Here are some talking points to help you provide public comment on the Public Regulatory Commissions Hearing on Renewable Energy for Rural Electric Cooperatives:
- Based on 2023 estimates by the Environmental Defense Fund, New Mexico is projected to miss our 2030 climate pollution reduction targets by between 26-36 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.
- New Mexico is far behind most other U.S. Climate Alliance States when it comes to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. A number of utilities around the country are on track to reach 90% decarbonization by 2030.
- CVNM supports the proposed rulemaking setting the renewable portfolio standard for rural electric cooperatives at 40% renewable energy by 2025, 50% renewable energy by 2030, and at least 80% renewable energy by 2050. That said, we support these targets as minimums and encourage rural electric cooperatives to attempt to reach these targets as quickly as possible.
- CVNM strongly urges rural electric cooperatives to attempt to reach 100% renewable energy by 2050, if not sooner. We encourage the PRC to use its authority to create incentives for rural electric cooperatives to encourage early action to reach the targets more quickly than what is set by the Energy Transition Act. We encourage the PRC to continue conversations with rural electric cooperatives to understand what it would take to help them to reach the targets as soon as possible.
- CVNM supports the Zero Carbon Resource Standard requiring rural electric cooperatives to provide customers with electricity generated from 100% zero carbon resources by 2050. That said, we support this target as a minimum and encourage rural electric cooperatives to move expeditiously to achieve this standard well before 2050. In fact, in order to meet international emissions targets, we should actually be aiming for zero carbon by 2035, a more ambitious and viable goal. Alongside this target, we call for the PRC to set clear annual targets and concrete technology pathways to ensure we meet this goal. We do not have the time to kick this down the road, depending on assumptions that will hopefully get us to this goal.