New Mexico Governor Richardson Signs
Three Energy-Related Bills into Law
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson recently signed three new energy-related
bills into law. “One of my highest priorities is to protect our Western
values, our love of the land, while setting out on an energy policy that will
lead to true energy independence,” the governor said. “Energy policy is an
economic issue, a security issue--it’s an issue we have to face.”
The first state-level measure of its kind in the nation, House Bill 32, the
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bonding Act, establishes up to $20
million in bonds to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements
in public buildings. Projects financed with the bonds will be paid back to the
bonding authority using the savings on energy bills. The bonds will be applied
to state buildings and school district buildings, and the projects will include
most energy efficiency measures and any type of renewable energy system, as well
as energy recovery and combined heat and power systems.
In addition to House Bill 32, Governor Richardson signed two other
energy-related bills:
--Senate Bill 644, the energy efficiency bill, will allow utilities to market
energy conservation in competition with new energy supplies, saving customers
money while reducing energy demand.
--House Bill 995, which expands the wind energy production tax credit and also
provides tax savings for some biomass energy producers.
The three bills are based on the recommendations of several clean energy task
forces established by the governor.
Published 04/21/2005
©
2005 Greenmedia Publishing Ltd.