ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico’s largest utility wants to nearly triple the amount of electricity that it generates through solar photovoltaic technology, but some in the renewable-energy industry are concerned about the plan.
Public Service Company of New Mexico announced Friday it is seeking bids on the design and installation of various sizes of solar PV systems as part of a proposal submitted to the state Public Regulation Commission.
The proposal has yet to be approved, but PNM wants to have 4 megawatts of new capacity installed via systems that would be sited on property owned by participating customers. PNM would offer those customers lease payments in return for hosting the system.
The utility currently has about 1.4 megawatts of solar PV capacity, almost all owned by individual customers.
PNM officials said the program would complement existing programs in which PNM buys excess renewable energy generated by customer-owned systems and credits customers at least 13 cents per kilowatt hour for power generated by their systems.
Odes Armijo-Caster, president of the Renewable Energy Industry Association of New Mexico, said his organization has been studying the proposal for weeks and is concerned that PNM is making a play for the limited amount of renewable energy credits that are available to those who generate power with PV systems.
