I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
New Mexico moved up eight spots over the past year to number 22 on the 2010 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard from the nonprofit and independent American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The report provides a comprehensive assessment of policy and programs that improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses, industry, and transportation sectors.
“Energy efficiency is the most responsible energy development alternative,” Daniela Glick, New Mexico Director of Intergovernmental and Congressional Affairs, was quoted as saying in a statement. Glick was present today at the ACEEE’s press conference and spoke on behalf of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
“By delaying or even eliminating the need to drill or build and operate new power plants, energy efficiency is also the most cost-effective ‘supply source’ since we do not have to develop or generate new energy and power in the first place,” she said.
Here is the summary provided about New Mexico in the report about recent policies that have improved the state’s ranking:
New Mexico has recently taken a number of steps to fund and implement energy efficiency programs in the state. The Efficient Use of Energy Act, which was enacted in 2005, directed utilities to develop and implement cost-effective DSM (demand site management) programs, established cost recovery mechanisms for both electric and natural gas utilities, and directed the Commission to remove financial disincentives for utilities to reduce customer energy use through DSM programs—i.e., enact some type of decoupling.
Subsequent policy activity yielded additional provisions to support energy efficiency programs. In 2008, Governor Richardson signed into law H.B. 305, which directs electric and natural gas utilities to acquire all cost-effective and achievable energy efficiency resources. Electric investor-owned utilities are required to reduce electricity use by 5% by 2014 and 10% by 2020 as a result of DSM programs implemented starting in 2007. The amendments also direct the Commission to provide utilities with a positive financial incentive for implementing cost-effective DSM programs.
New Mexico is entering a new phase of utility sector energy efficiency initiatives with policies in place or in pending (decoupling, financial incentives and integrated resource planning) that require and support the development and implementation of energy efficiency programs. Total spending trends on energy efficiency programs highlight this shift. In 2006 total spending was about $1 million. The Consortium for Energy Efficiency reports that electric efficiency budgets for 2009 totaled $14.4 million.
“New Mexico has taken a number of steps under the leadership of Governor Richardson to improve energy efficiency, including making sure new buildings are constructed to higher energy-saving standards and boosting utility energy-saving programs and services,” said Jim Noel, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department in the statement. “These steps will save consumers energy and money and create good local jobs that can’t be outsourced.”
The Scorecard examined six state energy efficiency policy areas and presents these results in six chapters: (1) utility and public benefits programs and policies; (2) transportation policies; (3) building energy codes; (4) combined heat and power; (5) state government initiatives; and (6) appliance efficiency standards. States can earn up to 50 possible points in these six policy areas combined, with the maximum possible points in each area weighted by the magnitude of its potential energy savings impact.
