KCEC to Achieve 100% Daytime Solar Power with Taos Mesa Solar Array

New Mexico-based power supplier Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) and Guzman Energy achieved the milestone of providing 100% of the cooperative’s daytime power with solar energy this summer.

Imperative for this milestone, construction has been completed on KCEC’s Taos Mesa Solar Array.

KCEC marked the completion of construction and testing of the Taos Mesa Solar Array, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The project has an area of about 170 acres and houses 43,680 solar panels. It is part of KCEC’s overall solar energy footprint totaling 41 MW of distributed solar.

“When we partnered with Guzman Energy in 2016, we set an ambitious goal of becoming one of the cleanest energy cooperatives in America,” said Luis A. Reyes Jr, CEO, KCEC. “Providing our members with 100% daytime solar power, delivered by locally built and maintained solar arrays and battery storage while also reducing cost for our members is an accomplishment we are incredibly proud of. We are serving our members the clean power they’ve been asking for while lowering costs, and we’re also helping to meet our state’s overall climate change action initiatives.”

New Mexico has aimed for a statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by the year 2030. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was among those in attendance at the ribbon-cutting event. She noted that KCEC is at the forefront in driving the energy transition.

“What Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has achieved here today is a phenomenal example of how rural cooperatives can make a significant impact locally for communities as well as globally on climate change,” said Jeffrey M. Heit, Principal and Managing Director, Guzman Energy. “Guzman Energy is proud to be KCEC’s partner delivering a blueprint for energy transition to cooperatives across America.”