Vision for NM Clean Energy
A synopsis of how to achieve a clean energy future in New Mexico
By Tom Solomon, 350NM Co-Coordinator
New Mexico is uniquely positioned for a successful and just transition to a 100% clean energy economy, with perhaps the best mix of renewable energy solar, wind and geothermal resources in the USA. We know what we need to build and when climate science requires it. We know that current technologies will get us at least 95% of the way there. We know what it will cost and how to pay for it and we can estimate the lives it will save. And we know how to put that clean energy to work to lower our costs as consumers, live healthier and safer lives and help preserve a livable climate. Here’s how.
Using a modeling package provided by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, New Mexico has studied how renewable sources could address the state’s energy needs, minimize the need for new transmission lines and relieve the high energy burdens of low-income residents. This graph shows the electric energy that the state could potentially produce without considering market conditions. Utility-scale solar could produce almost 210 times the state’s electricity demand, and utility-scale land-based wind could provide almost 30 times the state’s electricity demand. Note: 6,000,000 MWh of energy on the graph represents the electric energy used by about 600,000 New Mexican households in a year. (see SLOPE Informs Grid Modernization and Transportation Planning in New Mexico).
How New Mexico is Progressing Towards 100% Renewable Electricity since the ETA passed in 2019
How much wind and solar energy is being generated in New Mexico TODAY?
Click on the image to find out how much renewable energy is being generated in your New Mexico city, county or the entire state TODAY depending on the expected weather! You can find out how many equivalent tons of CO2 this avoided, car miles powered, tree planted, smartphones charged or equivalent homes powered. Also listed are definitions of confusing terms like megawatt-hours.
Map of Wind Energy Infrastructure and Resources
Map of Solar Energy Infrastructure and Resources
Map of Geothermal Energy Infrastructure and Resources
Map of Electricity Energy Infrastructure and Resources
Energy Disruption Maps due to Severe Weather and Wildfires
What Generates New Mexico’s Electricity?
Click here to access Ember Electricity Data Explorer
How New Mexico’s percentage share of wind and solar compares to that of other states.
https://ember-climate.org/data/data-tools/us-electricity-data-explorer/
New Mexico’s renewable energy sources
Solar Electricity Statistics
Click on the image to see the latest statistics on installed solar electricity capacity, solar jobs demographics, kinds of solar jobs, number of solar companies, average electricity rates, State Installer Licensing Requirements: Electrician’s License, distribution of solar by county and other information. As of Q2 2022, there were 69 solar companies in the state including 13 manufacturers, $2.7 billion solar investments at 2,013 jobs in solar.
New Mexico Clean Energy Statistics
Wind and Solar Energy Projects on State Trust Lands
Click on the images to see where solar and wind projects are located throughout New Mexico on state lands. The U.S. Wind Turbine Database provides a more detailed map on offshore and land wind turbines throughout the U.S., and the Wind Exchange portal offers more wind-related information including Research and Development projects, ordinances, policies and incentives.
PNM’s Real Time Solar Tracker
Electric Cars in New Mexico
For the latest data on EV ownership and EV Chargers in New Mexico click here.
As of May 2023
EV adoption in New Mexico is following the typical adoption “S-Curve” of other innovative technologies, such as mobile phones and email, and is set to take off in NM. 
(Graph from PNM presentation on Transportation Electrification Program, August 24 2022.)