Teresa Fernandez, Governor of the United States, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor, Luis Reyes Jr., CEO of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, and Christopher Miller, President of Guzman, are involved in cutting the Taos Mesa Solar Array. Courtesy / KCEC
Guzman Energy President Christopher Miller shares remarks at the Taos Mesa Solar Array launch event. Luis Reyes Jr., CEO of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative looks to the right. Courtesy / KCEC
TAOS – Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) and Guzman Energy recently celebrated the cooperative’s goal of securing 100 percent of its daily energy from solar energy this summer.
As an integral part of this milestone, the construction of KCEC’s Taos Mesa solar array has been completed. The completed array is being tested as it approaches the ongoing production and supply of 15 MW of solar energy, which can power about 7,500 homes with locally produced renewable energy.
At last week’s ribbon-cutting event, KCEC celebrated the official completion and testing of the Taos Mesa solar array, located about nine miles northwest of Taos. The project covers approximately 170 acres, has 43,680 solar panels and is part of KCEC’s overall solar footprint, which represents 41 MW of distributed solar energy throughout the service area and 15 MW of associated battery storage.
“When we partnered with Guzman Energy in 2016, we set an ambitious goal to become one of the cleanest energy cooperatives in America,” said Luis A. Reyes Jr., CEO of KCEC. “We are very proud to offer our members 100 percent of the daily solar energy supplied by locally built and maintained solar panels and storage facilities, while reducing our members’ costs. We provide our members with the clean capacity they have requested while reducing costs, and we also help meet our state’s overall climate change initiatives.
The state of New Mexico has set a goal of reducing nationwide greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030. The event was attended by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who noted that KCEC is a guide for other state and nationwide cooperatives. energy transition management.
Guzman Energy has been KCEC’s electricity wholesaler since 2016, when the cooperative terminated its contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission to give the cooperative more control over its energy choices and provide its members with a more cost-effective and stable tariff. local energy.
KCEC will complete the refund of the Tri-State exit fee by the end of June 2022, while achieving the goals of cleaner and cheaper electricity. Coop members see a reduction in their electricity bills through an article in the fuel regulation line, saving up to 25 percent.
“What Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has achieved here today is a phenomenal example of how rural cooperatives can make a significant impact on climate change, both locally and globally,” said Jeffrey M. Heit, Guzman’s director of energy and CEO. “Guzman Energy is proud to be a partner at KCEC in submitting an energy transition plan to cooperatives across America.”
The Taos Mesa solar array is located about nine miles northwest of the city of Taos. Courtesy / KCEC