[Lwvcnmtopics] July 14 Meeting

[George Richmond]

Meeting started with a special presentation from PNM about the June 30 
collapse of the cooling tower @ Generating Station 1 of the San Juan 
Generating plant.  (This is a coal fired plant which is scheduled to 
close next June)  PNM bought power to make up the shortfall and the PRC 
asked how much, what did it cost and so on as the costs will be passed 
through to Rate payers.  PNM plans to rebuild the tower/buy another one 
and will be back in service in a month or so.  I asked why bother if the 
plant will be closed in a year? (It does make a difference to the Navajo 
coal miners and PNM employees there of course)

The major news is that there is a new web site and it is worth visiting, 
at least once.  There was mention that at the end of next year, the PRC 
moves to a three member commission and its role will be only utilities.

PNM is building out more solar generation for FaceBook in Los Lunas 
which includes storage of power.  As the details are very murky, PNM, 
and maybe FaceBook will come back to the commission later this month to 
clarify as the terms as to how the ratepayers are taken care of, or 
taken advantage of, is ....not that clear.

Senator Martin Heinrich offered the PRC a funding "earmark" to hire 
experts for areas such as Interconnection, Community Solar and Grid 
Modernization.  The PRC has asked the  NM St State Legislator for 
funding as well.

The PRC has leased a building in Santa Fe which it will start using in 
early August.  It appears that the staff will have a place to work.  I 
have asked if I can attend meetings via Zoom as I can not go to attend 
meetings in person.

Most of the commissioners will be in Denver next week at a conference, 
so no PRC meeting.

George Richmond, Observer, PRC, for LWV CNM

-- 
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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