Appendix G: Pollution Prevention 

Renewable Energy Resources 

Renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal, 

currently provide less than 1% (or 5.6 trillion BTUs) of New Mexico’s annual energy needs. 

The contribution of renewable energy has dropped from 6.6 trillion BTUs reported in 1997. This 

is contrary to the fact that our renewable energy resource base is very large and diverse. Table 6 

provides a breakdown of consumption, by sector, for renewable energy in New Mexico. 

Table 1. Renewable Energy Consumption in New Mexico, 1999* 

Sector Energy Source Million KWH Consumed 

Residential Solar 147

Wood 996

Commercial Geothermal 29

Wood 147

Industrial Geothermal, Wind, and Solar 176 

Wood and Waste 147 

Total 1,642 

Source: DOE/EIA State Energy Data Report 1999, printed May 2001. 

*most current data available 

Table 2. Renewable Energy Production by Resource, 1999* 

Resource KWH Value ($ Millions) 

Fuel Wood 1,026 Million 6.5 (Note 1)

Alcohol Fuels 346 Million 23.3 (Note 2)

Hydroelectric 230 Million 15.2 (Note 3)

Geothermal 119 Million 1.4 (Note 4)

Wind 1.7 Million 0.119 (Note 5)

Total 1,772.7 Million 46.51

Notes: *most current data available 

1. DOE/EIA Energy Price and Expenditure Report, 1999. 

2. Data from High Plains Ethanol Plant, Portales, NM; 15 million gal/yr @ $1.559 per

gallon. 

3. Edison Electric Institute, Yearbook 2000; value based on average NM electricity 

cost of $0.0663/kWh.

4. Southwest Technology Development Institute, NMSU; average NM natural gas cost 

of $3.62/million BTU. 

5. Southwestern Public Service Company, Amarillo, TX; Clovis, New Mexico wind 

turbine, average NM electric price. 

A significant amount of renewable energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) in 

New Mexico occurs through federal government programs at Sandia National Laboratories 

(SNL). At the time this was written, before federal government funds were appropriated, SNL 

funding for solar thermal systems and buildings in FY 2003 is estimated to be $3-4 million and 

the photovoltaics program is expected to receive $5 million. In other renewable energy RD&D 

areas, the previous FY 2002 appropriations were: energy storage at $6.5 million; geothermal 

drilling technology at $6.4 million; wind at $3.9 million; and biopower electricity at $1.1 million. 

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Solar 

Overview. The position of New Mexico as a leader in solar energy in the 1970s and 1980s

attracted private, state, and federal funding, resulting in significant benefits to New Mexico and

the Nation. Funding has fluctuated since that time. Many solar pioneers of the private sector 

have survived, evolved, and continued forward to provide innovative products and services to the

state and the world. ECMD has been involved in most state-funded solar programs and 

continues to be the primary contact where the state is involved. 

At federal laboratories in New Mexico, research funding for solar technologies was dropped at 

Los Alamos National Laboratory and has decreased at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL).

SNL conducts a wide range of solar energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) 

projects involving technologies such as solar thermal concentrating collectors, photovoltaic (PV) 

system components, solar buildings, and manufacturing. The new mission of enhanced U.S. 

energy security appears to have led to increased emphasis at federal laboratories for most types 

of domestic energy RD&D, including solar energy. 

The solar industry is made of manufacturers, equipment suppliers, greenhouse and glazing

suppliers, passive solar builders, installers, and service companies that repair systems. Most 

businesses marketing solar technologies are members of the New Mexico Solar Energy 

Association (NMSEA) and the New Mexico Solar Energy Industries Association (NMSEIA). In 

NMSEA’s 2001 Directory of Solar Professionals, 30 architects and designers, 42 builders, 6 

education professionals, 4 engineers, 3 financing institutions, 43 solar technology companies, 6 

greenhouse designers and builders, and 25 green building product and service companies are 

listed. NMSEA’s resources can be accessed at www.nmsea.org or 1-888-886-6765. 

In the 1980s there existed both federal and state solar tax credits. During that decade over 40,000 

active and passive solar systems were installed in New Mexico. When oil prices fell and the

federal tax credit for use of solar was eliminated in December 1985, the impact on the solar 

energy industry was immediate. At the beginning of 1985, approximately 250 solar businesses 

were in operation employing about 2,000 people. By the end of 1985 about 80% of these 

businesses had closed. However, in recent years there appears to be increased activity for solar 

businesses in New Mexico, due to renewed homeowner interest in PV systems. 

The Solar Rights Act of 1978 allows property owners to create solar easements for the purpose 

of protecting and maintaining proper access to sunlight. It also includes provisions allowing 

local governments to create their own ordinances or zoning rules pertaining to protection of solar 

rights. New Mexico was first among the 50 states to enact a solar access law and also implement

tax incentives for solar systems. 

Resources. Energy from the sun is an enormous energy source. New Mexico ranks 2nd among

all states in the U.S. in solar energy resources and experiences more than 3,200 hours of sunshine

per year. This results in a range of solar energy on a horizontal surface---depending on location 

and season---of about 900 to 2600 BTUs per square foot per day (3 to 8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) 

per square meter per day). 

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The potential for converting solar energy to electricity and heat in New Mexico with existing and 

emerging technologies is also great. The State’s average daily energy consumption is about 904 

billion BTUs (265 million kWh) or 161,425 barrels of crude oil, which could also be collected as

solar energy within an 18 square-mile area. Table 1 presents the average solar radiation for 

selected New Mexico communities.

