HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 59

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Dona G. Irwin

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO COOPERATE IN THE DETERMINATION OF A PREFERRED ALIGNMENT FOR THE SUNZIA SOUTHWEST TRANSMISSION PROJECT IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has vast undeveloped renewable resources in the forms of wind, solar and geothermal energy that are stranded due to lack of transmission infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, estimates of developable wind resources in the New Mexico central highlands exceed ten thousand megawatts; and

     WHEREAS, estimates of developable solar resources along the interstate 10 corridor in southwestern New Mexico exceed five thousand megawatts; and

     WHEREAS, few of these resources will be developed for export to markets and customers without substantial new transmission infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, the SunZia southwest transmission project represents such necessary transmission infrastructure and is in the process of receiving an environmental impact statement; and

     WHEREAS, the bureau of land management is acting as the lead federal agency conducting the environmental impact statement for the SunZia southwest transmission project; and

     WHEREAS, the bureau of land management has conducted twelve public meetings, eight of which were in New Mexico, to describe the proposed project and obtain input from the public; and

     WHEREAS, the department of defense has opposed all alternative alignments in New Mexico proposed in the environmental impact statement, including alternatives with reasonable and feasible mitigation to military objections; and

     WHEREAS, the development of New Mexico's renewable energy resources for export to markets and customers is a matter of economic policy that is crucial to the future of the state; and

     WHEREAS, the development is consistent with the national policy of reducing the nation's dependence on foreign energy while lessening production of greenhouse gases; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature supports the purpose of and need for the SunZia southwest transmission project; and

     WHEREAS, both the essential mission of the military and the need for the renewable transmission infrastructure proposed by the SunZia southwest transmission project can coexist;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of interior and the department of defense be requested to cooperate in the determination of the preferred alignment for the SunZia southwest transmission project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of interior, the secretary of defense and the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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