COP 20 Lima, Ms Jeannette Pablo of PNM Resources, Washington DC (https://c3eawards.org/jeannette-pablo/) and principal liaison with US Climate Action Partnership speaks about factors that impact the New Mexico Power Utilities business resiliency, business model and climate approach, in terms of efficiency and compliance.
Some of the factors that affect our business in general are, amongst others, New Mexico is the poorest state in the USA today with a 26% plus unemployment rate, with one in three children going hungry, poor communities versus wealthy counties in region. The region has a very temperate climate, with a low growth in demand when people switch from swamp coal to air conditioning, only 40% of load accounts for lighting, however demand is down due to a very successful energy efficiency program.
Approximately ten (10) years ago, our then CEO recognised quite clearly that climate was a huge risk for the state and business, he lead the company accordingly, by deciding to come out in favour of mandatory climate change and from 2006 started working with the city and various stakeholders to incorporate climate planning into all of our generation infrastructure modelling. Our new CEO, Ms Pat Vincent-Collawn (Chairman, President and CEO) since 2007 continued this trend and developed the climate modelling program even further, which has positioned our company to experience substantial growth by adapting to consumer requests for renewable energy supplies, for our affluent as well as low income consumers.
We have endeavoured over the last few years to become and remain as climate resilient and compliant as possible and give two examples, viz; our SJGS (San Juan Generating station) a 900 MW coal plant was four (4) years ago targeted for upgrade in terms of NOX emission reductions and to meet clean power plan requirements in order to be compliant with EPA environmental requirements under the Clean Air Act (“CCA”) associated with a Revised SIP, issued by the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (“EIB”). PNM has identified adequate alternatives to maintain service reliability to their customers and which will mitigate exposure to future environmental regulations; resulting in a better balanced and diversified resource portfolio; and will be less risky in the face of always uncertain fuel prices and future carbon regulation.
PNM Resources continues to work diligently to address climate change in meaningful ways while ensuring reliability, efficiency and minimizing the cost to our customers
Read further :
https://www.pnm.com/about-pnm
https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43312.pdf (US-Mexico Water sharing)
http://www.coloradoriverrecovery.org/general-information/the-fish/razorback-sucker.html
http://www.arkive.org/colorado-pikeminnow/ptychocheilus-lucius/