350 New Mexico supports the Diamond Tail Solar and Storage Project!
Proposed solar project site on Diamond Tail Ranch.
If we are to have any hope of stemming climate change we have to build the equivalent of one 200 Megawatt (MW) solar and one 200 MW wind farm per month per state, on average. The proposed Diamond Tail Solar and Storage project in Sandoval County, sited next to an existing PNM substation and transmission lines, would provide 220 MW of solar and 110 MW of storage, equivalent to powering more than 60,000 homes annually. It would replace some of PNM’s coal-generated electricity, saving 11.6 billion gallons of water and 1.4 million tons of climate pollution per year.
Stand up for Solar! Fight Climate Change!
Please use this easy template to email the Sandoval Commissioners in support here. Thank you if you previously emailed your support to the Sandoval Planning & Zoning Board -the Commissioners need to hear from you too!
The Sandoval County Commission voted in favor of the requested zoning change on Feb. 18, 2025. Thanks to all who showed their support! More steps to go!
The Latest: The East Mountains Protection Action Coalition (EMPAC) has filed a lawsuit to stop the project. We will know more about their arguments at the end of May 2025.
Diamond Tail Ranch
According to a State Panel report, the climate heating that is already killing East Mountain forests and reducing water supplies will get worse if we do not act. We hope generations to come will be able to enjoy the beautiful natural beauty because our neighbors chose to be part of the solution to climate change.
The $450 million Diamond Tail project will lower PNM electricity rates, increase grid reliability, and provide good-paying local jobs and generous revenues for Sandoval County and schools. East Mountain businesses will also benefit.
Modern battery storage systems built to post-2022 safety standards like the one envisioned in this project are very safe. Fires are very rare and have never spread to surrounding communities. Read more here about how the Jan. 2025 Moss Landing fire at an older warehouse-style facility is not relevant to Diamond Tails’ design, and see the Canary Media story below.
Information & Resources
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- Diamond Tail Call to Action, Project Details & Talking Points
- Diamond Tail Talking Points from Greenlight America
- Fire Safety for Diamond Tail Solar, presented by fire protection engineer, Todd LaBerge
- Sandoval County Planning & Zoning Department (Diamond Tail Project document links towards bottom of page)
- Canary Media (Jan. 27, 2025) Why you shouldn’t worry about the Moss Landing battery fire
- The proposed Rancho Veijo solar farm further north along NM-14 near Santa Fe is also facing headwinds and misinformation. Here are some Op-eds and articles about Ranch Veijo that apply to Diamond Tail as well.
- Bill McKibben (May 10, 2025, Santa Fe New Mexican) Op-Ed
- Cris Moore (May 17, 2025, Santa Fe New Mexican) Op-Ed
- Stephanie Nakhleh Substack – We Can Have Nice Things articles: Part 1 When Bill McKibben Calls Out Your Environmentalism & Part 2 Solving the Not in My Backyard Dilemma.
Stand up for Solar! Fight Climate Change!