HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 35

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

INTRODUCED BY

Janice E. Arnold-Jones

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION AND THE NEW MEXICO RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSMISSION AUTHORITY TO CONVENE A STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO PERFORM AN ECONOMIC COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION AND THE EFFECTS OF ALLOCATING A PORTION OF THE COST TO NEW MEXICO RATEPAYERS.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is an energy rich state and should be the leading exporter of energy in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is lacking transmission capacity to deliver renewable energy from where it is generated to load centers where it is needed; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority was created by the legislature of the state of New Mexico to foster development of adequate transmission for new energy; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority can enter into partnerships with public or private entities to build transmission lines; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority is responsible for the planning and establishment of interstate transmission lines; and

     WHEREAS, there is no way to recover the cost of interstate transmission lines from New Mexico ratepayers; and

     WHEREAS, the development of interstate transmission lines could create economic opportunities for New Mexico to export energy to markets outside of the state; and

     WHEREAS, the lack of allocation for interstate transmission lines that do not directly benefit New Mexico ratepayers is a barrier to economic development for New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public regulation commission, in collaboration with the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority, be requested to convene a stakeholder group to perform an economic cost-benefit analysis on the construction of electrical transmission and the effects of allocating a portion of the cost to New Mexico ratepayers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the stakeholder group include the energy, minerals and natural resources department; the department of information technology; the economic development department; Sandia national laboratories; Los Alamos national laboratory; electric utilities; electric cooperatives; and tribal and pueblo governments; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public regulation commission and the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority report their joint findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature by October 1, 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the public regulation commission, the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority, the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the secretary of information technology and the secretary of economic development.

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