January 13, 2003—The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has approved an order requiring public utilities in the state to use renewable energy for 5 percent of their total electricity supply by January 1, 2006. That percentage must increase at least 1 percent per year until 2011, when renewable energy will supply at least 10 percent of the electricity sold by public utilities.
The commission’s order also encourages some forms of renewable energy by allowing them to earn extra credit. New hydropower facilities with capacities of 50 megawatts or less and any wind power facilities are credited with the actual kilowatt-hours that they produce, but solar power systems earn three times the actual kilowatt-hours they produce. Electricity produced from biomass, landfill gas, geothermal energy, or fuel cells earn twice their actual kilowatt-hours.
The rule exempts rural electric cooperatives in the state, although they must provide a green power option to their customers. Texas-New Mexico Power Company is also exempt until December 2006, when the utility’s existing power contract expires.