Table 3. Average Solar Radiation in New Mexico 

BTUs/SQUARE FOOT/DAY AREA HORIZONTAL SURFACE VERTICAL SURFACE 

Albuquerque 1,827 1,423

Carlsbad 1,825 1,210

Chama 1,560 1,200

Las Cruces (El Paso) 1,900 1,380 

Las Vegas 1,675 1,250 

Lordsburg 1,900 1,275

Los Alamos 1,535 1,262 

Santa Fe 1,625 1,210 

Taos 1,575 1,200

AVERAGE 1,755 1,297

Source: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, USDOE, Passive Solar Design Handbook, Vol. 2, 1980; 

and New Mexico Climate Manual, Solar and Weather Data, New Mexico Energy Research and 

Development Institute 2-72-4523, 1985.

Production. Direct use of the sun’s light and thermal energy has long been recognized in New

Mexico. Over $4 million worth of energy was supplied by active and passive solar systems in 

1990, by system types such as solar water heating, solar thermal space heating, and PV. As an

example, a PV collector array the size of a football field would directly produce 1.2 million

kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, or the electricity needed to power about 122 homes. 

Assuming a conservative retail electricity cost of five cents per kilowatt-hour, this PV system 

could offset $500 per year in utility costs for each home. 

Although less than five percent of the solar installations in New Mexico generate electricity, PV 

systems include a 47-kilowatt array at the Southwest Regional Experiment Station at New 

Mexico State University in Las Cruces, operated by Southwest Technology Development 

Institute; and upwards of 250 one-kW irrigation units in various areas. SNL estimated that there 

were approximately 2,000 PV systems in New Mexico in 1990. 

Electric utilities in the state are required to provide information on alternative energy systems to

remote customers with less than a 25-kW load who request line extensions. This requirement

applies when the cost of the requested line extension is greater than 15 times the estimated 

annual revenue from the line extension. In such cases, utilities must provide customers with 

information on suppliers of alternative energy systems. 

Another type of solar energy production is commonly provided in New Mexico through 

innovative architecture in buildings: passive solar design. Following design guidelines published 

by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, it is possible for strategic placement of windows, 

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sunspaces, thermal storage walls, and mass (e.g., concrete, brick, adobe), as well as appropriate 

orientation and insulation, to enable the sun to provide up to 80% of a home’s annual space 

heating needs in New Mexico. This can be achieved without compromising cooling needs. The 

sun can also be utilized to integrate daylighting, thereby offsetting electricity costs associated 

with lighting. Passive solar design is also applied to commercial buildings and schools in New 

Mexico. 

By integrating passive solar design, solar water heating, and PV in residential home design it is 

conceivable to greatly reduce or eliminate the need for conventional electricity, heating, and 

cooling energy sources. Many success stories exist in New Mexico of living “off-grid.” As 

noted above, solar professionals resident in New Mexico are available for design assistance. 

Recent Developments. Significant activities have been conducted with solar energy in New 

Mexico over the past few years. ECMD has implemented major projects that use our extensive 

solar resource. ECMD each year provides public information and educational activities on solar 

energy at various conferences, workshops, and other venues, including the Taos Solar Festival, 

New Mexico State Fair, and New Mexico Solar Energy Association’s Solar Fiesta. 

ECMD is refocusing its solar program to feature demonstrations of solar water heating and 

photovoltaic systems. Solar water heating and photovoltaic systems will be sited at public 

school facilities in several New Mexico climate zones. System commissioning will include 

training and establishment of operations and maintenance plans. The demonstrations are 

intended to educate and involve students, faculty, staff, and communities at public schools; 

collect system performance data in different New Mexico climate zones; evaluate incentives for 

solar technology applications; and address, in consultation with the solar industry, related issues

such as state agency administration of residential tax credits, system certification, and system

monitoring. Solar systems will be designed, installed, and commissioned through a collaborative 

effort of ECMD, other state agencies, public schools/institutions of higher education, New 

Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA) and Solar Energy Industries Association 

(NMSEIA), DOE, and the Solar Buildings Program at Sandia National Laboratories. 

ECMD is collaborating with NMSEA, Southwest Research and Information Center, and other 

organizations to finance and install PV systems for low-income communities without electricity 

service. Several large areas in New Mexico, such as the Pajarito Mesa west of the City of

Albuquerque, remain without utility-provided electricity, but could be served with PV 

technologies. Similarly, electricity service is not available to 37% of households on the Navajo 

Reservation, 5% of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, 3% of Zuni Pueblo, 2% of Acoma Pueblo. 

The majority of households in unincorporated Colonias communities along the border with

Mexico are also without electricity service. These communities often resort to expensive means 

of producing their own electricity, using power sources such as diesel generators and car 

batteries. PV systems could possibly be a less expensive alternative for the critical needs of 

lighting and operating simple appliances. 

ECMD provided funding to the All-Indian Pueblo Council to install an 11-kW PV carport at the 

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. This 1999 installation is the largest commercial 

PV array in the state and the largest PV system on Indian lands. It is expected to produce 25,000 

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kWh of electricity, save 43 tons of coal, conserve 1 million gallons of water, and reduce carbon 

dioxide emissions by 27 tons per year. The system will save the Cultural Center over $3,400 per 

year in electricity costs. The carport also provides shade for 11 parking spaces and will be 

visible to 400,000 visitors annually. 

In September 1999, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) issued a rule 

requiring all utilities regulated by the PRC to offer net metering for cogeneration facilities and 

small power producers with systems of 10 kW or less. Municipal utilities are exempt because

they are not regulated by the PRC. There is no statewide cap on the number of systems eligible 

for net metering. 

The use of solar energy in our New Mexico State Parks has improved their safety and 

convenience. ECMD installed 29 PV lighting systems at visitor centers, pay stations, and other 

locations in 15 State Parks. Also, a PV aeration system was installed in a pond at the Rio Grande 

Nature Center to create better conditions for aquatic life. 

It should also be noted that older systems installed in the early 1980s at state facilities have been 

kept operational. ECMD made improvements in the 1990s to both 16,000-square-foot solar 

water heating systems at the Central and Southern New Mexico Correctional Facilities. The

Northern New Mexico Community College also received ECMD assistance to reactivate solar air 

heating systems on two major campus buildings. 

