Know your rights! See Community Action New Mexico's Resource Guide for Utility Customers.

Solar Energy:

• "How to Go Solar" Guide (includes information on registering your solar rights, ballpark system costs and types, finding installers, and putting together incentives such as solar tax credits, PNM's solar incentive, net-metering, etc).
  • New Mexico now has several incentives for solar energy:
    • Solar Tax Credits
    • Solar Sales Tax Exemption (starting July 1, 2007)
    • Net-metering
    • PNM has a special program to buy "Renewable Energy Credits" from owners of net-metered systems.
• More info on Buying Solar Energy Systems: Rules of thumb for Sizing, Cost, and Where to Find More Info & Installation Services
• Basic introductions to solar technologies by the Coalition and by the New Mexico Solar Energy Association

Green Tags:

• You can now purchase "Green Tags" to offset your emissions: This is a great way to support renewable energy development.  See Green Energy New Mexico. This not-for-profit program not only supports projects by providing a new revenue stream for projects via the sale of green tags, but also re-invests 20% of the proceeds into a special community based projects.

Energy Efficiency:

This is the year to insulate your home and replace leaky windows and inefficient furnaces! PNM rebates (other utilities are not yet offering programs) are available as of January 30, 2006 and federal tax credits are available for 2006-2007.  You could get a $568 rebate from PNM if you take advantage of all their offerings plus a $500 tax credit on your federal tax return, for a total of $1068 in savings off a $5500 investment in your home.  The PNM rebate is for contractor-installed measures, while the federal tax credit is for do-it-yourselfers as well as contractor-installed weatherization.  Insulation must meet the minimum code requirements for the area in which you live.  The detailed IRS rules for the federal tax credit are still being developed, but some guidance is available on the web

• PNM Incentives: To learn more about how to participate in PNM's energy efficiency programs, go to their website at, or call (866) REBATES. The rebates are available to all PNM residential natural gas customers. The program offers two kinds of rebates:
  • Retail rebates, with rebate forms available at participating retailers or at PNM.com, including:
    • $10 back for the purchase of a water heater insulation blanket
    • $25 back for the purchase of an ENERGY STAR® qualified programmable thermostats.
  • Contractor rebates, for products installed by a participating contractor listed at PNM.com, including:
    • 25 percent back (for as much as $500) on participating contractor-installed insulation and weatherization measures, including attic insulation, wall insulation, and ductwork leakage testing and sealing.
    • Contractor-installed efficiency products, including ENERGY STAR® qualified programmable thermostats ($40), hot water heater insulation blankets ($15), hot water pipe insulation ($5 for as much as 10 feet), and low-flow showerheads ($8).
• Federal Incentives: Federal tax credits outlined in the 2005 Federal Energy bill are available for many types of home improvements including adding insulation, replacement windows, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment. See EPA's chart. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements combined is $500 during the two year period of the tax credit. This tax credit applies to improvements made from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007.  The PNM rebate is for 25% of the cost, capped at $500, while the federal tax credit is for 10% of the cost, also capped at $500, meaning you'd have to spend $5,000 to reap the maximum benefit.  (Or, possibly to be more precise, you'd have to spend $5500, because it is likely that the rules will say you will have to deduct the PNM rebate, before you get to make the federal tax credit calculation.)
• Green Building Tax Credits: New Mexico now offers tax incentives for buildings that are certified to meet certain standards. See our summary on this for more information.