Proposed Sustainability Improvements at Rio Grande Community Farm
The City of Albuquerque is currently seeking approval for improvements at the non-profit Rio Grande Community Farm, operating at 1701 Montaño Rd NW Albuquerque, NM 87107 on Los Poblanos Fields Open Space since 1997.
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Fig. A. Los Poblanos Fields Open Space Map
Fig. B. Rio Grande Community Farm Barnyard Improvements Proposed Site Map
Fig. C. Field 4 Improvements Proposed Site Map
Fig. D. View of Rio Grande Community Farm Barnyard from Montaño Rd NW BEFORE proposed Improvements
Fig. E. View of Rio Grande Community Farm barnyard from Montaño Rd NW AFTER proposed improvements.
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS
If approved, these improvements will reduce CO2 emissions by 2,812 metric tons over the next twenty-five years.
PROPOSALS
Proposal #1: Solar Workshop
Problem a:  Reliance on Greenhouse Gas Emitting Fossil Fuels
Greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for increased atmospheric heating that threatens the biosphere. Sustainability is a core value of Rio Grande Community Farm, which has had the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to solar energy for over two decades. The Farm currently uses energy provided by PNM at 27% coal, 35% nuclear, and 14% natural gas, as well as 600 gallons of propane each year.

Problem b: Inadequate Roof Support for Solar Panels
Rio Grande Community Farm's existing barn/greenhouse structure is not engineered to support the weight of the solar panels that would allow the organization to meet its environmental obligation to cut greenhouse gasses by transitioning to solar energy.

Problem c: Inadequate Indoor Workspace
Rio Grande Community Farm's existing barn/greenhouse structure must be utilized for all indoor purposes such as classes, meetings, growing, office work, and farm work with power tools. The ongoing requirement for farm maintenance and building projects interferes with the farm's increasing educational commitments, by rendering the teaching area loud, dangerous, and unwelcoming. It is filled with equipment and has little room left to accommodate groups of students or meetings of volunteers. As a wooden building, it is also unsuitable for welding or any projects that may throw sparks. Currently, welding can only occur outside which limits repairs during inclement weather.

Solution: Solar Workshop
The City of Albuquerque is seeking approval for a solar workshop that would be suitable for housing farm machinery and providing workspace for projects that create noise, dust, heat, and sparks, and that is engineered to hold the weight of solar panels that can generate 5kw of electricity for farm operations. The workshop would be a metal building measuring 18' x 30' x 12' and would match the red color of the existing barn with white trim as closely as possible.

The solar workshop would replace the existing shed in the center of the barnyard.


Fig. 1. Example of proposed solar workshop (18' x 30' x 12')
QUESTION 1)  Do you approve of the proposed solar workshop at Rio Grande Community Farm?
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1A.) Comments about proposed solar workshop:
Proposal #2: Solar Storage
Problem a: Inadequate Hay Storage
Rio Grande Community Farm cannot properly store the hay it harvests from the fields it manages, This negatively impacts the quality of the hay. The Farm currently uses tarps to cover stacks of hay around the barnyard. Sun bleaching, and potential molding can occur, and the practice encourages rodent nests and gives a haphazard appearance. In February of 2024, The City of Albuquerque contracted Rio Grande Community Farm to manage an additional 20 acres of fields and the pressure for adequate hay storage has now doubled.

Problem b: Meeting the energy needs of Rio Grande Community Farm will require more than the 5kw generated by a west facing solar array placed on the proposed metal workshop structure.

Solution: Solar Storage Structure
The City of Albuquerque is seeking approval for a three-sided solar storage structure to protect the field crops harvested by Rio Grande Community Farm. Placing solar panels on the hay storage structure would generate an additional 10kw of electricity, thereby meeting 100% of the Farm's renewable energy requirements.

The solar storage structure would be an engineered metal building located against the south fence of the barnyard and open to the interior of the barnyard to the north.


Fig. 2. Example of proposed storage structure (57' x 27' x 12')
QUESTION 2.) Do you approve of the proposed solar storage structure at Rio Grande Community Farm?
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2B.) Comments about proposed solar storage:
Proposal #3: Outbuildings
Problem: Inadequate Restroom Facilities
Rio Grande Community Farm has been using chemical toilets and handwashing sinks that cost the City of Albuquerque over $40,000 a year in rental fees. The toilets are filled with biocide that is an ecological hazard. The chemical toilets require emptying weekly and the sewage treatment process releases 4.4 pounds of greenhouse gasses for every pound of sewage processed. In addition, the chemical toilets have a bad odor and are a deterrent for children to participate in the educational activities offered by the Farm.

Solution: Dedicated Outbuildings with Sanitary Incinerating Toilets
The City of Albuquerque is seeking approval for the construction of two outbuildings that will incorporate incinerating toilets capable of rendering human waste to sanitary ash using the solar electricity generated by the proposed solar structures in Proposals #1 and #2. The outbuildings would be 10' x 10' x 8.5' and house portable handwashing sinks in addition to the incinerating toilets.

The proposed outbuildings would be located as follows: #1 in the barnyard along the south fence inside the barnyard; and #2 west of the green well house in Field 4.


Fig. 3. Example of proposed outbuilding (10' x 10' x 8.5')
Question 3.) Do you approve of the proposed outbuilding in the Barnyard at Rio Grande Community Farm?
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3A.) Comments about proposed outbuilding in the barnyard:
3B.) Do you approve of the proposed outbuilding next to the well house in Field 4 at Rio Grande Community Farm?
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3C.) Comments about proposed outbuilding in Field 4:
Stakeholder Survey
4.)  How far do you live from Los Poblanos Open Space
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5.) How often do you utilize Los Poblanos Fields Open Space?
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6.) In which ways do you do utilize Los Poblanos Fields Open Space?  (Check all that apply)
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Required
7.) Additional Comments
For more information, email info@riograndefarm.org
If you wish to be contacted about public hearing dates, please provide your email address below:
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