HM 20

1A MEMORIAL
2  REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES
3  DEPARTMENT TO DIRECT THE CREATION OF AN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
4  STUDY GROUP TO STUDY AND DEVELOP OPTIONS TO ACCELERATE REVIEW
5  AND DEPLOYMENT OF ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW MEXICO.
6
7WHEREAS, demand for electricity within the state is
8  rising rapidly, with the energy, minerals and natural
9  resources department projecting a forty-two percent increase
10 by 2040; and
11      WHEREAS, there is a need for enhanced grid reliability
12 and increased capacity for energy generation, storage and
13 transmission; and
14      WHEREAS, the statewide expansion of community- and
15 utility-scale energy presents significant opportunities for
16 job creation, workforce development and broader economic
17 advancement across every region, with employment in the
18 sector growing at more than twice the rate of overall state
19 employment; and
20      WHEREAS, the state's abundance of high-quality energy
21 resources offers an opportunity to reduce costs for
22 ratepayers; and
23      WHEREAS, bottlenecks in grid modernization and the slow
24 deployment of energy and supporting infrastructure have
25 constrained the state's ability to meet growing energy  HENRC/HM 20
                                                                 Page 1
1  demand, reach clean energy goals, support continued job
2  creation and provide lower utility rates; and
3WHEREAS, the effective deployment of community- and
4  utility-scale energy requires an approval process that is
5  swift, certain and fair, reasonably safeguards land, water,
6  wildlife and scenic resources and ensures meaningful public
7  participation and appropriate judicial oversight;
8NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
9  REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy,
10 minerals and natural resources department be requested to
11 direct the creation of a study group and make recommendations
12 to the appropriate interim legislative committee on a
13 comprehensive statewide approach, including administrative,
14 legislative and judicial considerations, to accelerate review
15 of community- and utility-scale energy infrastructure; and
16      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the goals of the study group
17 in developing recommendations include examining existing
18 federal, state and local permitting requirements applicable
19 to community- and utility-scale energy infrastructure
20 projects and identifying opportunities to streamline project
21 reviews; discerning mechanisms to improve clarity and
22 predictability in permitting decisions, including
23 standardized guidelines and coordinated interagency
24 processes; determining best practices to ensure meaningful
25 public participation without creating undue delays;  HENRC/HM 20
                                                                 Page 2
1  evaluating the benefits of joining a regional transmission
2  organization; and facilitating collaboration among state
3  agencies and industry and stakeholder groups to develop a
4  framework that allows for the timely and efficient deployment
5  of community- and utility-scale energy infrastructure; and
6BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group be composed
7  of at least sixteen members consisting of:
8A.   one member each appointed by the secretary of
9  energy, minerals and natural resources from the following
10 agencies and stakeholder entities:   the energy, minerals and
11 natural resources department; the New Mexico renewable energy
12 transmission authority; the public regulation commission; the
13 state land office; the department of game and fish; the
14 Indian affairs department; the New Mexico association of
15 counties; and the New Mexico municipal league;
16B.   eight additional members to be appointed by the
17 secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources from
18 industry or nongovernmental organizations with relevant
19 expertise, including electric utilities, rural electric
20 cooperatives, energy project developers, transmission
21 developers, energy trade associations, tribal energy
22 entities, other stakeholders with expertise relating to
23 energy infrastructure and at least two representatives from
24 environmental or conservation organizations; and
25C.   representatives from relevant federal agencies, HENRC/HM 20
                                                                Page 3
1  invited by the secretary of energy, minerals and natural
2  resources; and
3BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and
4  natural resources department be requested to coordinate the
5  activities of the study group, including regular meetings and
6  a final report detailing the findings and recommendations of
7  the study group; and
8BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group be requested
9  to present its findings and recommendations to the
10 appropriate interim legislative committee on or before
11 November 1, 2026; and
12      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
13 transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative
14 council; the governor; the secretary of energy, minerals and
15 natural resources; the commissioner of public lands; the chair
16 of the public regulation commission; the executive director of
17 the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority; the
18 director of the department of game and fish; the secretary of
19 Indian affairs; the executive director of the New Mexico
20 association of counties; and the executive director of the New
21 Mexico municipal league.  HENRC/HM 20
                                                                  Page 4
22
23
24
25