New Mexico passes New Energy Transition Act

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has signed the Energy Transition Act, landmark legislation setting statewide renewable energy standards and a pathway for a low-carbon energy transition from coal.

Proponents of the measure, developed over the course of a year with collaboration by community organizations, unions, energy groups, and advocates, said it also provides workforce training and transition assistance to affected communities.

“This is a really big deal,” Lujan Grisham said. “In every corner of this state, advocates, utilities, young adults, unions, elected officials and families came together to push for and enact this transformational law. The Energy Transition Act fundamentally changes the dynamic in New Mexico. This legislation is a promise to future generations of New Mexicans, who will benefit from both a cleaner environment and a more robust energy economy with exciting career and job opportunities.”

The bill sets a statewide renewable energy standard of 50 percent by 2030 for New Mexico investor-owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives and a goal of 80 percent by 2040, officials said, in addition to setting zero-carbon resources standards for investor-owned utilities by 2045 and rural electric cooperatives by 2050.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) supports the measure.

“We applaud the leadership of the New Mexico legislature and Governor Lujan Grisham for setting New Mexico on a path to a cleaner and stronger economy just months into her new administration,” AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said. “Ambitious renewable energy policies turn heads in the business community, drawing nationally-recognized corporate brands into the state and encouraging developers to invest billions of dollars into wind farms that create jobs and revenues for rural communities.”