Sep 7 2010
PNM Resources, an energy holding company, has announced that its application to add utility level solar power projects to supply power to New Mexico utility was approved by the state regulators.
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has recently given its consent to a 22 MW of utility- level solar power projects at various locations in New Mexico. The regulators have fixed the maximum cost of the projects at $101.7 million. The building of the projects is expected to be finished by the end of the year 2011.
The current approval alters the earlier recommendation of a hearing examiner rejecting PNM’s total renewable energy proposal that required adding of 80 MW solar power, which includes 45 MW of utility- level facilities. The commission along with its approval for a smaller level solar utility- scale plan also provided its consent to construct a one-half MW solar power and storage demo project that received a part grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The current energy law initiative of New Mexico requires the electric utility companies such as PNM to generate 10% of its distributed power from renewable energy resources such as wind or solar by the end of the year 2011.
Pat Vincent-Collawn, President and CEO of PNM Resources expressed his happiness about the commission recognizing the importance of adding electrical energy from renewable energy sources. He added that his company will cooperate with the regulators and look for alternative energy resources while continuing to manage its cost impact over its clients. He called the action of the commission as the right step in reaching the necessities of the state through various energy resources.
Source: http://www.pnmresources.com/