This town took control of its energy supply  heres how others could do the same

The town of Taos, New Mexico, transitioned from being a passive price-taker of expensive electricity to an 'energy community' managed by the Kit Carson Electricity Cooperative (KCEC). By investing in local solar, battery storage, and microgrids, the town has stabilized electricity prices, increased its renewable energy share to 75-80%, and improved resilience against extreme weather and wildfires.

• Between 2000 and 2016, the Kit Carson Electricity Cooperative (KCEC) experienced wholesale power costs that nearly doubled, driven by frequent rate increases from suppliers. This economic pressure, combined with a per capita income 24% below the US national average, made local control of the electricity supply an economic necessity.
• Taos has achieved a renewable energy consumption rate of 75-80%, consisting of 45% local solar and 35% wind energy contracted from other regions. The town is powered by 100% solar during daylight hours, using batteries to extend this supply into the evening.
• KCEC significantly expanded its generation portfolio from 2.5 MW of solar in 2015 to approximately 100 MW of solar, batteries, microgrids, and clean hydrogen (produced from solar and water) currently operating or under construction.
• To improve resilience against wildfires and winter storms, KCEC is implementing microgrids. These systems provide 4-6 hours of battery power to ensure critical emergency services, including medical, water, waste, and fire departments, remain operational during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
• The transition to the 'Taos model' involved building internal technical expertise to reduce reliance on third parties. KCEC hired retired utility executives for contract negotiations and established a four-year apprenticeship initiative with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and local educational institutions to develop a local workforce.

APA

Stark, L. R. M. (2026). This town took control of its energy supply  heres how others could do the same. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/energy-community-taos/

Chicago

Stark, Luis Reyes, Melissa. This town took control of its energy supply  heres how others could do the same. World Economic Forum, 2026. https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/energy-community-taos/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Stark |first1=Luis Reyes, Melissa |title=This town took control of its energy supply  heres how others could do the same |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=11 May 2026 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/energy-community-taos/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stark2026this, author = {Stark, Luis Reyes, Melissa}, title = {{This town took control of its energy supply  heres how others could do the same}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/energy-community-taos/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }