Rio Rancho council approves renewable-energy overlay and 80-acre lease for community solar at Loma Barbone

The Rio Rancho City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution amending the Loma Barbone master plan to add a renewable-energy overlay and separately adopted an ordinance placing an overlay zoning district over an 80-acre State Land Office parcel to allow a community solar project.

The council voted to adopt Resolution R107 as amended and Ordinance O25, clearing the way for development of a community solar array proposed by Affordable Solar and its partners on land the New Mexico State Land Office has leased for that purpose. Councilors approved a Planning and Zoning Board amendment adding a 100-foot setback from the north and west property lines to the fence line around the future solar development before adopting R107.

The amendment matters because it sets the initial siting buffer around the approved lease area; the broader master-plan addendum covers the full 600-acre Loma Barbone master plan area but the overlay and zoning change apply to the smaller 80-acre lease parcel. Director Rincon introduced the items and said staff and the Planning and Zoning Board had reviewed them. Lori Moy, a consultant with Select Row LLC who said she is the agent for the applicant, and Dylan Connolly, director of commercial solar development for Affordable Solar, presented the project and regulatory background.

Affordable Solar representatives told the council the facility will be a community solar project under New Mexico law that allows projects…