I oppose PNM's Replacement Power Plan

Dear PRC Commissioners,

Please consider this letter for public comment in support of renewable replacement power for the retirement of two units of San Juan coal.

As a voter in New Mexico I am pleased to learn that PNM will close two of its units at the San Juan coal plant. The issue of replacement power for the San Juan coal plant is perhaps the most important energy decision that is looming and will have enormous consequences for at least the next 20 years.

PNM’s replacement power for its share of the closure is as follows:
• Purchase 78 megawatts more of coal from San Juan unit 4
• PNM owns three nuclear reactors at the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant in Arizona. Electricity from two of the reactors is already part of their energy portfolio and included in rates. PNM is seeking to bring in Palo Verde 3 (134 megawatts) to New Mexico rates, heretofore specifically excluded by the NM PRC.
• Build a new natural gas plant (177megawatts) politically sited in Farmington.
• 40 megawatts of solar.

An overwhelming consensus of scientific data warns that we must transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewables as quickly as possible to avoid catastrophic climate disruption. In addition to adverse warming impacts, including fires, drought and now record-breaking floods, the combustion of fossil fuels and nuclear is also responsible for significant local public health consequences; the consumption of billions of gallons of clean water; significant pollution; and continuously rising electric rates.

What Is Wrong With PNM’s Replacement Plan:
• It is not the lowest cost solution;
• It is not the best environmental outcome;
• It is not the best jobs outcome;
• It locks in fossil fuel energy when an avalanche of scientific data demonstrates that we must transition from the burning of fossil fuels to renewables.

We must do better! I urge you to require PNM to replace the fuel source with aggressive energy efficiency and renewable energy. Let’s actualize our abundant renewable resources in New Mexico.