News
Category:
New Mexico
State regulators voted unanimously Wednesday to cancel a planned public hearing next week over a controversial rule that defines and caps the costs of renewable energy to public utilities and their customers.
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission also voted to launch a whole new rule-making for the so-called reasonable cost threshold.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
PRC votes to reopen hearing on renewable-energy rule for utilities
March 6, 2013 by Staci Matlock in The New Mexican
March 6, 2013 by Staci Matlock in The New Mexican
The Public Regulation Commission's utility staff had concerns with the rule from the moment the PRC approved it in December. ...PRC attorney Rick Blumenfeld convinced four of the five commissioners on Wednesday that the rule as written will hide the true cost of renewable energy to customers.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Delays, funding hurdles, and cancellations for three major U.S. transmission lines
August 9, 2012 by Sonal Patel in POWERnews
August 9, 2012 by Sonal Patel in POWERnews
PJM Interconnection said in a release on Wednesday that grid conditions had changed since the 765-kilovolt, 275-mile PATH transmission line extending from West Virginia to Maryland was proposed by American Electric Power and FirstEnergy in 2007. "Our updated analysis no longer shows a need for the lines to maintain grid stability," PJM said.
Wind energy development stalls in ‘bottleneck’ of New Mexico
August 5, 2012 by Kevin Robinson-Avila in Albuquerque Journal
August 5, 2012 by Kevin Robinson-Avila in Albuquerque Journal
Five large-scale transmission projects are in varying planning and development stages around the state. Together, they could provide enough capacity to transport more than 10,000 megawatts of electricity to western markets ...But none of those projects will come on line until at least 2015, and most will take longer.
Also filed under [
General]
The commission, led by Democrat Jason Marks, said it would not accept more paper certificates from PNM. It wanted wind power. ...PNM executives say they were following the law, and should not be ordered to change course to suit the commissioners' desires.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Patrick Lyons, a Republican who chairs the commission, said he would oppose additional state requirements for solar production by private companies.
Lyons said alternative energy sources must be increased, but the state would be out of bounds to tell a private company where to invest its money.
Also filed under [
General]
PRC hearing officer recommends denying Sky Blue changes
May 15, 2011 by Staci Matlock in The New Mexican
May 15, 2011 by Staci Matlock in The New Mexican
PRC staff and Western Resource Advocates argued that the solar energy from those projects can't be used for both the voluntary Sky Blue program and to meet the renewable-energy portfolio standards. "PNM was asking to cannibalize the renewable-energy standards with their voluntary program."
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Steve Elliott, president of the Corona Landowners Association, told county commissioners the group, whose members own the land targeted for installation of wind turbines to generate power, are pleased with the modified ordinance version, compared to the much longer initial draft.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
PNM requests relaxed renewable energy mandate
January 13, 2011 by Susan Montoya Bryan in Associated Press
January 13, 2011 by Susan Montoya Bryan in Associated Press
New Mexico's largest electric utility is seeking a waiver from regulations that require the use of more renewable energy, saying it won't be able to comply next year without exceeding cost thresholds designed to protect customers.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Governor drops green rules; Martinez halts emissions regulations
January 6, 2011 by Susan Montoya Bryan in Alamogordo Daily News
January 6, 2011 by Susan Montoya Bryan in Alamogordo Daily News
Gov. Susana Martinez's administration is making good on campaign promises to drop new regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions as well as other controversial rules passed in the waning days of the previous administration. ...The order also directs agencies to review rules and regulations that are in place and determine which ones should be scrapped to improve economic development and job growth.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
San Juan Generating Station required to cut pollution
December 27, 2010 by Chuck Slothower in Four Corners Business Journal
December 27, 2010 by Chuck Slothower in Four Corners Business Journal
The EPA's Region 6 office, based in Dallas, said the rule issued under the Clean Air Act would reduce the number of days that San Juan visibly impairs views by 80 percent.
The proposed rule was prompted in part by concerns about haze at Mesa Verde National Park in Southwest Colorado, designated a "Class 1" area that receives special protection according to the Clean Air Act.
Also filed under [
Impact on Views]
Dismaying many in the audience of more than 50 people, the commission on Monday rejected a three-mile setback for turbines that a county task force had proposed.
That was the biggest issue in the task force's proposed wind ordinance. Commissioner Nicolas Leger proposed cutting the setback to a half mile ...The commission quickly approved his proposal.
Also filed under [
Impact on Landscape|
Impact on People]
No 3-mile setback for wind farms in San Miguel; Opponents upset by commission vote
December 20, 2010 by Phil Parker in Albuquerque Journal
December 20, 2010 by Phil Parker in Albuquerque Journal
The San Miguel County Commission Monday backed away from a proposal to mandate that all wind energy turbines in the county be at least three miles away from any residence.
On a motion from Commissioner Nicolas Leger, the commission instead adopted a much smaller setback requirement for wind farms -- a half-mile.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Residents raise concerns about Joint Land Use consequences
December 19, 2010 by Liliana Castillo in Clovis News Journal
December 19, 2010 by Liliana Castillo in Clovis News Journal
Portales Mayor Sharon King was a member of the JLUS policy committee. She said many of the concerns brought to the committee were from landowners whose property lies around the base or range.
"They were mainly concerned about their land or intrusion on their land. Especially with building wind turbines. The number one concern is height restrictions," King said. "That concern came up at every meeting."
Also filed under [
General]
Neighbors come to near blows over wind turbines near Las Vegas
December 15, 2010 by Tim Paynter in Technorati
December 15, 2010 by Tim Paynter in Technorati
At issue is whether land owners may place windmills in San Miguel County, New Mexico including near the town of Cerritos, New Mexico. The Board of County Commissioners heard final testimony December 14th, 2010, about where in the county, if anywhere, windmills may be placed. Angry neighbors and even students showed up to protest the windmill project.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Zoning/Planning]
Scientists and residents of San Miguel County dueled for hours Tuesday night over an ordinance to govern development of wind energy facilities, with the San Miguel County Commission ultimately postponing any action until next week.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Wind power versus vistas: Residents want 3-mile setback for utility-scale project
December 13, 2010 by Staci Matlock in The New Mexican
December 13, 2010 by Staci Matlock in The New Mexican
A proposed wind farm by Chicago-based Invenergy, on mesa-top trust land leased from the New Mexico State Land Office, prompted an immediate backlash from nearby villages and a call for more space between the farm and private homes.
The residents living near and on Bernal Mesa, where the wind farm is proposed, want a three-mile setback from the closest residences.
Also filed under [
Impact on Landscape|
Impact on People]
Electricity rates could increase 1 percent annually until 2020 for residential customers and 2 to 2.5 percent for industrial customers, said Mike Sims, generation manager for the electric utility. The average residential customer pays $70 each month for electricity.
"It's going to definitely increase our costs," Sims said.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Serving up feathered bait to attract ecosystem data
October 26, 2010 by Sandra J. Blakeslee in New York Times
October 26, 2010 by Sandra J. Blakeslee in New York Times
As more giant wind farms are erected, an increasing number of hawks are slashed and killed by turbine blades. Oil and gas exploration is fragmenting many hawk habitats. Urban-suburban growth, pesticides, herbicides, electricity lines and climate change are other stressors, he said.
The only way to understand what is happening to hawks is to collect data over many decades.
Also filed under [
Impact on Birds|
USA]
One of the concerns expressed by area residents was building wind turbines on their property, Bauer said.
Bauer said Cannon AFB officials must be notified if turbines are built, because anything taller 75 feet tall can potentially interfere with the base’s radar systems.
Also filed under [
General]
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