House Memorial 38 requests the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to convene a working group to design a pilot project aimed at evaluating the economic, safety, and grid impacts of installing portable solar generation devices in low-income households. The bill highlights the ongoing energy insecurity faced by many low-income residents in New Mexico, who spend a significantly higher percentage of their income on energy costs compared to the state average. It proposes that small-scale, portable solar systems could provide a more accessible solution for those unable to afford traditional rooftop solar installations.

The working group is to include representatives from electric utilities and nonprofit organizations experienced in equitable clean energy deployment. The pilot project will focus on installing portable solar devices on the rooftops or balconies of five to ten low-income households, with the objectives of quantifying economic benefits, such as reductions in energy costs, and assessing the impact on local utility distribution. The findings and recommendations from this project are to be presented to the interim legislative committee on energy and natural resources by November 1, 2026.