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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/13/2007

HB

SHORT TITLE

Luna College Renewable Energy Program

SB 752

ANALYST Moser

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$2,000.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

NM Department of Higher Education (HED)

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 752 provides $2,000,000 for the renewable energy program at Luna Community

College (LCC) in Las Vegas, NM. The purpose of the program is to provide qualified

technicians for installation and servicing of wind, solar and hydroelectric energy systems.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $2,000,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the

general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

LCC is a two year community college committed to serving the changing needs of its student

population and the surrounding communities. Its mission is to provide comprehensive education,

preparations for relevant employment, and opportunities for life-long learning.

Senate Bill 752 – Page

2

HED indicates that the Renewable Energy Program at LCC, as part of the Department of Math,

Science, Engineering and Technology, promotes alternative energy education to the community,

provides educational programs to students which are responsive to position New Mexico at the

forefront of alternative energy, and creates opportunities for students to find employment upon

graduation in professions that use cutting-edge technology.

New Mexico along with other western states has established goals for renewable energy. The

New Mexico renewable electricity standard is 10% by 2011. These goals will require a mixture

of both advances in technology and education.

LCC provides associate degree programs in Solar and Wind Technology, Biodiesel, Electronics

and Engineering, Robotics, Manufacturing, Drafting/AutoCAD/Architectural Engineering.

SB752 would fund the recruitment of additional students in the Alternative Energy programs for

Fall 2008; new equipment to test solar panels and windmills; biodiesel labs, manufacturing

facilities to manufacture solar panels and windmill blades; additional faculty trained in radiant

flooring; a water retention pond for recycling wastewater for lawn maintenance, industrial

washing, and the biodiesel lab.

Additionally, HED indicates that funding would assist in instituting a recycling program for

plastics, glass, and equipment to collect and convert trash into methane gas to be used for fuel. A

by-product of the Renewable Energy program will be that LCC will become energy self-

sufficient within one year and will be in a position to provide alternative energy resources to the

Las Vegas public parks and schools within three years.

GM/nt