The document discusses the state of renewable energy in New Mexico. It finds that New Mexico has strong potential for solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The clean energy economy is growing and many New Mexicans support expanding renewable energy. However, the lack of transmission infrastructure to export renewable energy out of state is a major challenge. The document proposes ideas like energy storage, biofuels development, and clean energy banks to help New Mexico further develop its renewable resources and clean energy economy.

1. THE STATE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
IN NEW MEXICO
NMGreenChamber.com

2. • A WORD ABOUT THE NM GREEN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
• HOW MANY GREEN JOBS IN NEW MEXICO TODAY?
• WHAT IS OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL?
• WHAT DO NEW MEXICANS THINK ABOUT RENEWABLE
ENERGY?
• HOW DOES NEW MEXICO’S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
COMPARE TO OTHER STATES?
• OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
• FIVE IDEAS FOR GROWING NEW MEXICO’S CLEAN
ENERGY ECONOMY
• CONCLUSIONS
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3. • ABOUT THE NM GREEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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4. HOW MANY GREEN JOBS IN NEW MEXICO?
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5. WHAT HAS BEEN THE GROWTH OF CLEAN ENERGY JOBS?
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6. WHAT IS OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL?
Nationally, New Mexico Ranks:
•2nd in solar potential
•11th in wind energy potential
•7th geothermal power potential
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7. Western
Governors
WREZ Project
Total Potential
Megawatts
1. NM 27,124
2. AZ 23,824
3. CA 23,693
4. BC 21,315
5. NV 20,863
6. CO 18,183
7. WY 14,869
8. MT 10,206
9. UT 9,196
10. BJ 7,928
11. AB 6,497
12. TX 4,787
13. OR 4,378
14. WA 3,905
15. ID 2,249

8. WHAT DO NEW MEXICANS THINK ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY?
2012 Colorado College State of the Rockies Poll
Seventy percent of New Mexico voters feel increasing the use of renewable
energy sources like wind and solar power will create new jobs in New Mexico.
Seventy-one percent of New Mexico voters want the existing standard for the
amount of energy to be obtained from renewable energy sources, which is
currently 20 percent by 2020, to be kept in place while 24 percent want to see
this standard lowered.
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9. WHAT DO NEW MEXICANS THINK ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY?
Sixty-six percent of New Mexico voters think the highest priority for meeting
America’s energy needs should be reducing our need for more coal, oil and gas by
expanding our use of clean, renewable energy that can be generated in the
U.S., compared to
28 percent that think the highest priority should be drilling and digging for more
coal, oil, and gas wherever we can find it in the U.S.
The two energy sources New Mexico voters want to encourage the use of most are
solar power (66 percent) and wind power (52 percent).
The energy source New Mexico voters want to discourage the use of most is coal
(63 percent).
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10. HOW DOES NEW MEXICO CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY COMPARE TO OTHER STATES?
According to the 2012 US Clean Energy Leadership Index
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11. HOW DOES NEW MEXICO CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY COMPARE TO OTHER STATES?
According to the 2012 US Clean Energy Leadership Index
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12. OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE: TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM: SMALL POPULATION/HUGE RENEWABLE ENERGY
RESOURCES
SOLUTION: TRANSMISSION
The State of New Mexico needs to develop and plan an
aggressive effort to expedite the development of
transmission lines for the export of renewable energy to out-
of-state markets while maintaining and enhancing the carve-
out for distributive generation for communities.
NMGreenChamber.com

13. FIVE IDEAS FOR GROWING NM’S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
1. DECOUPLING: Incentivize Efficiency, Not Use
2. STORAGE: When the Wind Isn’t Blowing and
Sun Isn’t Shining, Store the Energy
3. BIOFUELS: Facilitate the Biofuel Innovation to
Break the Oil Addiction
4. CE/EE BANKS: Take Clean Energy to the Bank
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14. FIVE IDEAS FOR GROWING NM’S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
1: DECOUPLING: INCENTIVIZE EFFICIENTY, NOT USE
NM Proposal
A rate design in which utility’s revenue is unaffected by changes in customers’
average use
Limited to classes w/ many customers
Impact of Decoupling
Utility indifferent to impact of energy efficiency programs
Utility indifferent to all decisions that affect average use/customer
Line extensions, appliances, building codes, efficiency
outside of defined programs (comparison bills, etc.)
Utility indifferent to impact of net-metering
NMGreenChamber.com

15. FIVE IDEAS FOR GROWING NM’S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
2. STORAGE: When the Wind Isn’t Blowing and
Sun Isn’t Shining, Store the Energy
PROBLEM: In order for solar and wind to become competitive with coal and
gas, it will need to be able to provide energy when the wind isn’t blowing and
the sun doesn’t shine. Seven percent of energy before storage and seven
percent is lost when being put back on the grid.
SOLUTION: Provide a tax credit that incentivizes utilities to store renewable
energy into batteries to help provide renewable energy at any time. Enables
New Mexico to become a leader on energy storage, which is the key to solving
the biggest challenge to renewable energy.
NMGreenChamber.com

16. FIVE IDEAS FOR GROWING NM’S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
3. BIOFUELS: Facilitate the Biofuel Innovation to
Break the Oil Addiction
PROBLEM: Biofuels is an emerging industry and regulations haven’t kept
pace.
SOLUTION: Government regulators should proactively work with biofuels
businesses to develop a supportive regulatory and permitting
environment for this emerging industry by setting up a state-wide
regulatory and permitting clearing house.
Establish a Green ombudsman to help bio-refineries through the process.
Promote parity between biofuels in the criteria for awarding tax
credits, subsidies and grants.
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17. FIVE IDEAS FOR GROWING NM’S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
4. CE/EE BANKS: Take Clean Energy to the Bank
PROBLEM: Energy efficiency projects remain complicated to
finance and clean solutions tend falter in the marketplace.
SOLUTION: Connecticut developed consolidated a new quasi-
public corporation which can raise and leverage scarce public
dollars with funds from private funds.
The Clean Energy Bank can now provide a combination of low-
interest rate funding for clean energy projects and low-cost up-
front loans for energy efficiency projects.
NMGreenChamber.com