It’s time for New Mexico to shift to cleaner energy economy

Public Service Company of New Mexico is shutting down the San Juan coal-fired power plant. Obviously, this is welcome news for the environmental community and for everyone who cares about protecting our environment, and that’s where the focus has been regarding this issue.

However, it’s worth looking at the economic impacts of shutting down the power plant. For many decades, environmental advocates have insisted that environmental protection doesn’t need to come at the expense of economic prosperity. Shutting down the San Juan coal-fired power plant is a great opportunity to see if that model holds up in real life as well as it does in the brochures. I believe it will, if we do it wisely.

That’s why I’m sponsoring House Bill 80, the Energy Redevelopment Bond Act. This bill establishes a legal framework for shutting down the San Juan coal plant in a way that supports those who will be particularly impacted during the increasingly inevitable transition from coal to clean energy in northeastern New Mexico, and helps PNM recover losses on the plant.

HB 80 shows PNM and its shareholders that the people of New Mexico understand the hardships that come with transition and change, and that shareholders won’t lose their kids’ college funds, get their house foreclosed upon or be bankrupted.

New Mexico has long been poised to become a leader in transitioning to sustainable energy — but it’s a potential that has yet to be realized.

We all know that New Mexico is too often at the bottom of all the good lists and at the top of all the bad ones. Time and time again, our state gets left behind when it comes to the good stuff like job growth, attracting new businesses and being a leader in new technologies. Infrastructure updates are sorely needed, and new technologies, such as battery storage and other smart city advancements, need to be implemented.

This is our moment. The energy industry is shifting worldwide when it comes to moving from fossil fuels to cleaner and more sustainable energy; New Mexico once again risks getting left behind if we don’t act now. We really can protect the environment, while growing our economy and supporting communities and families affected during this time of change and transition. Let’s show the world how it’s done.

Rep. Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales represents District 42. He is a Democrat from Taos and has been serving the people of New Mexico since 1994.