By Mona Blaber
In October, Public Service Company of New Mexico withdrew its application to build a $100 million natural-gas plant, good news for ratepayers and those who don’t want increased dependence on climate-damaging energy.
Last year, PNM filed at the Public Regulation Commission for a 187-megawatt natural-gas plant as part of a deal with Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration to retire two units at coal-fired San Juan Generating Station.
The utility withdrew that request because it couldn’t show it needed the added power, and a PRC hearing examiner wrote that evidence showed that the power would be more cost-effectively procured through solar facilities.
This spring, PNM filed the current request — for a smaller, 80-megawatt gas plant and pipeline. Sierra Club allies New Energy Economy testified that PNM’s own numbers didn’t justify the added capacity. And once again, PNM admitted in October it did not need more capacity, dropping the request.
Other utility issues: Several cases that determine how much renewable energy New Mexico’s utilities add will be heard this year, and public input is critical.
Please go to our Climate Change page and sign up for our energy opt-in list to get updates on how you can take action on these issues as well as legislative energy issues.
Related: Link to NM PRC
You must be logged in to post a comment.