Hundreds testify as Santa Fe County continues hearing on AES Rancho Viejo solar and battery project

The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners continued public hearings on the AES Rancho Viejo 96-megawatt solar project with battery energy storage on Wednesday, hearing nearly nonstop public comment about siting, safety and local impacts before recessing to continue questioning of the applicant and staff the following day.

The hearing mattered because the conditional use permit under review would allow a utility-scale solar facility and an associated battery energy storage system (BESS) to be built adjacent to several residential neighborhoods, two K–8 schools and other community facilities; supporters said it advances local clean-energy goals and economic development, opponents said the county’s existing rules and emergency plans do not protect residents from low-probability but high-consequence disasters.

Opponents focused on fire, toxic plume and evacuation risk, water supply and insurance impacts. Cindy Fuqua, a long-time volunteer with the Clean Energy Coalition, told commissioners: “This project is not ready,” citing concerns about water supply,…