NM shows snapshot of energy transmission potential

Dec 2, 2008 - Susan Montoya Bryan - The Associated Press

State legislators, utilities and energy producers now have the first snapshot of how renewable energy sources fit with New Mexico's transmission potential thanks to months of data gathering by the state Renewable Energy Transmission Authority.

RETA presented its first statewide transmission report to an interim legislative committee on Tuesday.

The Democratic senator who requested the report, Tim Keller of Albuquerque, says it's an important first step as New Mexico and the rest of the country determine how to best develop and transmit electricity generated from renewable sources like wind and solar radiation.

Despite the valuable maps in the report, Keller says much still needs to be done to identify transmission corridors that can export renewable power outside of New Mexico.