Another meeting on the proposed Rancho Viejo Solar project -- this one a critical public hearing before the Santa Fe County Planning Commission -- drew another heavy turnout Monday afternoon.
Opponents of the sprawling solar and battery storage development planned in an area south of the city flowed into the Santa Fe Community Convention Center on Monday as the commission was set to consider energy giant AES' application for the project.
If past is prologue, the meeting could run for most of the day and into the evening, with the project's advocates and detractors taking turns at the microphone.
The project has generated significant public outcry in the Rancho San Marcos and Eldorado areas, with groups like the Clean Energy Coalition of Santa Fe County organizing opposition.
Sporting one of the coalition's pins circulated ahead of the meeting, Ron Mitchell aired concerns about utility scale solar projects before the meeting got underway.
"I would like to see [smaller-scale, community] solar instead of this, with the dangers and the magnitude," Mitchell said.
Monday's hearing marks a consequential one because, following several meetings and much debate, the seven-member Planning Commission could approve the conditional use permit Virginia-based AES needs to develop the project.
At least 100 people were in the audience as the hearing began.
Rancho Viejo Solar has divided public opinion in the region in recent months, setting off debates about whether such projects are safe amid concerns about the potential for thermal runaway fires and other incidents at battery energy storage facilities in other states, most recently a blaze at a solar battery storage plant in Northern California.
Supporters of Rancho Viejo Solar say the facility could play a role in the state's efforts to slow climate change and would be an economic win for the region, while producing enough electricity to carry the entire residential load of the city of Santa Fe. AES officials have maintained the project is safe and sufficiently mitigates fire risk.
Parties with standing in the matter can appeal the commission's decision, sending the proposal to the Santa Fe County Commission.
AES aims to generate 96 megawatts of power and provide roughly 45 megawatts of battery storage at a site about two miles east of N.M. 14 and 1.3 miles from Eldorado. It would produce 220 megawatts of power, with 110 megawatts of battery storage.
Within an hour of the hearing's start, the mood was already highly contentious.
As the Planning Commission asked county staff members questions about the project, a man in the audience requested that the details under discussion be displayed on two large screens in the meeting room.
"When you are referring to these things, can you get the things back on the screen?" the man said.
"Come prepared," Planning Commission Chair Erik Aaboe said.
But the man spoke over him, saying, "No, put it up on the screen so we can see what you're talking about. Am I wrong?"
"No," some members of the audience shouted.
"Get your phone, look it up," Aaboe said. "This is not an opportunity for us to stop and bring up questions that come up ad hoc."
If he couldn't meet the ground rules of the public hearing, Aaboe warned, staff could ask him to leave.
"This is really not about backtalk," Aaboe said, banging his gavel and asking the audience to remain quiet.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.