Equitable Energy Solutions
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Our work in Equitable Energy is grounded in clean and affordable solutions. We believe that the only way to meet our energy goals as a state is with strategies that include low-income communities. We also know that access to gas, electricity and water are basic requirements for safe living environments and homes and that families are choosing to pay for these basic necessities before paying for other critical needs. Energy burden is the annual cost of energy needs in a household compared to their annual income. The energy burden is high in many New Mexico communities which is why we continue to work for equitable energy solutions.
Energy Efficiency Retrofits
Our energy initiatives include a Community Energy Efficiency program. We used feedback from an extensive survey of 350 limited-income households in Albuquerque about their needs and concerns to inform our community-centered, collaborative strategies. Sixty percent of surveyed families were living on $10,000 or less in a family size of two to five, and almost all of them had deferred food, medicine, and medical care to pay their utility bills.
Since July 2020, Prosperity Works has worked with trusted community leaders throughout New Mexico at City of Albuquerque, East Central Ministries, Health Equity Council, Partnership for Community Action, Town of Bernalillo, and Homewise. We work with an amazing energy-efficiency implementer, Energy Works, to provide energy-efficient retrofits. Energy Works is able to use resources from PNM and New Mexico Gas Company to extend the benefits to low-income households. In total Prosperity Works has been able to perform audits in over 600 homes in New Mexico. Twenty of the 600 homes had additional work performed to meet energy efficiency standards resulting in 80 tons of carbon being saved. We have also completed over 60 energy-efficiency retrofits for low-income households in the Town of Bernalillo. Energy-efficiency audits inform which resources are installed in each household—such as lighting, door weatherstripping, faucet aerators, power strips, smart thermostats, and energy-efficient refrigerators. With these energy efficiency upgrades, households reduce their energy use, and the associated financial burden—saving households hundreds of dollars a year. Not only do energy-efficient upgrades enhance residents’ safety and comfort, but they also help improve household health and well-being by reducing exposure to pollutants emitted by inefficient household systems. Relatedly, with the passage of New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act (ETA) and its aggressive carbon reduction goals, much attention has been focused on new technologies and renewable energy. The ETA sets a statewide standard where 50% of the energy produced by investor-owned utilities and rural electric coops is renewable energy by 2030. The ETA climate goals cannot be met without including equitable policies and practices that address the needs of limited-income populations. |
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Community Partnership
We are proud that our Community Energy Efficiency work has been supported by the Albuquerque City Council, and are thankful for Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn’s efforts and investment in our initiatives and acknowledgment of how energy-efficieny work is at the forefront of reducing carbon emissions, improving our environment, and enhancing limited-income homeowners’ housing stock.
In January of 2023, we launched our first energy equity initiative in the Town of Bernalillo. The first phase will include providing over 20 homes with energy audits and retrofits and is the first of many plans to expand our work to other communities throughout New Mexico.
Partnering with local businesses and organizations, and leveraging our respective resources and expertise, form the foundation for our collaborative, high-impact outcomes. Our equitable energy solutions partners include:
In January of 2023, we launched our first energy equity initiative in the Town of Bernalillo. The first phase will include providing over 20 homes with energy audits and retrofits and is the first of many plans to expand our work to other communities throughout New Mexico.
Partnering with local businesses and organizations, and leveraging our respective resources and expertise, form the foundation for our collaborative, high-impact outcomes. Our equitable energy solutions partners include:
Supporting Local Limited-income Communities
We met homeowner, Daniel, at our Energy Equity event in the Town of Bernalillo. As a retiree living off of social security, at the end of each month after paying his regular bills, Daniel only has $75 left. Daniel had blankets hanging between each room in his home to help keep rooms warm throughout the winter. After performing our energy audit, the Prosperity Works team and partners were able to help insulate his home to keep it warm throughout the winter months, replace toilets with low-flow water-efficient ones, and overall help lower his energy bills.
With health concerns he is working through, being able to give his home an energy audit and provide upgrades will go a long way in helping him heal and save his money for other expenses. Daniel was so grateful to receive the energy efficiency retrofits, he said, “Anything that I can do for you, I want to do it.”
Through our energy work, we will continue to collaborate with limited-income households to develop long-term, cost-saving measures to help them enhance their homes and make them safer and healthier—so that they are better positioned to weather any future economic downturns and save for the future.
With health concerns he is working through, being able to give his home an energy audit and provide upgrades will go a long way in helping him heal and save his money for other expenses. Daniel was so grateful to receive the energy efficiency retrofits, he said, “Anything that I can do for you, I want to do it.”
Through our energy work, we will continue to collaborate with limited-income households to develop long-term, cost-saving measures to help them enhance their homes and make them safer and healthier—so that they are better positioned to weather any future economic downturns and save for the future.
Community Solar
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New Mexicans will soon be able to utilize from solar energy, benefiting our environment and their pocketbooks. The Community Solar Act will allow individual households, who may not be able to afford the upfront cost to put solar panels on their home, the ability to power their homes using solar energy rather than natural gas or other non-renewable energies. Community Solar will be available in most major cities in New Mexico who get their electricity through PNM, SPS and El Paso Electric.
Make sure to follow us on social media, and check back regularly to be the first to know when you can take advantage of this cost-saving and environmentally friendly energy option. |
Electric Vehicles
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In 2022 and 2023, Prosperity Works helped pass the Clean Cars I and II rules through the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board and the City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board. These rules mandate that electric cars are offered for sale in New Mexico and will go into effect for model year 2026, arriving in showrooms in 2025. Having more clean cars for sale in New Mexico means more clean cars on our roads, resulting in fewer carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.
The Clean Cars Act also aligns with the goals of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 23 governors committed to reducing Greenhouse Gasses emissions by at least 26% from 2005-2025, joined by Governor Lujan Grisham in 2019. The Keller administration has also signed the Climate Mayors pledge, committing the City of Albuquerque to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the city as well. |
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Energy Equity Policy
For many years Prosperity Works has advocated on behalf of low-income New Mexicans on energy policies that are brought forward by both state and local entities. We engage in this work because we believe that is important and we know that low-income people’s voices aren’t often heard on critical energy changes that impact families.
Energy policy is complicated and complex. In fact, when we do advocacy at the Public Regulation Commission, we are required to use a lawyer to do so.
Prosperity Works is actively working on several policy changes to support limited-income households in New Mexico.
Energy policy is complicated and complex. In fact, when we do advocacy at the Public Regulation Commission, we are required to use a lawyer to do so.
Prosperity Works is actively working on several policy changes to support limited-income households in New Mexico.
