New Mexico Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy

2009 Legislative and prior

Legislative Action

 

2009 Legislative Priorities

The following were the CCAE legislative priorities for the 2009 legislative session.  Fact sheets can be found at the links.

  • HB 732 - Low Income Energy Utility Fund Distributions.  This bill was CCAE's top priority for 2009.  Unfortunately it did not pass, in part because of concerns about the recurring budget impact. - Rep. B. Lujan, STALLED IN SENATE FINANCE

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING BILLS WERE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT ADJOURNED 3/22/09

  • HB 572 - Solar Energy Improvement Special Assessments Act. The Act authorizes a Board of County Commissioners to enact an ordinance providing for a solar energy improvement special assessment to be imposed on a single-family residential property within the county if requested by the
    property owner. This is often referred to as the "Berkeley Model" of encouraging rooftop solar installations.  - Rep.Egolf, PASSED
  • SB 237 - Amendments to Advanced Energy Tax Credit Act.  This bill expands the tax credits for clean energy generation plants to include geothermal and solar photovoltaic systems that are larger than 1 MW.  It will allow income tax credits up to 6% of plant costs and it increases the time the tax credit can be carried forward from 5 years to 10 years.  It maintains the original advanced energy generation plants that included large solar thermal plants, coal plants that produce less than 1100 lbs CO2/MWh by 2017 (and not larger than 700 MW), and recycled energy (less than 15 MW which converts otherwise lost energy).  The net tax credit is still capped at $60 million.  - Sen. Cisneros, Passed
  • SB 277 - Amendments to Solar Market Development Tax Credit Act.  This bill will allow an additional 10% state tax credit for solar systems, that can be added to the 30% federal tax credit. - Sen. Keller, PASSED
  • SB 291 - Amending the Sustainable Building Tax Credit Act.  The amendments enable non-profits to take advantage of the tax credits by allowing their transfer.  The bill also expands eligibility of multi-family housing and manufactured housing. - Sen. Feldman, PASSED
  • HB 622 - Green Jobs Bonding Act.  The original bill authorized the issuance of bonds to fund green job training programs.  The amended bill created a fund to receive any federal or other funds dedicated to green job training programs.  It also requires the state to issue a plan for green job training by the end of 2010, and it specifically directs there to be a focus on rural and tribal areas and on disadvantaged target populations. - PASSED by the Legislature, 3/22/09

A number of other energy-related bills were considered by the Legislature, some of which are mentioned below to show the breadth of discussion in New Mexico. 

SB 622 Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits.  Current New Mexico law assigns ownership of RECs from qualifying facility (as defined by PURPA) to the public utility purchasing the power.  This bill would have removed this provision, and left ownership with the generator, except in the case of a specific contract with the purchaser or in the case that the power was contracted before January 1, 2004, in which case the RECs belong to the purchaser.

2008 BILLS

Priority bill

  • Utility Customer Load Management: establishes an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) for electric utilities. The EERS is 5% by 2014 and 10% by 2020. Directs the Public Regulatory Commission to give utilities an oportunity to make a profit on their energy efficiency programs just as they make a profit on building power plants. Since energy efficiency costs 2 or 3 cents per kWh versus new generation at more than 6 cents/kWh this will result in savings to consumers and businesses.
    • Status: Passed House Consumer & Public Affairs, House Energy & Natural Resources, Passed House, Senate Conservation, Passed Senate Corporations & Transportation, Passed Senate Floor. PASSED THE LEGISLATURE!
    • Bill Numbers: HB 305 (Ben Lujan)

Low-income assistance, weatherization

  • Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs: Appropriates $3 million to the Human Services Department to support the low-income home energy assistance program.
    • Status: Passed House Energy & Natural Resources, before the House Appropriations & Finance.
    • Bill Numbers:HB 246 (Peter Wirth)
  • Residential Energy Conservation Program: Appropriates $5 million to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority for energy efficiency measures fo low-income residential homes. Since this increases energy efficiency it should reduce energy consumption and the need to provide home energy assistance in the future.
    • Status: Passed Senate Conservation, before Senate Finance.
    • Bill Numbers: SB 211 (Richard Martin)
  • Low-Income Home Energy Conservation Program: Appropriates $10 million tot he Human Services Department for home heating and weatherization for low-income home energy assistance program. Part of this is directed toward weatherization which will reduce energy consumption and reduce the need for low-income energy assistance in the future.
    • Status:
    • Bill Numbers: HB 219 (Edward Sandoval)
  • Home Energy Relief Fund Distribution: This bill creates an fund with revenue from part of the natural gas processors tax for home energy assistance, weatherization and energy efficiency measures. Unlike the other four bills this has recurring funding which is based on a tax on the natural gas industry which should be somewhat correlated to energy prices. Part of this is directed toward weatherization and energy efficiency which should reduce energy consumption and reduce the future need for home energy assistance.
    • Status: Passed Senate Public Affairs, before Senate Finance.
    • Bill Numbers: SB 189 (Linda Lopez)
  • Efficiency Loan Program: Approriates $2.5 million to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority for energy efficiency loans. This is an interim committee and Governor's bill.
    • Status: Passed Senate Conservation, before Senate Finance.
    • Bill Numbers: SB 210 (Richard Martin)

Mountain States ruling

  • Low-Income Consumer Utility Rates:
    • Status: not promoted
    • Bill Numbers: HB 247 (Peter Wirth)
  • Public Utility Low-Income Customer Rates:
    • Status:
    • Bill Numbers: SB 241 (Cisco McSorely)

$15 Million for Clean Energy Fund

Energy Efficient Appliance Tax Credit

  • Energy-Efficient Tax Credit: Provides income tax credits for energy efficient heating, ventilation and cooling systems.
    • Status: Passed House Business & Industries, before House Taxation & Revenue.
    • Bill Numbers: HB 216 (Bobby Conzalez)
  • Energy-Efficient Tax Credit: Provides income tax credits for energy e fficient heating, ventilation and cooling systems.
    • Status: Passed Senate Corporations & Transportation, before Senate Finance
    • Bill Numbers:SB 35 (Dede Feldman)

Other Bills:

  • Certification Training Program: $100,000 to develop a green building training program.
    • Status: Amended and Passed Senate Conservation, before Senate Finance.
    • Bill Numbers: SB 36 (Dede Feldman)
  • Resource and Energy Efficient Buildings: Requires public buildings use green building techniques.
    • Status:
    • Bill Numbers: SB 403 (Pete Campos)
  • $50K in Construction Industries Division (CID) Budget:
  • $100K in special appropriations for CID:
  • Solar Market Develpment Eligibility: expands the availability of the Solar Tax Credit to Limited Liability Corporations and low-income people.
    • Status: Passed Senate Corporations & Transportation, before Senate Finance.
    • Bill Numbers: SB 100 (Dede Feldman)
  • Solar Energy Research Park & Academy: $9 million for a solar energy research park and academy.
    • Status: passed House Education, before House Appropriations & Finance.
    • Bill Numbers: HB 146 (Ben Lujan)

Previous Legislative Summaries: