46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO DIRECT AN INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO STUDY RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES; DIRECTING THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION TO REPORT TO THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REGARDING RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES.

WHEREAS, investment in renewable energy resources should be encouraged and supported; and

WHEREAS, electricity generated from renewable resources remains more expensive than electricity generated from traditional resources; and

WHEREAS, the role of government should be to help close that cost difference; and

WHEREAS, tax credits to encourage investment in and use of renewable resources are an effective tool for government to use; and

WHEREAS, in 2001 the legislature passed and the governor signed into law tax incentives to promote the development of certain types of renewable energy; and

WHEREAS, the issuance of industrial revenue bonds to finance renewable energy power plants should be encouraged; and

WHEREAS, development and proliferation of renewable energy resources is best accomplished through strong governmental encouragement, leadership and incentives; and

WHEREAS, in 1999 the legislature rejected imposing governmental mandates for renewable resources, opting instead to provide funding support for renewable resource projects; and

WHEREAS, in 1999 the legislature directed the public regulation commission to examine the advisability and desirability of requiring renewable energy portfolio standards, in the context of electric industry restructuring; and

WHEREAS, the use of mandatory renewable energy portfolio standards involves issues of public policy that require express legislative action to authorize their adoption;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council direct an appropriate interim legislative committee to study and evaluate the most appropriate means for government to encourage and support the development and use of renewable energy resources, including the advisability and desirability of requiring renewable energy portfolio standards and to report its findings to the first session of the forty-seventh legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature urge the public regulation commission to suspend its recently adopted mandatory renewable resource portfolio standards rule pending the conclusion of the interim legislative committee's deliberations and to report to the interim legislative committee regarding renewable resources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, members of the New Mexico legislative council and members of the public regulation commission.