What New Mexico’s Solar Energy Boom Means for Workers & Communities

With abundant sunshine, open land, and wind, New Mexico is a prime location for renewable energy. It is ranked second in the U.S. for potential solar power production and tenth for wind energy potential. Recognizing this, the New Mexico Land Office has approximately 9,000,000 acres of land available for leasing to renewable energy companies.

From a proposed utility-scale AES Rancho Viejo Solar project near Santa Fe to a new two-gigawatt Maxeon Solar Technologies factory in Albuquerque, there are unprecedented opportunities for clean energy production, new jobs, and economic growth in New Mexico. Yet, as these ventures expand, solar energy workers and nearby communities face distinct challenges—from concerns about battery fires to hazardous dust exposure.

New Mexico’s Solar Energy Potential

New Mexico is the third sunniest state in the country, making it a natural hotspot for solar energy. The state’s high elevation increases solar panel efficiency, and its semi-arid climate contributes to reliable, consistent sun throughout the year. There are 86 utility-scale solar farms located across New Mexico, generating about 10.2% of the state’s electricity. The largest solar farm in the state is the Arroyo Solar Energy Storage Hybrid in McKinley County, capable of generating 300 megawatts of energy.

As the solar sector expands, industry leaders and policymakers must ensure that worker safety keeps pace with the demands of large-scale solar farm and solar panel construction, installation, and manufacturing.

Solar Panel Manufacturing Risks

Although Maxeon initially planned to build a billion-dollar solar panel factory from the ground up, it pivoted and signed a five-year lease on a former Honeywell building. The company plans to produce 2 gigawatts of solar modules annually by 2026.

Solar panel manufacturing is a complex undertaking, involving advanced equipment, multiple stages of assembly, and the management of potentially hazardous materials.

This introduces a range of workplace hazards that must be addressed:

• Heavy Machinery Risks: Forklifts, assembly lines, and high-speed conveyor systems introduce the potential for crush injuries if safety protocols are overlooked.
• Chemical Exposure: Producing solar cells may involve handling silicon, solvents, and other chemicals. Proper ventilation and protective equipment are essential to prevent fires, respiratory problems, or skin irritation.
• Ergonomic Challenges: Repetitive tasks like panel assembly can lead to musculoskeletal disorders if workplaces aren’t properly designed and laid out.

Any oversight—such as insufficient safety training, inadequate protective gear, or lax quality control—can result in serious work injuries or illnesses. Solar companies must institute rigorous training and safety protocols at every step of the manufacturing chain to safeguard their workers.

Utility-Scale Solar Projects & Battery Fires

New Mexico also hosts a growing number of utility-scale solar developments in regions such as Santa Fe County—projects that can span hundreds of acres. These facilities often incorporate cutting-edge battery energy storage systems (BESS) to store excess solar power for nighttime use. While such systems are vital for 24/7 renewable energy, they also raise serious safety concerns.

Lithium-ion battery cells can ignite and burn for hours or even days if they are damaged or malfunction. That’s what happened at a BESS in Surprise, Arizona on April 19, 2019. It started with the failure of a single battery, which cascaded into an explosion that left four firefighters seriously injured as they attempted to battle the blaze. Another incident in 2022 at a BESS in Chandler, Arizona involved a fire that burned for more than 10 days—prompting evacuations of nearby businesses and residents. Containing these fires often requires specialized agents and proper ventilation, posing a challenge for emergency responders.

Residents near the proposed AES Rancho Viejo project have voiced concerns about fire hazards, a lack of transparency regarding BESSs and fire suppression measures, and environmental contamination. The 200,000-panel solar farm, if approved, would sit on approximately 680 acres of privately owned land just 1,000 feet from the 90-home community of Rancho San Marcos.

Valley Fever Linked to Land Clearing for Solar Installations

New Mexico’s dry climate may present an additional danger: Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis). During large-scale construction activities—such as preparing land for solar installations—soil disruption can release fungal spores into the air. Inhaling these can cause a fungal lung infection that causes symptoms of pneumonia. In rare cases, Valley fever can cause infections throughout the body.

Symptoms of Valley fever may include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Rash on the legs or upper body

A high-profile coccidioidomycosis outbreak among solar farm workers in California demonstrated the consequences of insufficient dust control measures, which led to multiple infections.

Common steps to mitigate these risks include wetting soil before excavation, using dust suppressants, and providing well-fitting respirators to workers. As companies clear land and install utility-scale solar projects in New Mexico, they must prioritize dust management and worker education to reduce the chance of Valley fever spreading among crews.

Other Solar Construction & Installation Hazards

Beyond manufacturing risks, battery fires, and Valley fever, solar workers in New Mexico may face an array of occupational hazards, especially during the construction or retrofitting of large solar facilities. Even residential solar panel installation poses risks when companies do not provide proper training or personal protective equipment (PPE).

Height & Fall Dangers
Rooftop installations or work on scaffolding puts solar workers at risk of suffering catastrophic injuries in falls. A fall from any height has the potential to cause broken bones, brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries. OSHA has stringent fall protection requirements for solar panel workers exposed to fall distances of four to six feet or higher.

Electrical Hazards
Even partially sunny conditions can generate dangerous voltages in solar panels. Inexperienced or poorly trained workers may face electrocution risks from solar panels and electrical circuits if employers fail to comply with OSHA’s solar energy electrical and lockout/tagout procedures.

Heavy Machinery & Roadway Risks
Large-scale solar developments require cranes, trucks, and other heavy machinery to transport and position equipment. Solar workers may be seriously injured in crane collapses, vehicle collisions or rollovers, or back-over incidents if operators are not properly trained or worksites are poorly managed.

Extreme Weather & Heat
New Mexico’s climate can subject solar energy workers to high temperatures, leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. In extreme cases, heat-related illnesses can cause death. Employers must provide adequate rest breaks, shade, and water, especially in remote project sites.

The Human Cost of Solar Energy

The countless occupations involved in the manufacturing, construction, and installation of solar panels and solar farms are complex and physically demanding, placing workers in challenging conditions. In worst-case scenarios—like unchecked battery fires or heavy machinery accidents—lives and livelihoods are at stake.

When a large solar project is situated near residential areas, local communities also share the risks. Fires can quickly spread through arid grasslands, chemical fumes may contaminate the air, and the health impact of dust or potential soil pollution can affect entire neighborhoods.

Employers must implement comprehensive safety standards to protect their workforces from potential injury or even death. Renewable energy companies must address environmental risks through emergency preparedness and contingency plans, or find other sites for their projects. Anything less undermines the very promise of solar as a “clean and safe” alternative to fossil fuels.

The future of clean energy depends on safeguarding the people who make it possible.