New Mexico 48.4 MW community solar portfolio reaches milestone with Pino ribbon-cutting ceremony
Four organizations gathered at a solar field north of Las Vegas, New Mexico, on May 13 to mark a milestone that few states have reached this early in community solar development. Pluma Construction, ForeFront Power, Standard Solar, and Solstice held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pino community solar site — celebrating progress across an eight-project, 48.4 MW portfolio that spans communities from Clovis to Silver City.
Ribbon cutting marks progress on eight-site portfolio
The May 13 ceremony at the Pino site brought together project partners, guests, and community stakeholders to formally celebrate what the collaborators describe as one of New Mexico’s earliest community solar portfolios at this scale. Representatives from each organization spoke before the ribbon cutting — a moment that recognized the combined effort it takes to move eight separate solar projects through development, acquisition, and operations.
Seven of the eight projects are already generating power. The final site, Otero, located in Alamogordo, is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026 — meaning the full portfolio is close, but not quite there. The ceremony worked as both a celebration of what’s been built and a marker of what’s still ahead.
The projects sit on a mix of State Land Trust and private land — a combination that reflects the range of partnerships needed to assemble a portfolio this size.
How the portfolio was developed and structured
Pluma Construction, a New Mexico-based renewable energy developer, led site development across the portfolio with support from ForeFront Power. Pluma’s local roots matter here. The company focuses specifically on community and utility-scale solar projects within the state, managing everything from site identification through construction and into commercial operation.
Standard Solar stepped in as the long-term owner and operator, acquiring the portfolio after development. The Maryland-based company — a portfolio company of Brookfield — owns and operates more than 500 megawatts of solar across the United States. Standard Solar says it’s actively pursuing additional projects in New Mexico, a move that fits a broader pattern of expansion into the state.
Solstice, now wholly owned by Perch Energy, handles subscriber acquisition for the portfolio. Founded in 2015, Solstice connects households and businesses to community solar farms with no upfront cost and no rooftop installation required. Subscribers receive credits on their electric bills based on their share of the solar farm’s output. The projects sit on a mix of State Land Trust and private land — a combination that reflects the range of partnerships needed to assemble a portfolio this size.
Portfolio capacity, locations, and projected output
The eight projects are spread across Las Vegas, Clovis, Reynolds, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Silver City, and Alamogordo. Together they total 48.4 MW of capacity, all using single-axis tracker systems that adjust panel angles throughout the day to follow the sun and improve energy yield.
First-year energy production across the full portfolio is projected at roughly 103,287 MWh. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the average American home uses about 10,500 kWh per year — which means this portfolio could theoretically cover the annual electricity needs of around 9,800 households in its first year of full operation.
Individual site capacities vary considerably. Las Cruces is the largest at 7.6 MW, projected to produce about 16,105 MWh in year one. Curry Road North in Clovis is the smallest at 4.5 MW, with a projected first-year output of roughly 9,134 MWh. The other six sites fall in between, ranging from 5.0 MW at Lordsburg to 7.5 MW at the Pino site where the ceremony was held. Otero, the final project in Alamogordo, carries a capacity of 5.2 MW and is projected to produce approximately 11,059 MWh once it comes online.
What the portfolio means for New Mexico energy access
Community solar works differently from rooftop solar. Rather than installing panels on your home or business, you buy or lease a share of a larger, off-site solar farm. The energy generated by your share gets credited to your utility bill — no installation, no upfront cost, no need to own your home or have a roof that’s suitable for panels.
That model opens solar access to renters, apartment dwellers, and anyone who couldn’t otherwise tap into rooftop programs. For New Mexico, where energy affordability and rural access are ongoing concerns, community solar broadens who actually benefits from the state’s considerable solar resources. It’s a structural shift, not just an incremental one.
This portfolio is among the earliest of its scale in the state, according to the project partners. ForeFront Power, which has developed more than 1,900 behind-the-meter and community solar projects totaling over 1.6 gigawatts nationally, brings significant experience to continued expansion here. Standard Solar’s stated intention to acquire additional New Mexico projects suggests the market is expected to keep growing.
A portfolio still adding up
With seven sites operational and one more on the way, the 48.4 MW New Mexico community solar portfolio is close to complete. The Pino ribbon cutting marked a genuine milestone — not a finish line, but a moment to recognize how far a four-organization collaboration has come across eight sites and several New Mexico communities.
Once Otero comes online in Alamogordo, the full portfolio will be generating power. Eligibility and enrollment information for those interested in subscribing is available at solstice.us/nmsolar.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
