, and fire stations, and infrastructure like water, wastewater, and street lighting. Planning includes procuring grant writers and technical expertise to plan and fund projects, and implementation includes funding construction, purchase, installation, and equipment of solar energy and storage systems.
The fund is sponsored by House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, Senator Harold Pope, and Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero. It will be established in law with a one-time, non-recurring, non-reverting appropriation of $60 million.
Why now?
Communities across New Mexico are calling for solutions to rising utility costs, unreliable energy infrastructure, and increasing climate-related disasters. Many rural communities have projects ready to go but lack the resources to plan and implement them effectively. The Local Solar Access Fund provides the support they need to act now, building resilience and saving costs for decades to come.
New Mexico’s temporary budget surpluses from oil and gas revenue provide a rare opportunity to invest in the future. By establishing this fund, the state can ensure its rural and underserved communities are equipped to face today’s challenges and tomorrow’s uncertainties.
What are the benefits?
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Resilience: Solar and storage projects ensure critical facilities remain operational during emergencies, protecting public safety and reducing disaster recovery times.
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Cost Savings: Local and Tribal governments can save millions by reducing reliance on volatile energy markets and locking in fixed solar energy costs for 25-30 years.
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Capacity Building: Grants fund expertise and resources to help communities plan and implement solar projects, ensuring they can navigate future challenges independently.
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Sustainability: Solar energy reduces carbon emissions, improving public health and addressing climate change.
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Economic Development: Projects funded by the fund create jobs, stimulate local economies, and support clean energy workforce development.

Building Resilience in Rural Communities
The Local Solar Access Fund emphasizes rural resilience, addressing public safety and disaster preparedness needs for underserved communities across New Mexico. By enabling the installation of solar and storage systems on critical facilities, the fund ensures uninterrupted power during emergencies such as wildfires, storms, and grid failures. For example, fire stations can remain operational, water systems can continue running, and schools can act as emergency shelters when needed.
Resilience hubs equipped with solar and storage can provide lifelines during disasters, supplying energy, food, water, and cooling or heating for affected residents. By reducing dependence on conventional energy sources, these hubs enhance the security and sustainability of rural communities.
Capacity Building for Long-Term Success
One of the unique features of the fund is its focus on capacity building for rural and under-resourced communities. Many communities lack the technical staff or expertise needed to navigate complex funding applications or design solar projects. The fund helps address this gap by funding local and tribal governments to hire grant writers, energy planners, and project managers, enabling them to access additional federal and private resources.
By empowering communities to build their capacity, the LSAF ensures long-term benefits beyond the initial grants. Municipalities, Tribes, and counties can develop the skills and infrastructure to independently manage and expand their renewable energy projects in the future.
Supporting Rural Economic Development
The fund also contributes to economic and workforce development in rural areas by creating local jobs and generating cost savings. Solar projects reduce utility bills, freeing up funds for essential services like elder care and emergency response programs. The savings can amount to millions over 25-30 years, ensuring a more stable financial future for communities.
Additionally, projects funded by the fund stimulate local economies by hiring local contractors, electricians, and solar professionals. This investment strengthens the clean energy workforce and builds a foundation for ongoing renewable energy development.
Watch our 2025 webinar on the Local Solar Access Fund and rural resilience:
Featuring:
House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski
Senator Harold Pope
Mayor Lynn Crawford, Village of Ruidoso
Ron Sena, Ruidoso Village Manager
Shaun Tsabetsaye, Zuni Pueblo, Head of Tribal Technical Assistance and Project Development, Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy
Steve Jenison, District Chief, Dixon Volunteer Fire Department in Rio Arriba County, EMS Paramedic
Randy Sadewic, CEO, Positive Energy Solar
Thomas Gray, VP Commercial Business, Positive Energy Solar
Moderated by Alysha Shaw, Campaign Director for Public Power New Mexico, this webinar highlights the fund’s benefits, success stories, and the urgent need to establish the fund in 2025.
Funding Opportunities and Flexibility
The Local Solar Access Fund is designed to complement and leverage various funding sources, including federal, state, and private grants. It addresses barriers to funding access faced by rural communities, such as complex applications, upfront costs, and lengthy timelines. Unlike traditional green banks that rely on loans, the LSAF provides direct grants for planning and implementation, making funding more accessible and timely.
Examples of potential funding combinations include:
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Partnerships with state-level programs like the New Mexico Match Fund to meet matching requirements for federal grants.
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Coordination with USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to support agricultural and small business solar projects.
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Collaboration with private foundations and organizations supporting renewable energy and rural development.
The fund’s flexibility ensures that under-resourced communities can take full advantage of these opportunities while addressing their unique needs and priorities.
What's the difference between this and a green bank?
Green banks typically offer loans and financing for solar, while the Local Solar Access Fund will issue grants to plan and implement solar projects and will not require matches or repayment. The Local Solar Access Fund is complementary to the green banks' funding sources. In some cases, green bank funding could be stacked with Local Solar Access Funding, lowering loan costs. The fund is intended to leverage other funding sources, helping New Mexican communities maximize and accelerate our investments in solar.
Take Action to Support the Local Solar Access Fund
Endorsed in 2024 by:
REIA-NM • Sierra Club • CVNM • 350NM • New Mexico Municipal League • New Mexico Counties • Coalition of Sustainable Communities • Pueblo of Picuris • Pueblo of Laguna • McKinley County School District • Habitat For Humanity Santa Fe • Santa Fe County • City of Santa Fe • Santa Fe Public Schools • Renewable Taos • Town of Taos • City of Albuquerque Sustainability Office • Village of Los Ranchos • New Mexico State Land Office • New Mexico Solar Energy Association • Kit Carson Electric Cooperative • Positive Energy Solar • Interfaith Power and Light • DPNM Environmental Justice Caucus • YUCCA • Earth Care • Indivisible ABQ • Indivisible SOS • NM Health Professionals for Climate Action • NM Climate Justice • NM Dream Team • Santa Fe DSA • Indigenous Lifeways • NM Immigrant Law Center • WildEarth Guardians • Common Ground Rising • Eclipse Solar • Los Jardines Institute • Center for Biological Diversity • AIA NM • UNM LEAF • San Juan Citizens Alliance • Vote Solar • Grid Alternatives • Adelante Consulting • Tewa Women United • Southwest Native Cultures • McKinley Collaborative for Health Equity • New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute • Shiprock Traditional Farmers • New Energy Economy • No False Solutions •
Watch a webinar on the Local Solar Access Fund!
New Mexicans want local solar now! Watch this informative webinar on the Local Solar Access Fund featuring sponsors House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski and Senator Harold Pope, data scientists with Embold Research, Trenton Marlar and Stephen Claremont, City of Las Cruces Sustainability Officer Lisa LaRocque, and Public Power Campaign Director Alysha Shaw.
The panel discussed the Local Solar Access Fund, its potential impact, and the results of a new statewide survey of New Mexico demonstrating significant support for solar and renewable development and the Local Solar Access Fund.
What New Mexico communities are telling us:
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Most Tribes and Counties want to pursue solar energy and storage projects.
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Most rural Municipalities in NM currently lack the funding to plan and implement solar, but would develop solar to power public buildings and infrastructure if accessible funding were available.
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New Mexico communities have important public safety and resilience needs such as power and shelter for residents and first responders during emergencies and disasters that this fund could support.
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Local and Tribal governments can save up to $10 million after 25 years by investing in 1 MW of solar.
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Solar is more accessible and affordable than ever. Between 2009-2019, solar costs fell more than 90%, and these trends are likely to continue with increased manufacturing and investment.