HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 8

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Brian F. Egolf, Jr.

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE TO REVIEW ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION CAPACITY IN NEW MEXICO FOR RENEWABLE AND CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico policymakers possess the ability to create jobs statewide, to promote economic development in rural areas, to increase general fund revenues and to contribute to the energy independence and security of the United States by significantly increasing the development and production of electricity from both renewable and conventional sources in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the major obstacle to the development of New Mexico's full potential of electricity generation is the lack of an integrated intrastate electricity transmission system that is properly planned with regional considerations in mind; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico occupies a unique geographic position in relation to the electric transmission system in North America, which is composed of the western interconnection, eastern interconnection and the electric reliability council of Texas, through which electricity will soon be transmitted throughout North America; and

     WHEREAS, with deregulation of the electric industry, the planning and designing of transmission projects have not been closely coordinated with either the needs of utilities or the economic or social goals of the state; and

     WHEREAS, federal regulations are requiring states to plan and develop regional electricity transmission systems with neighboring states; and

     WHEREAS, in order for New Mexico to develop its vast energy resources and take advantage of its geographic location, New Mexico policymakers must ensure that any plan includes an integrated electricity transmission system designed for the twenty-first century and that such a plan provides for a fair and rational approach to allocating associated costs for the system's construction;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to direct the appropriate committee of the legislature to assess and review electric transmission capacity in New Mexico for renewable and conventional energy sources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate committee be requested to:

          A. seek comment from all stakeholders;

          B. identify existing electric transmission capacity in New Mexico;

          C. identify existing unobligated electric transmission capacity in New Mexico;

          D. identify planned electric transmission projects in New Mexico, both intrastate and interstate;

          E. identify planned or announced electricity generation projects in New Mexico;

          F. identify additional electricity generating projects that could be developed in New Mexico if sufficient electric transmission capacity existed to get the electricity to energy markets;

          G. identify the required gathering systems or other electric transmission line projects that will be required to maximize the ability to get electricity generated from New Mexico sources into the intrastate and interstate markets;

          H. identify alternatives for financing of the recommended electricity infrastructure; and

          I. make a final report, together with recommendations, to the legislature and to the governor by December 1, 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.

- 4 -