SunShare Plans Three Community Solar Gardens Near Tularosa
Published 13 November 2026
By Julie Marcellus
A Colorado-based company, SunShare Community Solar, wants to build up to three community solar gardens in and around the Village of Tularosa. The company presented the plans to the Tularosa Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. No vote was taken, neighbors asked for help with flooding, and nothing can be built unless the projects win a spot in a state solar program, with awards expected around June 2027.
What is SunShare proposing in Tularosa?
According to 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News, SunShare has filed special use permit applications for three sites. Two are off Moon Valley Road, including one next to an existing solar array built by another company. The third is on the north side of town off Twelfth Street, along the railroad. The company said it bought one property and is leasing the other two.
| Detail | What SunShare told the commission |
|---|---|
| Number of sites | Up to three, each needing about 30 acres |
| Size | About 5 megawatts each, enough for roughly 400 to 500 subscribers |
| Lease length | 20 years, with optional five-year extensions |
| Site features | 8-foot wildlife-friendly fence, no lighting, no batteries |
| Where the power goes | PNM's Tularosa substation, used locally |
| Next step | Findings go to the Village Council, which makes the decision |
| State award | Bidding expected to open in early 2027, awards around June 2027 |
| Construction | Likely early 2028, about three months, only if a site wins an award |
SunShare says it was founded in Colorado in 2011, with 220 megawatts developed or under construction, about 19,000 subscribers and active development in nine states.
How does community solar work in New Mexico?
Community solar lets people subscribe to part of a nearby solar project instead of putting panels on their own roof, and get credits on their PNM electric bill. New Mexico's Community Solar Act was signed in 2021, and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission oversees the program. SunShare told the commission that standard subscribers save 10%, that state rules require at least 30% of each project's output to go to low-income subscribers at a discount of at least 20%, and that signing up and opting out are free.
What did neighbors ask about?
Neighbors near the Moon Valley Road sites said they do not object to solar panels. Their worry is water. They described flooding from a nearby arroyo that washes out driveways and reaches the highway, and asked who would maintain the private road crews would use. Others asked about heat from the panels, wildlife, future expansion and property values.
SunShare offered to add regular ditch cleanouts to its maintenance contract, and noted that a stormwater management plan is required before it can get a building permit. The company said it would sign a road use agreement and repair any damage. On property values, a company representative said studies have found effects in both directions.
What happens next?
For special use permits, the Planning and Zoning Commission does not approve or deny. It sends findings and recommended conditions to the Village of Tularosa council, which makes the decision. Commissioners floated conditions like a native plant list, a decommissioning bond that rises with inflation and an access easement for the village, and SunShare said it was open to each.
This is a different proposal from the one I shared in October about a developer seeking to lease village-owned land. You can read that one in my post on the Tularosa community solar proposal.
What does this mean for homeowners and buyers around Tularosa?
If you own a home or land near Moon Valley Road or Twelfth Street, this is worth following, especially if drainage is already a concern on your property. Village Council meetings are public, and that is where the final decision will be made. If you are thinking about buying in the area, my neighborhoods guide is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SunShare proposing near Tularosa?
SunShare Community Solar wants to build up to three solar gardens in and around Tularosa. Each would be about 5 megawatts on roughly 30 acres.
Where are the proposed Tularosa solar sites?
Two sites are off Moon Valley Road and one is off Twelfth Street on the north side of town. The Twelfth Street site runs along the railroad.
Has the Tularosa solar project been approved?
No. The Planning and Zoning Commission took no vote on November 10, 2026, and the Village Council makes the final decision.
When could the Tularosa solar gardens be built?
Only if they win a state community solar award, expected around June 2027. SunShare said construction would then likely start in early 2028.
How much could subscribers save with community solar?
SunShare said standard subscribers save 10% on the electricity they subscribe to. Low-income subscribers must get a discount of at least 20% under state rules.
Facts come from 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News' report on the November 10, 2026, Tularosa Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, SunShare's website and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, checked 13 November 2026. Plans can change before any vote.