City Breaks Ground on First of 8 New Solar Projects

ALBUQUERQUE – The City of Albuquerque broke ground today on a new solar project at the East Side Animal Shelter, marking the first of seven new solar projects that will help move the City toward its goal of powering municipal operations with 100% renewable energy.

The seven new projects will add another piece to that strategy. Through a unique “Infrastructure as a Service” model, Sustainability Partners will design, build, and maintain the solar systems, allowing the City to benefit from clean energy without having to make the upfront capital investment to build and maintain the projects itself.

“This is a different approach to how we think about clean energy,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We own our own solar, we have a cleaner grid through PNM, and now, for the first time, we’re leasing solar from a third party. We’re using every tool available to get more clean energy on the ground without putting the entire cost of building and maintaining these systems on taxpayers.”

Together with the City’s existing solar generation and cleaner electricity from PNM, the projects will put Albuquerque on track to source 100% of the electricity used by City operations from renewable energy.

The projects, being developed through a partnership with Sustainability Partners, will add new solar generation at City facilities across Albuquerque. The seven locations are:

• Albuquerque International Sunport
• Highland High School
• East Side Animal Shelter
• 911 Emergency Communications Center
• Daytona Transit Facility
• West Mesa Aquatic Center
• Isotopes Park Phase 1
• Isotopes Park Phase 2

The City uses approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of electricity to power its operations. Today, 25 MW come from PNM’s Solar Direct project, while the City produces approximately 8 MW through its own rooftop solar systems.

While reaching 100% renewable electricity does not mean the City has yet achieved net-zero emissions, it represents a major step toward Albuquerque’s long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2050.

“Every solar panel we put on a City facility is an investment in Albuquerque’s future,” said Sustainability Manager Ann Simon. “These projects show that we can make meaningful progress on our climate goals while also finding new and creative ways to make clean energy work for the City. We’re excited to see the first project take shape and to watch that progress spread across Albuquerque.”

“Our mission is to remove the biggest barriers public entities face when building the infrastructure their communities need: upfront capital, choosing the right equipment, and long-term maintenance,” said Adam Cain, CEO of Sustainability Partners. “With our Infrastructure as a Service® model, Albuquerque doesn’t have to choose between its budget and climate goals, and Sustainability Partners is always there to keep the infrastructure reliable and improving for the long term.”

The City’s renewable-energy strategy is part of its broader effort to reduce emissions, lower long-term energy costs and make municipal operations more sustainable.