In the period from July 2025 to June 2026, New Mexico's electricity consumption demonstrated a commendable embrace of low-carbon energy sources. More than half of the state's electricity came from low-carbon sources, with wind energy leading the way at about 36% and solar energy contributing significantly at around 18%. Within the solar category, the majority, 16%, was produced by utility-scale units, while just under 2% came from behind-the-meter installations. Meanwhile, fossil fuel sources like gas and coal provided close to 46% of the state's electricity, divided between gas at about 24% and coal at 21%. This mixed yet promising scenario paints New Mexico as a state making considerable strides towards cleaner energy solutions, albeit with room to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels further.

Is Electricity Growing in New Mexico?

New Mexico's electricity consumption is undoubtedly on the rise. The latest consumption figures reached 20,940 kWh per person in 2026, notably surpassing the previous record of 19,011 kWh per person set in 2024 by nearly 1,930 kWh. This upward trend in electricity usage is mirrored in the growth of low-carbon electricity generation, which reached a new high of 11,458 kWh per person, surpassing the prior record of 10,063 kWh per person in 2025 by 1,395 kWh. This growth in consumption and clean energy generation is encouraging, suggesting that New Mexico is successfully addressing the increasing demand for electricity while contributing to environmental sustainability.

Suggestions

To further bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, New Mexico could look to expand its already significant wind and solar capacity. Regions like California and Nevada offer relevant examples, having harnessed solar power impressively, achieving 31% and 35%, respectively. Additionally, the state could explore the potential of nuclear energy, learning from states like South Carolina and New Hampshire, where it constitutes over half of their electricity supply. The expansion of nuclear alongside solar and wind could provide a robust and diverse low-carbon portfolio for New Mexico, substantially reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and contributing positively to climate initiatives.

History

Historically, New Mexico has seen fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation, especially regarding wind energy. In 2024, a slight increase of 0.2 TWh in wind generation was recorded, marking a positive turn. However, 2025 saw a significant drop in wind production by 0.9 TWh, which highlighted vulnerabilities in maintaining consistent growth. Thankfully, the year 2026 marked a substantial recovery with a remarkable increase of 1.9 TWh, propelling the state back onto a growth trajectory. Other sources like geothermal and biofuels remained stagnant over these years, showing little to no change. This history underscores the importance of consistent investment and attention to low-carbon sources to ensure reliable growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.