Alternative energy and specifically solar energy is key to moving the state forward, we have up to 340 days of sunshine every year, it’s our most plentiful natural resource. Solar rays are strongest during hot summer months when demand for electricity is at its peak. New Mexico can position itself as a prime exporter of solar energy in the years ahead.
Solar Power has proven that it is a cost-competitive energy solution for our state, as well as a generator for economic development.
If the alternative energy diversity requirements are scaled back, repealed, and/or if a cap is placed on what utilities are required to pay for renewable energy development, companies won’t have incentive to develop energy diversity or more solar power sources.
Why is this important?
New Mexico requires Public Utilities to ramp up their use of renewable energy over time. The Public Regulation Commission (PRC) established that by 2020, companies like PNM will have to get 20 percent of their overall power from renewables. Attorney General King and the coalition, New Mexico Industrial Energy Consumers (The City of Albuquerque, TheUniversity of NM, Honeywell and Intel), filed formal requests asking the PRC to ax the diversity requirements altogether. Two PRC Commissioners, Pat Lyons and Ben Hall, also want to cut the requirements.
