New Mexico is a national leader in natural gas production. Liquified natural gas, or LNG for short, is a supercooled form of the fossil fuel that allows it to be more readily stored and transported. New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, three tribal nations, and Baja California recently signed an agreement to increase LNG exports to Asian markets. If approved, this could have far-reaching consequences for state and local energy security, climate goals, and public health. 

On November 21, the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) will meet to hear public comments on a proposed rulemaking to take the next step to ensure New Mexico’s rural electricity providers generate electricity sourced by renewable energy. New Mexico has 19 rural electric cooperatives (co-ops) statewide, which provide electricity to over 434,000 households. The proposed rulemaking, Renewable Energy for Rural Electric Cooperatives, aims to set standards for rural co-ops to provide 40% renewable energy by 2025, 50% by 2030, and at least 80% by 2050.