Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., signed Senate Bill 418 (S.B.418) and House Bill 188 (H.B.188) on March 5 to increase the use of renewable energy in the state.
On March 2, the New Mexico House passed S.B.418, which requires that at least 15% of an electric utility's power supply come from renewable sources by 2015 and 20% by 2020. In addition, the Senate passed H.B.188, which creates a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to promote clean energy jobs and help New Mexico both develop clean energy resources and market them to other states.
"I am proud today to sign a bill that will quadruple New Mexico's use of clean electricity by 2020," says Richardson. "Promoting renewable electricity keeps our air clean and it will help New Mexico meet my aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals. It will also help continue to create new jobs, like those at Advent Solar in Albuquerque, and aid ranchers who want to diversify into the lucrative wind energy market."