Wind

Overview

Wind is a proven, cost-effective, and environmentally attractive source of power. recent 

technological innovations in wind turbine design have resulted in increased effectiveness and 

reduced cost. The cost of electricity from wind power plants has dropped to about 3 or 4 cents 

per kilowatt-hour (kWh), very close to the cost of power from fossil-fuel sources. Public utilities 

across the country and around the world are beginning to include wind in their mix of energy 

sources. 

In October 2002, the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) announced an agreement

with FPL Energy to develop the first commercial-sized wind power plant in New Mexico. 

Known as the New Mexico Wind Energy Center, it will be 204 megawatts in capacity and will 

be located in eastern New Mexico, about 20 miles northeast of Fort Sumner, in Quay and De 

baca counties. It will be the third largest wind power plant in the country. 

Construction will begin in late 2002, with the plant operational in less than a year. Construction 

on a facility of this size typically takes six to nine months to complete. The wind facility will be

composed of 136 separate towers, each 210 feet tall, with turbine blades that measure more than 

110 feet in length. The facility will send power to PNM's electric grid. FPL Energy will 

construct, own and operate the facility. PNM will purchase all of the power it produces, enough

to supply about 90,000 homes. 

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PNM plans to ask state regulators for approval of a "green tariff" program sometime in 2003 that 

will allow interested customers to buy wind-generated electricity for a small monthly premium.

Any power from the facility not directed toward the residential and business customer 

subscription program would be sold on the wholesale market, either within New Mexico or 

outside the state. 

PNM sees the power produced by this facility as a way to recognize and respond to interest 

within New Mexico in renewal energy and to strengthen the company's wholesale generation 

portfolio for years to come. When PNM plans a new facility or commits to buying power from a 

new facility, it looks not just at current economic conditions but also at conditions that may exist 

several years down the road. 

Energy produced at the Wind Center will likely replace an equivalent amount of power coming 

from facilities powered by fossil fuels, since the majority of power on the grid comes from 

fossil-fuel sources. The addition of energy from the New Mexico Wind Energy Center will 

change PNM's generation portfolio. Wind will comprise 8 percent of PNM's overall generation 

capacity, which is the portfolio's peak potential output. However, because of the intermittent 

nature of wind, the facility is expected to comprise about 4 percent of the energy actually 

produced by or for PNM over the course of a given year. 

The Wind Energy Center will bring more than $40 million into rural De Baca and Quay counties

over 25 years. This includes $450,000 per year in payments in lieu of taxes to be made to the 

county governments and school districts; about $550,000 per year in lease payments to 

landowners; and an estimated $500,000 in salaries for the permanent jobs to be created. This 

$40 million figure does not include the infusion of money resulting from the 125-150 temporary 

jobs that will be created while the facility is being constructed in 2003. 

Resource Assessment

The Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECMD) of the New Mexico Energy, 

Minerals and Natural Resources Department, through its Wind Power Program, has performed a

critical role in the development of wind power in the state. In particular, the high-quality data 

ECMD provided to FLP Energy and PNM were very valuable to the development of the recently

announced 204-megawatt project described above. ECMD continued data collection at Frio 

Draw for a third year upon request to assist FPL Energy in their evaluation of potential sites. 

The Wind Power Program is continuing detailed wind energy resource assessment of the most 

promising sites for commercial development. The potential for electricity generation from wind

is enormous in some areas of New Mexico, especially on the eastern plains. New Mexico ranks 

twelfth in wind electric potential and is among twelve states in the midsection of the country 

that, together, have 90% of the total commercial wind electric potential in the contiguous United 

States. The annual wind energy potential of New Mexico has been estimated to be 435 billion 

kWh. New Mexico has the potential to produce many times its own electrical consumption, 

which puts it in a position to export wind electric power. 

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ECMD has provided detailed wind resource assessments of the state and "investment-grade" 

wind data to 33 wind power developers, PNM, landowners and others. Several developers are

actively working to develop projects in New Mexico. ECMD has provided two years of wind 

speed data collected at six promising sites. Three years of data have been provided for two of 

those sites. Monitoring of an additional seventh site on Argonne Mesa, southwest of Santa Rosa, 

was commenced in August 2002. Such data are vital to commercial development of wind power 

plants because they allow accurate estimates of power plant production. 

ECMD's Wind Power Program has provided studies of the potential economic benefits of wind 

power operations to five counties: Colfax, Eddy, Lea, Otero, and Quay. The results of these 

studies have been presented to public officials and residents of these counties. 

In 2002 the program completed development of the following products: 

 New Mexico Wind Power Plant Site Screening Model 

 Guidelines for Developers and Investors Interested in Wind Power in New Mexico 

 New Mexico Wind Development Handbook 

 Mesa Redonda Case Study Report. This study addresses the following issues: 

environmental, archaeological, cost estimating, transmission, permitting, geotechnical, 

micro-siting, production, and visual impacts. 

Currently underway is a project to develop a high-resolution (200 meters) wind map of the state 

using the latest techniques. 

Several pieces of legislation were passed during the 2002 Legislative Session, most notably the 

Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (Senate Bill 187) that allows a taxpayer who owns a

qualified energy generator, certified by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, 

to be eligible for a tax credit of one cent per kilowatt-hour. The credit may be deducted from the

taxpayer's New Mexico corporate income tax liability. In addition, House Bill 143 amended the 

Industrial Revenue Bond Act to include electrical generation facilities such as wind farms. This 

legislation (H.B. 143) also amended the Gross Receipts and Compensating Tax Act to exempt

from gross receipts taxes certain wind generation equipment sold to public entities. 

ECMD hosted in October 2002 the first-every New Mexico Wind Conference in partnership with

the US Department of Energy and Sandia National Laboratories. The purpose of the conference 

was to provide information relating to New Mexico's wind resources and to explore mechanisms

by which to encourage greater development and use of this energy resource. 

