New Mexico joins California, Hawaii in approving 100% clean energy mandate

The New Mexico State House on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 489 44-22, requiring the state to generate 100% of its electricity from carbon-free resources by 2045. The Energy Transition Act, introduced in February and approved by the State Senate last week, also increases the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2040, echoing Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's campaign promises. It also includes securitization provisions to help recover the costs of coal plant retirements and allocates funds toward transitioning mining communities. The bill follows Grisham's January executive order, which committed the state to the U.S. goals under the Paris Climate Agreement — reducing carbon emissions by at least 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. She is expected to sign the bill soon.