[Lwvcnmtopics] NM PRC meeting today and other news

[George Richmond]

The PRC met today and I continue to be impressed with the hard work of 
the commissioners and the very able staff. As a point of interest, the 
NM PRC is elected while the PRC in TX is appointed.

As El Paso Electric is applying to both the NM and TX PRCs for approval 
for a new plant, this distinction came out.  The TX PRC approved the new 
plant, while NM PRC had many questions/concerns and did not just "rubber 
stamp" TX.

As we know, NM is moving to renewable energy which means that wind 
farms/solar fields could be built in, say, Torrance or Valencia 
Counties, but then the transmission lines to ABQ would have to be built 
as well.  A conflict is that few people want the transmission lines, but 
they will come with renewable energy.  I am expecting that the PRC or 
the utility building the renewable field will get eminent domain to get 
access to land to build the lines.

I read the daily GTM news letter and here are some articles that might 
be of interest.

Meet Guzman Energy, the Power Company Coaxing Along the Co-Op Clean 
Energy Transition | Greentech Media 
<https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/meet-guzman-energy-the-power-company-coaxing-along-the-co-op-energy-transition?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily&utm_campaign=GTMDaily>

Kit Carson Power, in Taos, an electric coop, used Guzman to supply solar 
power so it could drop coal produced electric power. There are around a 
dozen electric coops in NM serving largely rural areas where 
distribution of power is less likely to occur.

In addition to Taos, Farmington and Socorro are served by coops.

Why Hyundai Bought Boston Dynamics, Offshore Solar, Wind and Wave 
Energy, and Smart Microgrids > ENGINEERING.com 
<https://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticles/ArticleID/21036/Why-Hyundai-Bought-Boston-Dynamics-Offshore-Solar-Wind-and-Wave-Energy-and-Smart-Microgrids.aspx?utm_source=engineering.com&utm_campaign=9000cfc36b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_14_03_38_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_622b2cc90f-9000cfc36b-323322374>

Hynudai is a very large Korean conglomerate.  It is a good sign that the 
company is expanding its role in renewable power.  Keep in mind that 
Avangrid, who will acquire PNM, is owned by a large Spanish renewable 
company.

Clean Energy Funding Finds Its Way Into Congressional Spending Bill | 
Greentech Media 
<https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/clean-energy-funding-finds-way-into-congressional-spending-bill?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily&utm_campaign=GTMDaily>

Congress may/may not pass the bill now, but it does appear to be 
supporting clean energy.

Electric Vehicles and the Power Grid: Roadmaps From California and New 
York | Greentech Media 
<https://www.greentechmedia.com/squared/dispatches-from-the-grid-edge/electric-vehicles-and-the-power-grid-roadmaps-from-california-and-new-york?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily&utm_campaign=gtm2>

Electric vehicles are coming, from GM, F and Chrysler, so perhaps in a 
few years, you might own one.

As electric vehicles are recharged at night, when rates are lower, all 
consumers will benefit.

Southeastern Utilities Launch Plan for Regional Energy-Trading Market | 
Greentech Media 
<https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/southeastern-utilities-launch-plan-for-regional-energy-trading-market?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily&utm_campaign=GTMDaily>

As more utilities move to renewable energy, there will be a need to 
trade power, which will make the production of power more efficient.

Swell Readies $450M in Financing for Solar-Plus-Battery Virtual Power 
Plants | Greentech Media 
<https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/swell-readies-up-to-450m-in-financing-for-solar-battery-virtual-power-plants?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily&utm_campaign=GTMDaily>

Renewable power will need batteries to store power not needed at that 
moment for future use.

Better batteries, with days of storage capability, are under development.

Have a great week,

George Richmond

-- 
George M. Richmond
152 Juniper Hill Road, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122-1913

C: 505-280-2105
E: geomrich1 at comcast.net



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