Research

Sandia National Laboratories conducts an ongoing wind energy research program that employs a 

multi-faceted approach to the development of economical wind systems for power generation. 

First, it conducts applied research in aerodynamics, structural dynamics, fatigue, materials, 

manufacturing, controls, and systems integration to understand unsolved technology problems

and to provide better design tools. A major new effort in applied research is the investigation of 

rare atmospheric events that significantly impact wind turbine long-term structural integrity. 

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Second, Sandia applies its analytical and experimental capabilities to solve specific industry 

technical problems that are impeding the deployment of reliable, cost-effective solutions for 

domestic and international markets. Finally, advanced manufacturing techniques are being used 

to reduce cost and increase reliability of wind turbine blades. Follow-on efforts will consider the 

complete product life cycle, with emphases on fully integrated design, agility, and tools to 

support a design-for-manufacturing process. In all three approaches, Sandia uses formal and 

informal teaming arrangements to work closely with wind turbine manufacturers, wind farm 

developers/operators and other DOE laboratories. 

Hydropower

New Mexico's hydroelectric capacity is 78.4 megawatts from nine plants: Navajo Reservoir (30 

MW), Elephant Butte (24.3 MW), Abiquiu (15 MW), El Vada (8.8 MW), Farmington (200 kW), 

Alamogordo (60 kW), Raton (30 kW), Cloudcroft (15 kW), Reserve (10 kW). Although not a 

substantial portion of the state's total generating capacity, hydropower could play a more

significant role in meeting site-specific needs. 

Many undeveloped small hydropower sites exist in New Mexico, including river sites and 

existing dams, but numerous constraints limit the potential. These constraints include financing, 

multiple-use issues, regulatory barriers, economic issues, and environmental impacts. 

Bioenergy

Bioenergy is produced from biological feedstock or other products made from such feedstock. 

The feedstock may be either produced or harvested explicitly for such use, such as grain milo 

and firewood, or may be a waste stream from agricultural, municipal or industrial sources. 

Distribution of and access to the resource are critical to the economical use of bioenergy. For 

this reason the creation of bioenergy is often found at the point of availability of a waste stream, 

with a facility’s size determined by that stream. 

Wood burning for heating is perhaps the most traditional use of bioenergy in New Mexico, and 

this continues to be the largest use. The other common use of bioenergy in New Mexico 

involves the production of methane from municipal wastewater sludge. This fuel is then burned 

to heat the digestion process, and in some cases to also generate electricity for operation of the 

plant. 

Resources and Production

The best available research on New Mexico fuelwood indicates that 197,000 cords were 

harvested in 1986, which is neither a significant drain on the growing stock inventory nor a 

competitor with the timber products industry. This is equivalent to about 3.6 x 1012 BTU. 

Albuquerque and Las Cruces are using the anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewater sludge 

to generate methane gas. The gas then fuels the production of electricity and heat to power the 

wastewater facilities. Los Alamos and Carlsbad are using the resulting methane to heat the

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digesting process and/or water. Several sawmills burn waste wood to provide heat for wood 

drying kilns. 

The waste stream bioenergy resource in New Mexico has been studied in detail. The total 

potential for energy production in this sector is large, at 35 trillion BTU per year, although a 

significant share of this resource is allocated for other uses such as particleboard manufacture. 

The largest sources in this sector are sawmill/wood product waste and municipal solid waste. 

Recent Development

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is working with the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural 

Resource Department’s (EMNRD) Forestry Division and Energy Conservation and Management

Division on a wood chip-fueled power system at Jemez Mountain School. 

EMNRD is also leading efforts to investigate forest thinning energy projects for the Ruidoso and 

Las Vegas areas. The USFS’ Forest Products Laboratory, National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory and Community Power Corporation are testing the beta version of a small (5-15 

kilowatts electricity; 50 kW of useful heat), modular forest products gasifier at local businesses 

in Glencoe (SBS Wood Shavings) and Cuba (American Medal Products). In addition, the USFS 

is studying the use of lumber mill residues and forest thinning for fueling bioenergy projects in 

Silver City and Angel Fire. 

Rapid growth of the New Mexico dairy industry has greatly increased the availability of manure 

in New Mexico. EMNRD’s Energy Conservation and Management Division is working with the 

US Department of Energy and the Dairy Producers of New Mexico on a project to create

electricity and heat from this waste. Doña Ana County pecan growers are exploring the 

feasibility of using pecan grove waste to fuel generation of electricity. 

Geothermal

Overview

New Mexico has significant low-temperature (<194 degrees Fahrenheit) geothermal resources 

long its western border and in close proximity to the Rio Grande from north to south. Our state 

is also blessed with considerable moderate to high temperature resources, including those in the 

Rincon area of Doña Ana County, near Cotton City in Hidalgo County, and the Valles Caldera 

area in the Jemez Mountains (Sandoval County). The table below provides a summary of 

geothermal sites in New Mexico. Common low-temperature applications are space and water 

heating, while electricity can be generated from high-temperature sources. 

Table 4. Geothermal Resources in New Mexico 

Site Temperature (oF) Flow (gpm) # Wells Depth (ft.) 

Doña Ana County: 

 Las Cruces 156.9 3 9 2572

 Radium Springs 170.1 NA 8 121

Grant County: 

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 Faywood 127.4 3 1 NA

 Hurley 144 NA 1 521.7

 San Juan/Sherman 138.2 3 8 NA

Hidalgo County: 

 Cotton City 225 200 13 439

McKinley County 

 Ft. Wingate 131 23 1 1942

Rio Arriba County: 

 Ojo Caliente/Gallegos 132.1 NA 2 88

San Miguel County 

 Las Vegas 131.3 NA 2 NA

Sandoval County 

 Jemez/San Ysidro 136 150 1 239

 Jemez Springs 163.9 52 6 NA

Valencia County 

 Valencia 176 NA 1 721

Source: Witcher, J.C., 1995. A Geothermal Resource Database, New Mexico; Southwest 

Technology Development Institute, New Mexico State University, Technical Report to Oregon 

Institute of Technology, Geo-Heat Center, 32 p. 

