There goes the sun…
Yup, that’s right: New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission (PRC) is considering damaging changes to an important rule—changes that would devastate solar and other renewable energy production in our state—and further threaten our scarce water resources.Back in 2007, Commissioners Ben R. Lujan and Jason Marks established rules to enforce the state’s Renewable Energy Act, which requires utilities to produce 20% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. These rules launched solar energy production in New Mexico. Solar production soared from barely enough to power 100 homes to powering nearly 80,000 homes.
Today, that rule—the “Reasonable Cost Threshold”—is under attack. The changes that the PRC is considering would make it easy for utilities to skirt the renewable energy requirements by artificially inflating costs. Although the proposal poses problems for all forms of renewable energy, make no mistake— the changes would be catastrophic for solar technology and production in New Mexico.
The PRC Commissioners need to hear from you!Tell the PRC to protect the rule that enforces the Renewable Energy Act.
A lot is at stake: the jobs that the solar industry generates, reductions in climate-change-inducing carbon emissions, and the amount of water saved by shifting to renewable energy from fossil fuels.
Your voice can make the difference. Please take a few minutes to contact your PRC Commissioner and ask them to reject changes to the Reasonable Cost Threshold (or RCT) that would undermine renewable energy development in New Mexico.
Thank you for being a Conservation Voter!
Talking points:
- Please reject the changes to the Reasonable Cost Threshold (RCT). These changes will undermine renewable development in New Mexico.
- The proposed changes would artificially inflate the cost of renewables so utilities would have an easier time avoiding the requirements for percentages of renewables.
- The current Reasonable Cost Threshold and Renewable Energy Act support the jobs that the solar industry generates, reductions in climate-change-inducing carbon emissions, and the amount of water saved by shifting to renewable energy from fossil fuels. All of these things are good for New Mexico.
Leanne, Political Director