HOUSE MEMORIAL 66

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Raymundo Lara

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF GENERATING REVENUE FROM ELECTRICITY GENERATED IN NEW MEXICO, REGARDLESS OF THE GENERATION SOURCE.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico relies on revenues from carbon-based fuels extracted from New Mexico land, and these revenues vary tremendously year to year; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico will be forced to minimize, and possibly eliminate, its production and use of carbon-based energy sources in the future due to adverse effects manifested as global warming or other climate changes that result from burning carbon-based fuel; and

     WHEREAS New Mexico has relied on carbon-based fuels for a significant part of its revenue and that revenue stream will, of necessity, be reduced in the future; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico will be using electricity to replace carbon-based fuels; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has tremendous energy assets in the form of carbon-free solar and wind resources that could provide a revenue stream for the benefit of the state and replace the revenue stream from carbon-based fuels; and

     WHEREAS New Mexico has the opportunity to sell to other states the carbon-free energy from its wind and solar resources and could receive a revenue stream based on such sales; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's consumption of electricity is likely to rise as New Mexico electrifies transportation, heating and other energy consumption sectors;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to study the feasibility and appropriate mechanisms of generating revenue for New Mexico from electricity generated in New Mexico, regardless of the generation source, so that there is no preference for, or against, carbon-based energy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to study the feasibility and appropriate mechanisms of generating revenue for New Mexico from electricity sold in New Mexico regardless of the source of the electricity so that there is no preference for, or against, carbon- based energy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to study the feasibility and appropriate mechanisms of generating revenue for New Mexico from electricity carried on transmission lines in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to create baseline forecasts of electricity production, electricity consumption and electricity transmission with aggressive and conservative assumptions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to report its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2021 to the appropriate interim legislative committee charged with considering energy issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources.

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