Production and Use

Geothermal resources in New Mexico have been used directly in a significant manner for over 

20 years. In the 1980’s, a large district heating system was installed at New Mexico State

University (NMSU) in Las Cruces; and the largest geothermal greenhouses in the nation were 

constructed. A key factor responsible for encouraging the development and use of geothermal 

energy at that time was a $600,000 appropriation from the New Mexico State Legislature for 

geothermal research, development and demonstration projects. The Energy Conservation and 

Management Division of EMNRD, with substantial technical assistance from the Southwest 

Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) at NMSU, established and implemented the 

geothermal RD&D projects. Subsequently, SWTDI constructed a geothermal greenhouse 

research and business incubator facility in Las Cruces, as well as a geothermal aquaculture 

facility co-located on site. As a direct result of these efforts, four commercial greenhouses 

totaling over 30 acres have been established in southern New Mexico. SWTDI estimates that 

these four geothermally heated greenhouses represent a capital investment of more than $10 

million, generating at least $14 million in annual sales and about 270 jobs. 

One of the largest geothermal aquaculture facilities in the nation is also located in New Mexico, 

in the Animas Valley south of Lordsburg. This facility is owned and operated by Americulture,

Inc. The following table provides information on the various direct-use geothermal applications 

in New Mexico. To date, however, the state has not witnessed construction of any geothermal 

electric generation plants of commercial scale. 

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Table 5. Geothermal Use in New Mexico 

Site Temperature

(oF) 

Flow

(gpm) 

Energy (109

BTUs/yr) 

Application

Catron County NA NA NA Resort & Spas – Bubbles Hot 

Springs 

Doña Ana County: 

Las Cruces Area 142 417 45.9 District Heating (NMSU) 

148 50 1.8 Greenhouse – SWTDI

(NMSU) 

Radium Springs 148 700 27.6 Greenhouse – J & K Growers 

160 2600 119 Greenhouse – 2nd largest 

nationally Masson Farm 

Hidalgo County: 

 Cotton City

245 2000 209 Greenhouse – Largest

nationally Burgett Floral 

185 NA 0.7 Greenhouses/Aquaculture –

McCants/AmeriCulture

Rio Arriba County 115 60 2.0 Resorts & Spas – Ojo Caliente 

Sandoval County NA NA NA Resorts & Spas – McCauley 

Hot Springs, Jemez Springs 

Bathhouse 

165 40 1.3 Space Heating – Jemez Springs 

Fire Department 

113 NA NA Resorts & Spas – Truth or 

Consequences 

Sierra County 

Total 407.3

In FY 2000-01, DOE directly funded a number of private-sector resource assessment and 

demonstration projects in southern New Mexico, which are now getting underway. 

Recent Developments

The Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECMD) of EMNRD has facilitated

promotional and technical information exchanges on geothermal energy through a variety of 

activities. ECMD held the first-ever New Mexico Geothermal Energy Conference in 

Albuquerque in April 2002, in partnership with DOE and Sandia National Laboratories, to 

provide information on New Mexico’s geothermal resources and to explore mechanisms by 

which to encourage further development. In addition, ECMD and the Southwest Technology 

Development Institute (SWTDI) at NMSU secured through a national competition US DOE 

funding in the amount of $50,000 for development of a Geothermal Information Clearinghouse 

in New Mexico. ECMD continues to coordinate the efforts of the New Mexico Geothermal

Energy Working Group, which was established in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories 

under the auspices of DOE’s Geopowering the West program; the group promotes the 

development and use of New Mexico’s geothermal resources. SWTDI remains a leader in

providing technical assistance and information for geothermal development in the state. 

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Summary of New Mexico’s Total Energy Sales, Generation Capacity and Production

Public Service Company of New Mexico 

PNM provides jurisdictional retail electric service to a large area of north central New Mexico, 

including the City of Albuquerque and the City of Santa Fe, and certain other areas of New 

Mexico. For the years 1997 through 2001, retail KWh sales have grown at a compound annual 

rate of approximately 2.65%. PNM’s peak demand for summer (2001) was 1,397 MW; and 

winter, 1,294 MW

Table 6. PNM Operating Statistics—New Mexico 

2002 2001

Retail Energy Sales (kWh in thousands): 

Residential 2,298,542 2,197,889

Commercial 3,254,576 3,213,208

Industrial 1,612,723 1,603,266

Other 240,665 240,934

Total retail 7,406,506 7,255,297 

Data from 10-K report found at: 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1108426/000110842602000015/0001108426-02-000015.txt

Table 7. PNM Generating Capacity—December 31, 2002 

Plant Name Location Capacity-Net 

(megawatts)

Fuel Source % of Total Capacity by 

Fuel Source 

San Juan Waterflow, NM 765 MW Coal 

Four Corners Fruitland, NM 192 MW Coal 

Coal: 67% 

Reeves Albuquerque, NM 154 MW Gas/Oil 

Las Vegas Las Vegas, NM 20 MW Gas/Oil 

Gas/Oil: 4% 

Palo Verde Wintersburg, AZ 390 MW Nuclear Nuclear: 29% 

Renewables: 0%

Totals 1,521 MW 100%

Notes: PNM also has a power purchase agreement under which it has access to 132 MW of gas-fired

capacity, bringing its total available capacity to 1,653 MW. 

PNM Electric Plant Ownership: 

San Juan—PNM owns 50% of Units 1, 2, 3; and 38.5% of Unit 4 

Four Corners—PNM owns 13% of Units 4, 5. 

Palo Verde—PNM owns 10.2% of Units 1, 2, 3 

Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 10-K Report for the year ending December 31, 2002.

