Please oppose PNM's Replacement Power Plan and Intervene in the PRC Case. Seize this opportunity ...

Dear City Council and Mayor,

Thank you for your concern for the rate-payers of Santa Fe, the environment, and our public health in matters concerning the replacement power plan to replace San Juan Coal Units 2 and 3.

As a resident in Santa Fe 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 will have enormous consequences for at least the next 20 years.

It represents a huge opportunity for New Mexico to redirect our energy investments to cost-effective, job-creating, environmentally responsible renewable energy sources.

Yet PNM’s replacement power for its share of the closure is as follows:
• Purchase 78 megawatts more of coal from San Juan unit 4
• Import nuclear from the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant in Arizona (134 megawatts)
• Build a new natural gas plant (177megawatts) politically sited in Farmington.
• 40 megawatts of solar.

We can do better! Renewable energy can be a huge economic driver for the state and Santa Fe can and will lead the country in the transition to a green economy. Renewable energy is now cheaper, reduces carbon emissions that cause climate disruption and increase the risk of fires, drought and now record-breaking floods, saves billions of gallons of clean water; significantly reduces pollution; and protects us against continuously rising electric rates. 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. This is our chance.

I support your resolution in opposition to PNM's replacement power plan and request for stranded assets that calls for an alternative plan based on energy efficiency and renewables.

I support your position to reduce or deny PNM's request for a $250 million bailout. Despite that the 2 coal units will be closed and producing nothing PNM still wants its unearned profits from all of us; they call this "stranded assets." It doesn't seem fair that PNM made $100 million in profits in 2012, disconnected the electricity for 17,000 New Mexicans, and, yet they want us to pay for their bad financial and resource planning.

I also support your resolution to intervene in the PRC case in order to represent my interests and the interests of our environment, our health, and the future of our children at the PRC.

Thank you in advance for your leadership.

Sincerely,