SENATE MEMORIAL 66

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

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON HOW THE STATE MAY BEST REQUIRE ASSURANCES FOR WIND TURBINE DECOMMISSIONING.

     WHEREAS, in 2017, the American wind energy association ranked New Mexico as the nation's fastest-growing state for wind energy construction; and

     WHEREAS, there are at least seventeen wind projects and over one thousand wind turbines in the state, with several more projects either under development or under construction; and

     WHEREAS, most wind turbines have a working life of between twenty and twenty-five years; and

     WHEREAS, decommissioning a wind turbine at the end of its working life is estimated to cost well over two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000); and

     WHEREAS, due to the size of wind turbines, it may be impossible for a landowner to safely and efficiently remove a defunct turbine from the property; and

     WHEREAS, the placement of wind turbines and wind farms has an environmental cost on the land, including the building of roads where no roads previously existed, the installation of transmission lines and other infrastructure and the disturbance of soils that may have been productive farmland; and

     WHEREAS, current state law does not require wind energy companies to set aside funds for the decommissioning of wind turbines or to plan for inevitable decommissioning and the restoration of land; and

     WHEREAS, without proper regulation, many wind turbines and associated infrastructure may remain in place long after the end of their useful life and become the burden of the current or future owners of the land;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to study how the state may best require assurances for the decommissioning of wind turbines and the restoration of lands used for wind turbine and farm siting; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to work with stakeholders, including the state land office, the federal bureau of land management, representatives of the wind energy industry, representatives of New Mexico counties and other interested parties, in undertaking the study; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to present the findings of its study to the interim legislative committee that studies energy issues by November 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources and the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.

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