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El Paso Electric Company 

In 2001, El Paso had retail jurisdictional sales in New Mexico of 1,305,122 MWh. [EPE

testimony before the NM PRC, April 15, 2002, Utility Case #3619] Comparisons of retail kWh 

sales by sector are shown below (in thousands of kilowatt-hours): 

Table 8. El Paso Operating Statistics—Texas and New Mexico 

2002 2001 2000

Retail Energy Sales (kWh in thousands): 

Residential 1,870,931 1,789,199 1,767,928

Commercial and industrial, small 2,076,758 2,069,517 2,026,768 

Commercial and industrial, large 1,161,815 1,174,235 1,142,163 

Sales to public authorities 1,212,180 1,185,521 1,177,883

Total retail 6,321,684 6,218,472 6,114,742

Data from 10-K report found at: 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31978/000093066103001165/d10k.htm#tx715_5

Table 9. El Paso Generating Capacity—December 31, 2002 

PLANT NAME LOCATION Capacity-Net 

(megawatts)

FUELSOURCE % of Total Capacity by 

Fuel Source 

Four Corners Fruitland, NM 104 MW Coal Coal: 6% 

Newman El Paso, TX 482 MW Gas/Oil 

Rio Grande Sunland Park, NM 246 MW Gas/Oil 

Copper El Paso, TX 68 MW Gas/Oil 

 

Gas/Oil: 25% 

Palo Verde Wintersburg, AZ 600 MW Nuclear Nuclear: 52% 

Hueco Mt. Horizon City, TX 1.32 MW Wind Renewables: <1%

Totals 1,521 MW 100%

El Paso Electric Plant Ownership: 

Four Corners—El Paso owns 7% of Units 4, 5. 

Palo Verde—El Paso owns 15.8% of Units 1, 2, 3 

Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 10-K Report for the year ending December 31, 2002.

Southwestern Public Service Company/Xcel 

Table 10. SPS/Xcel Operating Statistics—Texas and New Mexico 

2002 2001 2000

Retail Energy Sales (kWh in thousands): 

Residential 3.300 3,212 3,467

Commercial and industrial 12,044 12,404 12,383

Public Authorities and other 549 549 608

Total retail 15,893 16,165 16,458

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-13 

12/31/03 
Data from 10-K report found at: 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92521/000095013403003112/c75034e10vk.htm

Table 11. SPS/Xcel Generating Capacity—December 31, 2002 

PLANT NAME LOCATION Capacity-Net 

(megawatts)

FUEL SOURCE % of Total Capacity by 

Fuel Source 

Harrington Amarillo, TX 1,066 MW Coal 

Tolk Muleshoe, TX 1,080 MW Coal 

Coal: 74% 

 

Jones Lubbock, TX 486 MW Gas 

Plant X Earth, TX 442 MW Gas 

Nichols Amarillo, TX 457 MW Gas 

Cunningham Hobbs, NM 267 MW Gas (steam) 

Cunningham “ 220 MW Gas (turbine) 

Maddox Hobbs, NM 118 MW Gas (steam) 

Maddox “ 65 MW Gas (turbine) 

Moore County Amarillo, TX 48 MW Gas 

Riverview Electric City, TX 23 MW Gas (turbine) 

Carlsbad Carlsbad, NM 13 MW Gas (turbine) 

Gas: 26% 

CZ-1, 2 Pampa, TX 39 MW Steam/Nitrogen N/A 

Wind Turbine Texico, NM 0.66 MW Wind Renewables: <1 %

Totals 4,324 MW 100%

Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 10-K Report for the year ending December 31, 2002.

Texas-New Mexico Power Company 

Purchased Power. TNP has no operating generation facilities in New Mexico. All power 

purchased and distributed to its customers comes from Public Service Company of New Mexico; 

this arrangement continues through December 31, 2006. 

Purchased Power Costs. During 2002, TNP’s consolidated average cost per Kilowatt-Hour

(kWh) of purchased power was 4.05 cents per kWh. In 2001, prior to retail competition, TNP’s 

average cost of purchased power was 4.58 cents per kWh. 

Table 12. TNP Operating Statistics—Texas and New Mexico 

Sales (MWh): 2002 2001 2000 

Residential 2,622,978 2,555,472 2,582,081

Commercial 2,095,666 2,089,978 2,069,046

Industrial 1,957,920 1,466,178 4,610,059

Sales for resale 1,978,194 291,958 281,017 

Other 110,592 99,884 101,563

Total 8,766,350 9,203,470 9,643,766

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-14 

12/31/03 
Data from 10-K report found at: 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/22767/000093066103001293/d10k.htm

Regional Modeling Analysis 

The WRAP Air Pollution Prevention Forum commissioned the ICF Consulting Group to analyze 

the potential emission reductions, costs, and secondary regional economic impacts of meeting the 

10/20 goals and energy efficiency recommendations (ICF, 2002). The analysis of this case 

incorporates the results of the ICF analysis for the Air Pollution Prevention Forum in a scenario 

that includes 2018 milestone case emission estimates for non-utility point sources. 

The estimated sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions by utility unit for 

existing facilities, and by State for new sources, were provided by the ICF Consulting Group. 

The percentage changes in SO2 and NOx emissions by unit were applied to the 2018 Milestone 

Case emissions to estimate air pollution prevention case emissions for this analysis. The ICF 

model also provided estimated SO2 and NOx reductions for new sources. These new source 

emission reductions were applied to the utility units in each State in proportion to 2018 milestone 

case emissions. Because of the regional SO2 trading program, the regional SO2 emissions total is 

the same in the air pollution prevention case as it was for the milestone case. There is some

shifting of SO2 emissions among units and States, though. Regional NOx emissions decline by 

about 14 thousand tons (air pollution prevention case versus milestone case). A State-level 

summary of utility emission changes by State from the 2018 milestone case is provided below. 

