SOLAR POWER IN NEW MEXICO
Rancho Viejo solar + storage project
AES’ Rancho Viejo Solar project is a proposed solar facility in Santa Fe County that will incorporate the most advanced solar energy and battery energy storage technologies and is carefully designed to minimize impact on the rural landscapes in the area. Rancho Viejo Solar directly supports New Mexico’s clean energy goal of 50% renewable by 2030, and 100% renewable by 2045.
96 MW planned solar power plus 48 MW, four-hour duration, containerized lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS)
Enough clean energy to power 37K homes annually
Located in Santa Fe County, New Mexico
Our clean energy commitment
AES’ Rancho Viejo project is a proposed solar plus battery storage project in New Mexico. We are committed to responsible clean energy development that creates long-term value and positive impact for both the environment and local communities.
Economic and environmental benefits
We believe in being a good neighbor, ensuring responsible clean energy development that benefits both the environment and local communities without burdening existing infrastructure.
268K MWh
of carbon-free electricity generated each year, improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions
$10 Million
in local tax revenue expected to be generated for the community and county
200+ Local jobs
expected to be created during construction
Project details
- Sited on approximately 680 acres of privately owned, fenced land
- 35-year project life span with AES as the long-term owner and operator of the facility
- Feeds into the Public Service of New Mexico (PNM) grid, providing power to PNM customers
-
To be set back a minimum of 1,000 ft from any adjacent property boundary, nearly 2,000 ft from the nearest residence in
San Marcos and 1.3 miles from the nearest residence in El Dorado; the BESS installation will be located approximately
1.5 miles from the closest residence
Upcoming meetings
Board of County Commissioners of Santa Fe County Special Meeting
August 11, 2025, 9:00 AM
August 12, 2025, 10:00 AM
Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor
102 Grant Ave., Santa Fe, NM
The primary purpose of this meeting is to conduct a public hearing on the Rancho Viejo Solar, LLC Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application and the appeal of the County Planning Commission's approval of the CUP in February – Case No. 24-5200.
Learn more here: Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Special Meeting
Visual simulation and project specs
See the project:
Photo-realistic simulations provide a visual rendering of the before-and-after conditions of the planned project.
We have updated the visual simulations to match our new design plans.
Download visual simulations -->
Current proposed equipment specs:
PV Modules: Make: BYD MLTK-36 550W
Inverter: Make: GPTech PV3MWD
Racking: Make: ATI DuraTrack
Battery Module: Module: SDE E5S
Battery Container: Make: CEN 40’ ISO
Battery Inverter: Make: GPTECH 3MWD3-V730
Clean energy benefits
local communities
Long-term tax revenue to local communities and school districts
Job creation during construction and operation
Local economic stimulus during construction
Improved air quality and reduced CO2 emissions
Social impact funding to area community organizations and non-profits
Partnering with communities for the future of energy
Building New Mexico’s clean energy workforce with Santa Fe YouthWorks
AES has partnered with Santa Fe-based nonprofit, YouthWorks, and donated funds that will allow 10 students to attend solar installation training courses to prepare them for the PV Associates exam and a career in the renewable energy industry.
Training students for a future in solar with Solar Energy International
AES has partnered with Solar Energy International (SEI), a nationally leading solar training and educational non-profit, to provide solar workforce development training in New Mexico. As part of that effort, AES has created an AES-funded scholarship, which provides financial assistance to 15 New Mexico residents to cover solar education tuition fees.
Accelerating renewable energy in tribal communities
In our continuing effort to advance renewable energy initiatives and create new economic opportunities on tribal lands, AES, along with the GRID Alternatives Tribal Program, have teamed up with the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico to install a rooftop solar system on the Pueblo’s Tamaya Wellness Center.
Sustainability Resources
Sustainability best practices
At AES, safety is our highest priority, and we’ve focused on improving lives for more than 40 years. As a leading innovator in energy solutions, sustainability is core to both our strategy and our culture. We are committed to responsible land use and incorporating sustainable best practices into the entire project lifecycle, contributing to building a domestic circular renewables economy and reducing foreign dependence.
Environmental and technical studies
We conduct a series of studies that ensure our projects are thoughtfully and responsibly designed.
- Aquatic Resources Inventory Report: Update completed July 2024
- Biological Survey Report: Update completed July 2024
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment: Completed May 2022
- Cultural Resources Pedestrian Survey Report: Completed July 2022
- Hydrologic and Hydraulic Study: October 2022
- Site Thresholds Analysis: October 2022
- Geotechnical Investigation: Revised completed April 2024
- Noise Technical Report Rancho Viejo Solar Project, July 2024
- Environmental Impact Report for the Rancho Viejo Solar Project, completed July 24, 2024
- Decommissioning Plan, completed July 2024
- Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Plan, completed July 2024
- Pre-Incident Plan, completed July 2024
- First Responder Mitigation Guidelines, completed July 2024
- Preliminary Hazard Mitigation Analysis, completed August 2024
Commitment to safety
At AES, safety comes first—for our workers, partners, contractors, and the communities we serve. As pioneers of utility-scale energy storage, we’ve operated a global fleet of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for nearly two decades.
Our BESS projects meet the latest codes and standards, including NFPA 855 and UL9540. The Rancho Viejo project will feature advanced safety systems, such as fire suppression at the battery cell level, active exhaust ventilation, and deflagration vents to mitigate gas buildup.
We are collaborating with the Santa Fe County Fire Department to ensure robust safety protocols, providing training before and throughout the project’s operation.
Contact us
We appreciate your interest in AES’ Rancho Viejo Solar Project. Please contact us using the information below.