TDrake's Blog

NM and Albuquerque in particular have declared themselves as Green and Alternative Energy entities.  Is there any motion to deregulate the alternative energy generation by residential and commercial entities, as California did some years ago?

The following is a link to NM incentives and caps:  http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map.cfm?State
=NM&CurrentPageId=1&RE=1&EE=1

Then you can checkout the California Public Utilities Code Section 2827: http://www.energy.ca.gov/distgen/notices/2002-11-18_fo
rum/PUC_CODE_SECTION_2827.PDF

New Mexico should remove the caps on the generation of alternative energies, Wind and biomass: First 400,000 MWh annually for 10 years (i.e. 4,000,000/year)
Solar electric: First 200,000 MWh annually for 10 years (annual amount varies)
Statewide cap: 2,000,000 MWh plus an additional 500,000 MWh for solar electric (see the aforementioned URL for details).  Moreover, as PNM has raised its rates, it should be required to pay more for excess generation by these providers in a similar escalation.  For example, if it raises rates by an average of 15%, it should increase the $0.027 (average) / kWh for solar and $0.01 / kWh for wind energy.

Chavez declared "Albuquerque Green", but hasn't called on the NM Legislature or Gov. Richardson to lift the caps.  Richardson wants to make this state a leader in renewable energies and clean air technology.  References:  http://www.cabq.gov/sustainability, http://www.governor.state.nm.us/press.php?id=305, and http://www.itsatrip.org/meetings/why-abq/special-group
s/environmental/renewable_energy.aspx

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