Western Resource Advocates applauded New Mexico’s state Senate today for passing the Energy Transition Act (ETA). This landmark clean-energy bill will make New Mexico a national leader in the fight against climate change, boost renewable energy production, reduce electricity bills, and provide worker retraining and economic assistance to communities affected by the San Juan Generating Station’s closure. The legislation now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
“New Mexico has a tremendous opportunity to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and leverage our state’s low-cost renewable-energy resources,” said Steve Michel, deputy director of the Clean Energy Program at Western Resource Advocates. “The Energy Transition Act puts New Mexico on a path to decarbonize our electricity grid and invest in our growing clean energy economy, while supporting workers and the community in the Four Corners area. We applaud the state Senate for passing this landmark measure and urge swift approval in the House.”
The ETA is supported by numerous New Mexico labor, community, and environmental organizations, as well as Governor Michele Lujan Grisham. The bill:
- Ensures the state’s electricity grid is 100 percent carbon-free by 2045;
- Increases the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard to ensure that 80 percent of New Mexico’s electricity will be generated from renewable energy by 2040;
- Helps protect health and reduce New Mexicans’ energy bills by transitioning away from expensive coal-powered electricity;
- Provides $40 million in economic support for the Four Corners region, which will help provide job-training opportunities for coal plant and mine workers;
- Directs up to 450 megawatts of replacement power to be built in San Juan County, an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars that will replace the lost property-tax base for the community after the San Juan Generating Station closes.
