Our mission
Not all renewable energy projects are the same. Our mission is to educate our communities about large-scale renewable energy projects so together we can make informed decisions that protect our environment and keep our neighborhoods safe.
Energy storage is a critical part of realizing our renewable energy future. However, “where” and “how” matter. While lithium-ion battery technology is relatively inexpensive, the risks of fires and explosions, environmental contamination, and threats to wildlife are too great. An unmanned, utility-scale lithium-ion battery facility, with questionable failure rates for automated detection and mitigation, make the proposed AES Rancho Viejo Project too dangerous for our communities. Facilities like this simply do not belong within a mile or less of residential communities in Santa Fe County, especially if they are more than 20 minutes from the nearest emergency response.
Even if the proposed site was close to emergency fire facilities, not surrounded by dry brush, the nature of thermal runaway lithium-ion battery fires makes them very difficult to extinguish. And even if a fire response were able to arrive quickly, addressing fires of this type frequently results in dangerous “forever” chemicals being released into our air and water supply.
The CEC believes in the power of the local community, and seeks to develop renewable energy alternatives, including community-based solar and sustainable storage solutions. Please join us in our fight to protect Santa Fe County from out-of-state energy companies that put shareholder profits over the safety of our communities and our environment.
History / Timeline
The CEC was formed as an informal group called Keep Eldorado Safe in June 2023. The group grew quickly, and by the end of the summer over 100 volunteers had distributed flyers to more than 3,000 homes in Eldorado and surrounding areas. By October, the Keep Eldorado Safe steering committee filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State and the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, with a name that more clearly reflected the larger mission: Clean Energy Coalition for Santa Fe County.
Thanks to the work of CEC, AES dropped its suit in ensuring greater transparency. The public can now better understand the dangers associated with the AES Rancho Viejo proposal.
After AES submitted their new (revised) application with the County in 2024, they once again sued the County to prevent them from sharing information about the hazards of the batteries with the public, under the guise that they were Trade Secrets. They dropped their suit and thus were required to share the battery test results with the public. The unredacted report showed the batteries AES plans to use failed 3 of 4 systems tests. For more about the batteries and for the unredacted report see: “Are all lithium-ion batteries the same?” on our FAQ page.
On December 4, 2024 at a public County hearing, the SLDC Hearing Office advised the County to deny AES’ application stating, “The evidence indicates the Project would be detrimental to health, safety and general welfare of the area; the Project would create a potential hazard for fire, panic, or other danger; and the Project is inconsistent with the purposes of the property’s zoning classification and inconsistent with the spirit and intent of the SLDC and SGMP.” Hearing Officer’s Recommendations:
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/uploads/documents/Case_24-5200_AES_Hearing_Officer_Recommended_Order.pdf
February 3, 2025 at a second public County hearing, the County Planning Commission voted 6 to 1 in favor of the project.
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/uploads/documents/Rancho_Viejo_Solar%2C_LLC_Recorded_Final_Order.pdf
CEC, along with other parties of standing have since appealed their decision. https://www.santafecountynm.gov/growth-management/building-development/large-scale-renewable-energy-projects-2024/appeal
A FINAL COUNTY HEARING is scheduled for August 11 and 12, 2025 at 102 Grant Avenue in Santa Fe, at which time the five elected Santa Fe County Commissioners will vote on the AES application. For Details and Procedures:
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/images/BCC_Order_Governing_Prehearing_Procedure_and_Scheduling_Hearing_on_the_Merits_06-17-2025.pdf
Our Team
The CEC Steering Committee — Standing left to right: Victoria Salem Clark, Randy Coleman, Lee Zlotoff, Cindy Fuqua, and Robert Foody. Seated left to right: Stace Williams, Dayna Matlin, and Catherine Babbitt.
Lee Zlotoff
President
Dayna Matlin
Community Liaison
info@cleanenergycoalitionsfc.org
Catherine Babbitt
Legal Review
Cindy Fuqua
Environment
Randy Coleman
Vice President, Engineering
Victoria Salem Clark
Community Outreach
Robert Foody
Media Relations
Stace Williams
Strategy