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Wind Power News: New Mexico
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
$125M wind bond project approved by Lincoln County commissioners
Tuesday, Lincoln County Commissioners approved issuance of a $125-million industrial revenue bond for the Red Cloud Wind LLC project, based primarily in the neighboring counties of Guadalupe and Torrance. At the same session, they took no action on the issuance of $120- million in bonds for the Duran Mesa LLC project, because it was withdrawn by Pattern Energy. Commissioners split on a $196,000 bond issue for the Teolote Wind LLC project, which Pattern Business Development Director Crystal Coffman said was . . . Complete story »
The clean energy bills that cleared the legislature
The 2020 Legislative session finished promptly at noon on Thursday after a week of long nights in debate that resulted in the passage of the number of clean energy bills backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. However, not every priority passed the legislature this year. Here’s a look at the clean energy bills that made it to the governor’s desk this year, and the ones that didn’t. Solar tax credit: Senate Majority Whip Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, often joked about how . . . Complete story »
Transmission line expansion bill passes Senate without opposition
A bill aimed at expanding powerline infrastructure in the state easily passed the Senate floor unanimously on Tuesday after a short debate. HB 50 would make transmission line projects eligible for Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) issued by counties and municipalities. Republican Sen. Steven Neville of Farmington presented the bill on the floor Tuesday. “This is an amendment to the Industrial Revenue Bond procedure and acts that we have in our statute that allows private powerlines, primarily related to renewable energy . . . Complete story »
Transmission wars
New Mexico’s billowing eastern plains offer immense wind energy potential, but the massive power lines needed to transport that electricity are generating a gust of opposition in some rural communities. The most recent dust-up involves the Western Spirit Transmission Line, which the state’s Renewable Energy Transmission Authority and private company Pattern Development are jointly building. The 150-mile line, expected to come online next year, will carry more than 800 megawatts of electricity from massive wind farms – still under construction . . . Complete story »
Opponents: transmission line ‘unjust,’ ‘offensive’
The Valencia County Commission cited a litany of concerns about the Western Spirit Transmission Line after voting Jan. 15 to oppose the project. Environmental impacts are high on the list, such as potential disruption of pristine landscapes, dangers to migratory birds and other wildlife, and possible health effects from electromagnetic radiation. Commissioners also fear a drop in tourism-related income and local property values. In addition, the commission says the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority is violating the state constitution’s anti-donation clause . . . Complete story »
Bill aimed at expanding transmission lines in NM passes House committee
A bill that would enable counties to issue special bonds to incentivize the expansion of power transmission lines in the state passed the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee Tuesday. HB 50, sponsored by Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, would make transmission line projects eligible for Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) issued by counties and municipalities. The bill’s proponents argued it would support more renewable energy development in the state and it would help bring wind energy generated in New . . . Complete story »
Billions in Industrial bonds for wind projects authorized
The numbers are staggering for a small New Mexico county, commissioners acknowledge. But they emphasize that the county is not liable for repayment of the $2.8 billion approved for industrial bonds connected to wind power projects. At their December meeting, commissioners approved a resolution relating to the proposed taxable industrial revenue bonds for several series, listing the projects as Duran Mesa LLC, Tecolote Wind LLC and Red Cloud Wind LLC, and directing the county clerk to publish notice of the . . . Complete story »
New Mexico announces wind farm project between Clayton and Raton
The New Mexico Land Office has leased almost 8,000 acres of public land between Clayton and Raton to a German wind energy developer. The office announced on Friday the company, PNE USA, will pair the land in Union and Colfax counties with about the same amount of private land for a wind farm project. It also said the deal should generate about $8 million for the state over the course of the lease. Any money paid to the state will . . . Complete story »
Transmission line to be discussed
The proposed path for a high-voltage wind energy transmission line through southern and western Valencia County and northern Socorro County is still getting plenty of push back. Not only are residents of the rural, agricultural community of Bosque fighting against the Western Spirit line, but the Socorro County Commission is unanimously opposed to the project. Sen. Clemente Sanchez has also expressed concerns. The senator was at a recent meeting of Bosque residents, where he listened to their concerns about the . . . Complete story »
Wind power transmission in Torrance County gets federal approval
The Western Spirit high voltage transmission line, one of two such projects planned to carry wind generated power from Torrance County to the southwest grid, received approval of a newly created, high voltage, wind energy tariff by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, July 9. The transmission line is a joint project by Pattern Development and the state’s Renewable Energy Transmission Authority, with Pattern providing capital and expertise in developing the project, according to Johnny Casana, Senior Manager of Government Relations . . . Complete story »
