Fight Is On Over New Energy Petition

By John Severance

SANTA FE – The Socorro Electric Cooperative passed a resolution at its Feb. 27 meeting, stating its opposition to the New Energy petition, which would cap greenhouse gas emissions.
The State Environmental Board (EIB) is considering a proposal from a New Energy Economy that would limit the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level to 25 percent below the 1990 level by 2020.
It’s a hot button issue and that was evident as opponents and proponents of the petition filled a packed auditorium at the Willie Ortiz Building in Santa Fe on Monday, March 1.
The Socorro Electric Cooperative was well represented as trustees Milton Ulibarri, Leo Cordova, Charlie Wagner and general manager Polo Pineda attended the proceedings.
Pineda said the co-op board fully supports climate change efforts and renewable energy.
“What we oppose is the outrageous cap that NEE (New Energy Economy of Santa Fe) has petitioned to the EIB (Environmental Improvement Board) to implement,” Pineda said Tuesday. “We feel that 25 percent of 1990 levels is much more aggressive than what is considered at the federal level. If this was to be implemented it would cause significant economic hardship to New Mexico.
“We also question the authority that EIB has; this should be done through legislation. I think that the NEE and EIB should take a few steps back and rethink this whole issue.”
Wagner, meanwhile, addressed the EIB Board Monday.
“Profit seekers may tend to disregard the public interest, without state limits on greenhouse gas emissions; does the EIB really have authority approve limits?” Wagner said. “If not, all else is moot. We recognize that historically, environmental polluters incurred no cost for the damage caused by their emissions. Then there is affordability.
“The economic cost of those emissions, were shifted to medical and health care costs, and a deteriorating quality of life.
“Can our consumers afford to pay the increased cost going forward, when we are currently writing off hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, for members who have already been priced out of the market? The EIB must deal with the affordability issue too.”
The New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association and other energy entities filed a complaint in the Fifth Judicial District of the State of New Mexico in Lovington last month. The complaint was about whether the EIB had jurisdiction to enforce the petition.
Senator David Ulibarri, who represents Socorro, Valencia and Cibola County, spoke against the petition.
Ulibarri, who was the first person to address the EIB because he had to head back to the Capitol for the Special Legislative session, said a cap on greenhouse gas emissions would devastate the state economically. “We just need to understand the big picture before we start making decisions like these,” Ulibarri said.
Another opponent of the petition was Springer Co-op general manager David Spradlin. Springer supports the Cimarron I Solar Project which when in production in late 2010, will be the largest utility scale solar project in the U.S. This project is being constructed to meet the RPS (Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards) requirements of Tri-State Generation and Trans member cooperatives and will be located in Colfax County.
Spradlin, though, says it is almost impossible for Springer to meet the conditions if the petition is approved by the EIB.
“To try to meet a requirement of 25 percent below 1990 levels, Springer could only use our existing generation sources to serve 12 percent of our current load,” Spradlin said. “It would be hard for us to supply 88 percent of our load with non-emitting resources such as wind and solar which are only available between 20-30 percent of the time. Springer simply cannot turn the energy clock back to 1990 without losing a majority of our load.”
The proponents, though, meant business. “Air is turning brown and we are drowning in our waste,” said Four Corners resident Anna Romdan. “You should do whats right for the people of New Mexico.”
Katherine Campbell, the president of the League of Women Voters New Mexico, said the state can not wait for federal legislation.
Campbell, who works at Los Alamos, said the state needs to adopt emissions cap legislation now. “Change is never easy, but inaction is not a choice," she said.
Hearing officer Gaye Dillingham said no decision would be made Monday or anytime soon. The EIB still is accepting written testimony until June.

Fight Is On Over New Energy Petition