The tribal new source changes were allocated to Arizona. States not listed had no emissions

change. 

Table 13. Summary of Utility Emission Changes by 2018 

Air Pollution Prevention Case Emissions Change

State NOx tpy SO2 tpy

Arizona -3,267 5,558

Colorado -1,370 -1,119

Nevada -430 -307

New Mexico -7,053 -5,135

Utah -780 -595

Wyoming -1,374 1,598

Regional Changes -14,274 0

The following table presents the air pollution prevention case results for point sources in the 

GCVTC transport region States. In the air pollution prevention case, GCVTC transport region 

point source SO2 emissions are 510,000 tons. 

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-15 

12/31/03 
Table 14. 2018 Air Pollution Prevention Case Scenario - Point Source Emissions by Sector 

(GCVTC transport region States) 

2018 Emissions (tpy)

MTF Ftype FIPSST State 

Code

State VOC NOx CO SO2 PM10 PM2.5 NH3

1 Utility 04 AZ Arizona 700 91,331 7,205 67,085 3,434 1,659 8

08 CO Colorado 602 80,785 7,122 46,918 1,624 1,006 6

32 NV Nevada 369 43,825 3,073 19,294 5,607 2,506 3

35 NM New

Mexico

783 84,762 7,077 65,756 9,161 2,707 4

41 OR Oregon 51 10,094 424 3,935 257 177 0

49 UT Utah 430 75,229 5,317 23,763 2,561 1,135 3

56 WY Wyoming 1,238 102,439 11,346 69,383 11,100 6,612 0

4,173 488,465 41,564 296,134 33,744 15,802 24

2 Smelters 04 AZ Arizona 231 1,345 407 44,564 2,282 1,283 0

35 NM New

Mexico

10 772 141 35,236 1,247 248 0

49 UT Utah 8 230 92 1,036 322 130 47

249 2,348 639 80,836 3,850 1,661 48

3 ALL

Others 

04 AZ Arizona 9,844 41,938 24,305 2,267 21,021 6,583 22

06 CA California 104,337 106,707 152,122 31,197 45,419 24,400 26,900

08 CO Colorado 43,784 48,767 47,858 10,701 29,746 17,246 175

16 ID Idaho 275 7,295 6,410 13,613 6,979 4,314 2

32 NV Nevada 1,740 8,601 26,741 3,354 16,652 5,856 86

35 NM New

Mexico

23,148 63,171 52,616 32,129 1,328 523 128

41 OR Oregon 23,583 21,794 107,888 4,453 13,380 9,563 18

49 UT Utah 12,811 27,851 55,474 11,434 18,094 10,979 1,111

56 WY Wyoming 27,473 35,741 59,242 23,880 20,940 13,145 1,153

246,995 361,865 532,656 133,028 173,559 92,609 29,595

Point Source Totals 251,417 852,678 574,859 509,998 211,153 110,072 29,667

The 22-State region criteria pollutant emission summaries for the air pollution prevention case

are presented in the following table. 

Table 15. 2018 Air Pollution Prevention Case Scenario - Point Source Emissions by State 

(22-State Region) 

2018 Emissions (tpy)

MTF Ftype FIPSST State 

Code

State VOC NOx CO SO2 PM10 PM2.5 NH3

1 Utility 04 AZ Arizona 700 91,331 7,205 67,085 3,434 1,659 8

1 Utility 05 AR Arkansas 918 50,964 7,248 71,496 1,654 1,140 98

1 Utility 08 CO Colorado 602 80,785 7,122 46,918 1,624 1,006 6

1 Utility 19 IA Iowa 943 76,811 8,537 107,006 3,141 1,803 18

1 Utility 20 KS Kansas 1,192 91,664 9,207 81,153 2,166 1,370 65

1 Utility 22 LA Louisiana 1,973 75,803 17,077 75,680 3,116 1,933 925

1 Utility 27 MN Minnesota 1,007 84,056 7,833 61,025 4,172 2,024 21

1 Utility 29 MO Missouri 2,053 113,515 13,678 261,759 3,061 2,014 26

1 Utility 30 MT Montana 405 26,030 3,382 12,862 4,136 2,062 5

1 Utility 31 NE Nebraska 514 46,631 4,070 45,946 1,014 703 8

1 Utility 32 NV Nevada 369 43,825 3,073 19,294 5,607 2,506 3

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-16 

12/31/03 
2018 Emissions (tpy)

