Image courtesy, Positive Energy Solar

Pledge below. HSFF staff will contact you in upcoming weeks.

2026 Pledges for the Solar Campaign
David & Julie Coates
Ruthbeth Finerman & Ross Sackett
Harlan Flint & Nicole Rassmuson
Jenifer & Grayson Kirtland
Mary & Tim Mitchell
Michael Seay
Elizabeth West

Historic Santa Fe Board and Staff Donations/Pledges
Cathy Campbell
Anne McDonald Culp & Rex Culp
Becca Snyder
Tim Sweeney
Graciela & CarlosTomé
Greg & Patricia Walke
Nick Wirth
Melanie McWhorter

2026 year-to-date donors:
David and Julie Coates, Ruthbeth Finerman & Ross Sackett, Harlan Flint & Nicole Rassmuson, Jenifer & Grayson Kirtland,
Mary & Tim Mitchell, Michael Seay, and Elizabeth West

Historic Santa Fe board and staff: Melanie McWhorter, Cathy Campbell, Anne McDonald Culp & Rex Culp, Becca Snyder, Tim Sweeney, Graciela & Carlos Tomé, Nick Wirth, and Greg & Patricia Walke

This HSFF solar initiative combines historic preservation with modern sustainability, proving that traditional regional architecture and clean energy technology can coexist harmoniously. The panels will be integrated into the existing roof, making this 1850s building a model for sustainable preservation in the heart of the downtown historic district.

Your donations or pledges to the solar campaign will help us bring sustainable technology to Historic Santa Fe Foundation's historic headquarters, El Zaguán, located at 545 Canyon Road in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, NM.

Historic Santa Fe Foundation is partnering with Positive Energy Solar (PES), a Santa Fe-based, employee-owned installer, to power El Zaguán with renewable energy. The system will generate 15.9 kW of solar power, preserve the building's historic integrity while reducing its carbon footprint, and reinvest $4,000+ annually into preservation, cultural, and history programming.

The installation will feature a single array of 30 solar panels, designed to power multiple buildings while integrating seamlessly into the historic landscape, without compromising the architectural character of this 19th-century adobe Territorial-style compound.

Key Project Highlights:

• 100% Electricity Offset: The system is projected to cover 100% of the annual net electricity usage across HSFF’s El Zaguán including our public welcome center and staff offices.

• $4,000 in Estimated Annual Savings: By eliminating electricity bills, HSFF will redirect thousands of dollars every year back into educational tours, exhibitions, research, and public preservation programs.

• Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future: This project demonstrates how 21st-century environmental stewardship naturally aligns with the Foundation's historic preservation principles.

Since our founding in 1961, HSFF has been dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the architectural and cultural heritage of Santa Fe. As we navigate contemporary social and environmental challenges, sustainability is a natural extension of our preservation mission. Partnering with Positive Energy Solar allows us to safeguard our historic structures while responsibly managing our resources for generations to come.

Honoring History Through Modern Stewardship
El Zaguán's preservation in the mid-20th century was pivotal to HSFF's founding, during the height of Santa Fe's early preservation movement. Today, the compound hosts our offices, artist apartments, historic gardens, the public welcome center with our gift shop, history room, and exhibition space, and public programming areas.

By integrating modern solar technology into an earthen adobe building, HSFF serves as a living model for how historic properties throughout Northern New Mexico can adapt to meet future energy needs without losing their historical integrity.

We are happy to be participating in the IRS’s direct pay program that provides a 30% rebate to the proposed cost of $60,000 after we launch the solar panel system. The total goal for fundraising from our donors is $42,000. We are happy to announce that we have $17,750 in donations and pledges with only ~$24,000 left to reach our goal.