HOUSE MEMORIAL 71

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

INTRODUCED BY

Abbas Akhil

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE EFFICACY OF SMART, HYBRID MICROGRIDS TO ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MIX OF ENERGY THAT EMPHASIZES CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY.

     WHEREAS, there is support in state government to increase the rate of affordable, renewable energy adoption into the state's overall energy mix; and

     WHEREAS, renewable portfolio standards legislation introduced in the 2019 legislative session sets a goal of fifty percent renewables by 2030 for investor-owned utilities and forty percent by 2030 for rural electric cooperatives, with higher renewable penetration goals in future years, but there are inadequate plans in place to achieve those goals; and

     WHEREAS, good public policy is grounded in using the latest technological advances, and New Mexico has established itself as a leader in technology by gathering and facilitating the work of scientists and engineers at its public universities and the national laboratories, whose expertise may be used to design the plans necessary to meet the state's renewable energy goals; and

     WHEREAS, new design standards could be used to increase the rate at which renewable energy sources are implemented in New Mexico, bringing the advantages of greater affordability, resiliency and reliability to the electrical grid; and

     WHEREAS, the current regulations, rules and laws surrounding energy do not take into consideration the newest technological advances with regard to renewable energy; and

     WHEREAS, the smart integration of renewable resources into New Mexico's energy portfolio mix has the potential to lower overall carbon dioxide emissions and to make the grid stronger, more resilient, more reliable and more cost-effective, especially when combined with current energy generation sources; and

     WHEREAS, a gap is developing between wealthy and poor New Mexicans with respect to accessing renewable energy sources due to upfront capital costs associated with installing equipment and converting to using more reliable renewable energy; and

     WHEREAS, it is fundamentally unfair that those New Mexicans who can afford the newest and best energy generation technology drive the cost of energy up for those who cannot, necessitating state leadership and utility providers to be the driving force behind the proliferation of affordable renewable energy; and

     WHEREAS, given the vital importance of reliable electricity, making renewable energy accessible is critically important to the health of the electrical grid as a key component of the local economy; and

     WHEREAS, smart, hybrid microgrids are modern, small-scale versions of the centralized electricity system that deliver electricity to homes and businesses, integrate multiple electricity generation sources into the electrical grid, including solar and wind and allow electrical grid operators to direct energy to different locations around the electrical grid to meet demand; and

     WHEREAS, the use of smart, hybrid microgrids provides opportunities for workforce development by requiring specialized installation and long-term maintenance; and

     WHEREAS, smart, hybrid microgrids could assist the state in integrating renewable energy sources into New Mexico's energy portfolio mix, while allowing local communities to participate in and support renewable energy generation in the state; and

     WHEREAS, leadership at the state and utility level is needed to ensure that renewable energy sources may be accessed by all neighborhoods, not just those where residents can privately afford them, to accelerate the integration of renewable energy into the electrical grid using the latest technology and to maintain overall grid health in a transformed energy generation environment; and

     WHEREAS, plans to meet the state's renewable portfolio standard need to consider financing opportunities and alternatives to the centralized electricity system so as to allow all New Mexicans to participate in New Mexico's energy future;

     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 establish a task force to study the efficacy of using smart, hybrid microgrids to accelerate the implementation of a mix of energy that emphasizes clean, renewable energy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to study how the legislative and executive branches of state government, in concert with the public regulation commission, may best:

          A. assist investor-owned utilities and cooperative utilities in attaining stated renewable portfolio standard goals by utilizing smart, hybrid microgrids; and

          B. require the inclusion of smart, hybrid microgrids and updated hybrid technologies into utilities' integrated resource plans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representatives of:

          A. a renewable energy research group at a New Mexico university;

          B. the renewable energy technologies group at a national laboratory;

          C. an investor-owned electric utility in New Mexico;

          D. a municipal electric utility provider in New Mexico;

          E. an electric cooperative in New Mexico; and

          F. a private business in the clean and renewable energy field; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee by December 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the chair of the public regulation commission and the governor.

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