MTF Ftype FIPSST State 

Code

State VOC NOx CO SO2 PM10 PM2.5 NH3

1 Utility 35 NM New

Mexico

783 84,762 7,077 65,756 9,161 2,707 4

1 Utility 38 ND North

Dakota 

1,357 108,558 15,808 132,836 3,604 2,095 15

1 Utility 40 OK Oklahoma 1,614 88,543 15,797 79,824 2,389 1,682 314

1 Utility 41 OR Oregon 51 10,094 424 3,935 257 177 0

1 Utility 46 SD South

Dakota 

130 17,542 615 11,102 55 40 1

1 Utility 48 TX Texas 11,173 219,850 127,621 471,544 23,362 17,182 2,583

1 Utility 49 UT Utah 430 75,229 5,317 23,763 2,561 1,135 3

1 Utility 53 WA Washington 257 19,152 2,133 8,721 2,955 2,033 0

1 Utility 56 WY Wyoming 1,238 102,439 11,346 69,383 11,100 6,612 0

27,708 1,507,582 274,569 1,717,088 88,569 51,884 4,105

2 Smelters 04 AZ Arizona 231 1,345 407 44,564 2,282 1,283 0

2 Smelters 35 NM New

Mexico

10 772 141 35,236 1,247 248 0

2 Smelters 49 UT Utah 8 230 92 1,036 322 130 47

249 2,348 639 80,836 3,850 1,661 48

3 All

Others 

04 AZ Arizona 9,844 41,938 24,305 2,267 21,021 6,583 22

3 All

Others 

05 AR Arkansas 18,150 22,037 116,921 8,972 32,693 17,331 25,325

3 All

Others 

06 CA California 104,337 106,707 152,122 31,197 45,419 24,400 26,900

3 All

Others 

08 CO Colorado 43,784 48,767 47,858 10,701 29,746 17,246 175

3 All

Others 

16 ID Idaho 275 7,295 6,410 13,613 6,979 4,314 2

3 All

Others 

19 IA Iowa 12,553 30,194 10,551 38,779 10,999 6,168 13,746

3 All

Others 

20 KS Kansas 33,283 103,540 78,427 5,510 18,801 13,120 19,237

3 All

Others 

22 LA Louisiana 150,180 241,227 576,864 89,299 35,746 26,038 72,214

3 All

Others 

27 MN Minnesota 45,040 93,179 95,580 22,024 127,527 56,388 1,267

3 All

Others 

29 MO Missouri 91,069 42,155 194,103 76,648 77,163 28,954 36,372

3 All

Others 

30 MT Montana 7,451 18,536 57,226 14,578 11,105 5,882 293

3 All

Others 

31 NE Nebraska 12,954 15,074 21,165 6,602 11,163 4,418 19

3 All

Others 

32 NV Nevada 1,740 8,601 26,741 3,354 16,652 5,856 86

3 All

Others 

35 NM New

Mexico

23,148 63,171 52,616 32,129 1,328 523 128

3 All

Others 

38 ND North

Dakota 

610 11,493 7,939 50,975 1,981 1,439 16

3 All

Others 

40 OK Oklahoma 75,019 117,685 240,024 16,566 11,559 6,248 27,010

3 All

Others 

41 OR Oregon 23,583 21,794 107,888 4,453 13,380 9,563 18

3 All

Others 

46 SD South

Dakota 

1,423 4,534 0 172 714 392 1

3 All

Others 

48 TX Texas 336,691 404,510 458,311 170,562 42,770 27,800 1,756

3 All

Others 

49 UT Utah 12,811 27,851 55,474 11,434 18,094 10,979 1,111

3 All

Others 

53 WA Washington 26,253 45,665 273,848 22,562 11,365 7,974 6,660

3 All

Others 

56 WY Wyoming 27,473 35,741 59,242 23,880 20,940 13,145 1,153

1,057,674 1,511,694 2,663,616 656,277 567,147 294,759 233,509

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-17 

12/31/03 
2018 Emissions (tpy)

MTF Ftype FIPSST State 

Code

State VOC NOx CO SO2 PM10 PM2.5 NH3

Totals 1,085,632 3,021,623 2,938,824 2,454,201 659,566 348,303 237,661

The following table shows the electricity generating units in the GCVTC Transport Region with 

predicted SO2 and NOx emission changes in the air pollution prevention case. 

Table 16. Air Pollution Prevention Case Electricity Generating Unit Emissions 

Percentage 

Change* 

Milestone 

Case 2018 

Pollution 

Prevention 

Case 2018 Difference

 State County Unit IDORISID Plant NOx SO2 NOx SO2 NOx SO2 NOx SO2

AZ Navajo 1 113 APS Cholla -40.52% -40.51% 2,066 1,050 1,229 625 -837 -425

AZ Navajo 3 113 APS Cholla 0 344.45 4,081 2,292 4,081 10,189 0 7,896

CO Montrose 1 527 Nucla 0 -2.36 1,038 1,530 1,038 1,494 0 -36

NM San Juan 1 2451 San Juan Generating -36.25 -36.25 6,926 7,170 4,415 4,571 -2,511 -2,599

NM San Juan 3 2451 San Juan Generating -40.48 -25.07 9,911 8,459 5,899 6,338 -4,012 -2,121

WY Sweetwater BW72 8066 Pacificorp-Jim Bridger -0.04 55.42 10,171 4,838 10,167 7,519 -4 2,681

34,193 25,338 26,829 30,734 -7,364 5,396

*Compared with the 2018 Milestone Case. 

These model-estimated changes occur at 6 units at 4 plants in 4 States (Arizona, Colorado, New 

Mexico, and Wyoming). Expected SO2 emission increases occur at Cholla #2 and Pacific CorpJim Bridger. These emission increases are offset by decreases in SO2 emissions at Cholla #1, 2 

San Juan Generating Station units, and at Nucla. NOx emissions in the air pollution prevention 

case are always lower than or equal to those in the milestone case. The largest NOx emission 

reductions in the pollution prevention case occur in New Mexico at San Juan Generating Station. 

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-18 

12/31/03 
Renewable Resource Potential Maps 

New Mexico Biomass Potential (from Renewable Energy Atlas of the West, Land and Water 

Fund of the Rockies, undated) 

New Mexico Geothermal Potential (from Renewable Energy Atlas of the West, Land and Water

Fund of the Rockies, undated) 

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-19 

12/31/03 
New Mexico Solar Potential (from Renewable Energy Atlas of the West, Land and Water Fund 

of the Rockies, undated) 

The following wind potential map is from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural 

Resources Department, Energy Conservation and Management Division. 

NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-20 

12/31/03 
NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-21 

12/31/03 
NM Regional Haze SIP Page G-22 

12/31/03 

Renewable Energy Generation and Consumption in New Mexico 

New Mexico produces 684 MW of electricity. Of this total, 0.66 MW are produced from wind 

energy. Renewable energy generation is less than one percent of total energy generation in New 

Mexico. Renewable energy consumption in New Mexico is 1,642 million kilowatt-hours. Total 

energy consumption in New Mexico is 251 billion kilowatt-hours. Renewable energy sources, 

including solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal, currently provide less than one 

percent of New Mexico’s annual energy needs. 

New Mexico will rely on the programs outlined in Tables G-1 and G-2 in Section G to meet the 

10/20 goals of the Regional Haze Rule.