The just passed Energy Transition Act sets New Mexico on a path for carbon-free electricity generation by 2045.
The controversial Bill requires the state’s public utilities to derive 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030, 80 percent by 2040, and be 100 percent carbon-free by 2045. That’s a dramatic increase from the state’s current mandate of 20 percent from renewables by 2020.
While most environmental groups and our Governor supported the legislation, New Energy Economy and Mariel Nanasi opposed it. While applauding the clean energy mandates, they argued that PNM was circumventing the jurisdiction of the PRC where it would have been restricted to recovering 50 percent of its costs for closing two coal-fired power plants.
Was this a good compromise as our elected representatives concluded? Host Stephen Spitz will put this and related questions to Mariel Nanasi, one of the leading environmental voices in our State.
Produced with the assistance of Roman Garcia, Marino Spencer, and Lynn Schibeci
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