Albuquerque’s Latest Solar Panel Boondoggle

January 21, 2025

In an entirely predictable and unforced error, the city of Albuquerque has found itself in a multi-million-dollar fiasco. More than 1,000 solar panels, part of a clean energy city program in 2019, have sat unused for six years. This egregious waste and inefficiency are unfortunately all too common in poorly managed cities like Albuquerque. According to the Albuquerque Journal:

“Documents obtained by the Journal show more than $4 million in bond revenues was spent on solar panels for seven buildings — two of which are still not generating power and one that operates at 6% of its full capacity. The investments are part of a longstanding campaign promise by Mayor Tim Keller to have the city operate on 100% renewable energy by 2025. The city is currently operating at 80% renewable power, according to the city’s Chief Administrative Officer Samantha Sengel…‘This is another one of Keller’s big promises with nothing to show for it,’ City Councilor Dan Lewis said in a statement to the Journal. ‘He’s been given a blank check and taxpayers are left with nothing. I don’t know what Keller can do with another four years that he hasn’t been able to do in eight.’”

Albuquerque serves as a cautionary tale for governments rushing to implement green energy projects without thorough planning and foresight, and responding only to green progressives’ half-baked demands. The city spent millions on solar panels that have yet to generate any meaningful electricity for the city. Posturing to appease select vocal constituencies is not a sound governing philosophy.

Taxpayers deserve to see a return on their investment, not empty promises and wasted resources. As cities across the country strive to meet renewable energy targets, they must learn from Albuquerque’s mistakes and understand that no matter how much government action, thermodynamic properties and economics will not change just because the eco-left wants them to.

Municipalities should heed this cautionary tale and think twice before spending millions of dollars on false solutions in search of a problem. The reality is that fossil fuels provide reliable, affordable, and secure energy in abundance without relying on foreign adversaries.