New Mexico Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy

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Accomplishments 2008

• The Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy sponsored a candidate forum for the PRC District 3 seat. The forum, held Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at the Unitarian Church of Santa Fe, attracted over 120 people to hear the PRC candidates positions on a variety of issues, primarily related to energy. Candidates Paul Campos, Louis Gallegos, Joe Maestas and Bruce Throne attended. Candidate Jerome Block, Jr., had a prior engagement, and Candidate Arthur Rodarte had a family emergency that kept him away.

• CCAE championed the passage of the Efficient Use of Energy Act, HB 305, that now requires utilities to meet 5% of their energy load with energy efficiency by 2014 and 10% by 2020. New Mexico now has both a Renewable Portfolio Standard (requiring 20% renewables by 2020) and an Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard. New Mexico's largest utility anticipates that it can save 95 GWh of electricity in 2010 at a levelized cost of 2 cents/kWh. (PNM's May 16, 2008 IRP meeting notes) (slide 41) Any other source of electricity will cost at least 3 times that amount. If all utilities were to maximize their energy efficiency programs, SWEEP has calculated that the total savings to New Mexico consumers would be over $2.8 billion for the period 2003 - 2020. (See the 2002 SWEEP study, The Mother Lode ).

Accomplishments 2007 and earlier

• Thank you Governor Richardson and the New Mexico State Legislature for Your Support and Passage of a NM Solar Tax Credit!
• Local Group forms to bring citizen input to Governor's Climate Change Initiative
• PRC Approves Photovoltaics Program!
• PRC Chairman Ben Lujan Encourages Increasing the Renewable Energy Standard and adding a Solar Carve Out
• Governor Richardson Establishes Climate Change Advisory Group and Strong Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets

CCAE’s efforts have led to legislation and regulations protecting consumers and establishing a number of requirements crucial for encouraging the large scale development of clean power in New Mexico, including:

• Provisions in New Mexico's electricity deregulation law including (1998):
  • A System Benefits Fund: A small charge on utility bills to fund renewable energy projects.
  • Authority for the Public Regulation Commission to explore a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard: Requiring power suppliers to provide some percentage of their power from renewable sources.
  • A Fuel Source and Emissions Disclosure Requirement: To insure that consumers are informed the electricity they are buying.

  Note: The deregulation legislation which was repealed, which we wanted, but the renewable energy provisions we achieved helped set the stage for future developments, especially the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

• A Net-Metering Rule for interconnection of distributed solar energy systems.
  
  
• Legislation creating production tax incentives for wind power and biomass energy.
  
  
• A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the deregulated environment, requiring utilities to provide 5% of the power from renewable sources in the "standard offer" option.
  
  
• A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the regulated environment (following the repeal of electricity deregulation), requiring utilities to provide 10% renewable energy in their mix by 2011.
  
  
• Extension of the RPS to support distributed solar energy generation: In particular, a proposal by PNM to pay customer for the solar power they generate.
  
  
• Passage of Clean Energy Revenue Bond: This bill allows state agencies, tribes, and municipalities to issue $20 million in bonds for energy efficiency projects and use the net savings for renewable energy projects, and also a bill requiring utilities to implement strong energy efficiency programs.
  
  
• Passage of the Energy Efficiency Act: Requiring utilities to offer energy efficiency programs and evaluate the potential for energy efficiency improvements in New Mexico.
  
  
• Solar Tax Credits: 30% credits, up to $9000.
  
  
• Expansion of the net-metering rule to systems larger than 10 kw.
  
  
• PNM PV Power Buyback Program
  
  

While these achievements are helping to make clean affordable electricity a reality in New Mexico, ongoing advocacy is necessary if New Mexico is attain a truly sustainable energy future.