Press Release

For Immediate Release
25 January 2006
Contact: Craig Cox, 303-679-9331

Conifer, Colo. — A bill under consideration by the New Mexico Legislature would open the door for unprecedented new local economic development opportunities throughout rural parts of the state. Representative Jose Campos (D-Santa Rosa) has introduced legislation (HB 111) creating a New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to export some of the state’s vast clean energy resources in wind, solar and biomass energy. Senator Michael Sanchez (D-Belen) has introduced a companion bill, SB 317.

Governor Bill Richardson has called for the development of 4,000 to 6,000 megawatts (MW) of wind energy in the state, along with 700 to 1,300 MW of solar and biomass energy. Most of this clean energy would be developed for export, since New Mexico requires only 3,000-4,000 MW of capacity for its own needs. Representative Campos’ and Senator Sanchez's bills would help make Governor Richardson’s vision a profitable reality for New Mexico.

Warren Byrne of Foresight Wind Energy, LLC, a San Francisco-based wind project developer, comments “there are a number of other proposals to develop long-haul high- voltage transmission lines to bring wind resources from the interior West to power markets in Arizona and the West Coast. New Mexico’s wind resource is world-class, but without the transmission to deliver this clean energy to markets, New Mexico could be left out of the booming market for clean energy. Foresight is very gratified to see the Governor and the legislature pushing to make the Authority a reality.”

What would 5,000 MW of wind energy development in New Mexico mean?

Rural economic development: approximately $5 billion in new economic development, particularly in rural parts of the state;
Consumer benefits: cost savings of about $250 million per year (based on current wind and natural gas prices). For comparison, the United States currently has 9,148 MW of wind energy capacity, which is displacing more expensive natural gas generation at a rate of over a half-billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day;
Stable energy prices: wind energy is cost-competitive, and once a wind plant is built, the price is not affected by fuel market price volatility; *
Water savings: about 250 billion gallons; and
Cleaner air: NOx reduction of about 18 tons per year

A Renewable Energy Transmission Authority would give New Mexico a tremendous competitive advantage in exporting its huge and inexhaustible wind energy resource to other states throughout the West. The demand for renewable energy from California alone is growing rapidly, given its aggressive 20-percent renewable energy standard and the California Energy Commission’s recent decision to prohibit imports of new coal-fired electricity from other states.

For a stronger economy, consumer benefits and a cleaner environment, New Mexico has the opportunity to leverage its vast renewable energy resources through creation of a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority. The Interwest Energy Alliance congratulates the leadership of Representative Campos and Senator Sanchez, and is pleased to see bipartisan support for this important economic development opportunity in the New Mexico Legislature.

The Interwest Energy Alliance is a trade association that represents the nation’s leading companies in the wind energy industry, bringing them together with some of the West’s leading non-governmental organizations to facilitate consensus-based approaches to new project development and transmission issues throughout the region.