New Mexico Solar Leaders Take Climate Solutions to the Roundhouse
On February 5, 2026, the New Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA) brought its message of practical, community-driven clean energy to Climate Solutions Day at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Members gathered alongside policymakers, advocates, and curious members of the public to showcase how New Mexico is quietly setting the pace for renewable energy leadership in the American Southwest.
At NMSEA’s information table, visitors discovered that the solar transition isn’t a distant promise; it’s already happening in neighborhoods across the state. From rooftop panels to sun-drenched adobe walls, both active and passive solar solutions are helping New Mexico families build a more resilient and affordable energy future, one home at a time.
Among the day’s highlights was a conversation with long-time NMSEA member Steve Kenin, whose depth of knowledge on passive solar design drew interested visitors. Steve walked them through the Solar Thermal Retrofit Initiative, explaining how existing homes, not just new construction, can be upgraded to capture and store the sun’s natural heat. His showcase of innovations like the Solar Bubble demonstrated how simple, well-designed retrofits can dramatically cut winter heating bills, improve indoor comfort, raise property values, and meaningfully advance New Mexico’s climate goals.
What made Steve’s discussions especially compelling was their historical grounding. His work traces a direct line back to the passive solar pioneers of the 1970s, visionaries like architect Edward Mazria and inventor Steve Baer, who first proved that the sun could heat a home with elegance and economy. Decades later, those same principles are experiencing a well-deserved revival, offering homeowners low-cost, high-impact solutions at a moment when energy costs and climate pressures have never been more urgent.
Climate Solutions Day was a reminder that the answers to our energy challenges are often already within reach, and that organizations like NMSEA and Taos Solar Resources are making sure New Mexicans know it.
