Clean Energy News

As the new home of NMPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Mexico can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.

According to a report released today, the deregulation of electric utilities could make New Mexico even more reliant on fossil fuels for power, unless action is taken to increase the use of renewable energy. Despite abundant solar and wind resources, 87% of the electricity generated in New Mexico comes from coal. The report entitled "Re-Energizing Renewables: How New Mexico Can Move Toward Reliable, Clean and Affordable Energy" was released by New Mexico Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.

"The recent power outage only serves to highlight our over dependence on dirty fossil fuels," said Jennifer Taylor, program associate with NMPIRG Education Fund, "Instead of building more transmission lines from the same power plants, we need to diversify our energy with more renewable, reliable and efficient energy sources such as solar and wind."

Coal plants are the largest industrial sources of mercury, carbon dioxide - a global climate change gas, and soot and smog forming air pollution, which threaten public health and the environment. Recently, the Four Corners and San Juan plants were named among the top 50 largest mercury polluters of coal power plants in the country. Mercury has contaminated the fish in 29,000 acres of New Mexico's lakes and streams.

"Pollutants from coal-fired power plants can trigger asthma attacks and threaten the public's respiratory health, especially for children and the elderly," said Mallery Downs, RN, "New Mexico is too reliant on these sources of dirty energy, we need cleaner energy to protect public health."

Despite the current negative environmental impacts of coal, current energy policies favor fossil fuels. Elected officials continue to spend taxpayer dollars on subsidies such as the $3 billion Clean Coal Technology program and the $627 million Coal Research and Development Program. In addition, coal generation has increased 16% since 1992, when the federal government passed wholesale deregulation, the ability of electricity generators to purchase power from other generating companies. Without strict controls, retail deregulation effective in New Mexico in 2001 will also result in increased dependence on dirty power.

"For too long taxpayers have subsidized polluting power," said Taylor, "It is time to protect public health and the environment by increasing the use of cleaner, renewable energy."

The report reveals a transition toward clean, renewable energy is both economically feasible and strongly favored by the public. New Mexico has the 12th largest wind resource in the U.S. The Department of Energy estimates the state's annual wind potential is 25 times more than New Mexico's annual electricity consumption. A study by Princeton University revealed that solar panels (PV hydrogen) at currently available efficiencies on 20% of New Mexico's landmass could replace all the coal, oil and gas the entire United States uses each year. A 1998 poll by Public Service Company of New Mexico found that 87% of New Mexicans cared a lot or a fair amount, how their electricity is generated.

"New Mexico has some of the best resources for developing renewable energy in the country," said Michael McDiarmid, energy engineer with the New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, "Yet, these resources are virtually untapped. We need to increase the use of renewable energy in New Mexico such as solar and wind."

The report also found that renewable energy is affordable and reliable. Wind energy is currently selling for approximately 4 cents/kilowatt-hour, on par with more traditional fuels such as coal and nuclear. According to the Department of Energy, most solar technologies are expected to drop from 20 cents/kilowatt-hour to below 10 cents/kilowatt-hour by 2010.

"Contrary to common perceptions, renewable energy is affordable and reliable. The technology has significantly improved over the past 25 years," said Charles Bensinger, member of the board of directors for the New Mexico Solar Energy Association, "Increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy will benefit New Mexico's economy and the environment."

The report recommends adopting policies such as a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), as New Mexico's law did very little to promote renewable energy. An RPS would require utilities to provide a minimum percentage of their energy from renewable energy sources. Eleven states have already adopted RPS's to promote renewable energy in deregulated markets. A study analyzing a 20% RPS by 2020, predicted rates to fall 13 percent over the next twenty years, an average savings of $5.90 per month. In Florida, a study for the DOE found that solar power would add 99 jobs per megawatt of additional capacity, versus 5 jobs for gas and 10 jobs for oil or coal plants.

"As the electric utility industry is deregulated, new policies are needed to compensate for an unequal playing field for renewable energy," stated Taylor, "Adoption of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is one of the best ways to affordably increase the use of renewable, clean energy. Our policy makers need to move forward to adopt an RPS, which provides 5% renewable energy by 2005 increasing to 20% by 2020. It makes sense for New Mexico's economy, environment and public health."