5b) Energy Transition Act, input to Legis. 2.12.

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Julie Stephens <jastephensassociates@gmail.com>
Wed 2/13/2019 12:23 PM
mimi.stewart@nmlegis.gov;
jacob.candelaria@nmleglis.gov;
nathan.small@nmleglis.gov
+5 others

SUMMARY, 21st CENTURY ALTERNATIVES to the Proposed Santolina Development plan-1.pdf
90 KB
11.13.18, 21st CENTURY ALTERNATIVES to the Proposed Santolina Development.5.pdf
2 MB

To: Senators Mimi Stewart, Jacob Candelaria, and

Representatives Nathan Small, Brian Egolf, Patricia Roybal Caballero
12 FEB 2019
Dear Honorable Senators: Stewart, Candelaria; and,
Honorable Representatives: Roybal Caballero, Egolf, Small

We support the intent of Senate Bill 489 - Energy Transition Act. We expect that the final version
will include amendments to assure protection of public interests, including the role of the PRC. Also,
transitioning New Mexico to 100% renewables that includes reparations and the well-being for
communities that have shouldered the burden of coal production for many years is critical.

Aligned with these concerns, please find attached a Summary and full Paper titled: “21 Century
Alternatives to the proposed Santolina Development Plan” that could be an example to address the
intent of the ‘Energy Transition Act’ by enhancing the capacity for renewable energy generation in
new smart land developments. It was submitted to the Bernalillo County Commission this past
November 13th by Julie Stephens and Paul Lusk. It urged the County to evaluate alternatives that
establish renewable energy generation, assess economic impact to the public and limit excessive
public entitlements, prior to additional approvals of, in this case, the Santolina development on
Albuquerque’s Southwest Mesa.

The proposal for modifying the Santolina Development Plan, as submitted, advocates and presents
detailed economic and ecological data supporting a redesign of the proposed, but not yet zone-
approved, Santolina Plan. The focus of Section C, in the full document, includes phased construction
of an 800 Megawatt photovoltaic array in 5-year increments on the Southwest Mesa, contiguous to
Albuquerque, but within Bernalillo County jurisdiction. This array would be sequenced
to replace Reeves and Rio Bravo, scheduled to retire in 17-yeqrs, and other gas-fired units and would
provide, by 2045, 100% renewable energy for all of Bernalillo County including the City of
Albuquerque.

We believe that the Recommendations in the “21st Century” submission, specifically as described in
Section C, “The renewable Energy Strategy and Projections”, could be identified and called out as a
potential example and significant contribution to the proposed renewable energy transition
legislation, Senate Bill 489.

Please share this, as wanted, with members of the Legislature involved in the process of moving this
bill as amended thru the legislative process as well as with representatives of the Governor’s Office.
Respectfully,

Paul Lusk, 2100 Lakeview Rd. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, 505 877-3107; plusk@unm.edu
Julie Stephens, 4800 Congress NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114, 505 877-7716

e-copy: Senators Mary Kay Papen, Peter Wirth and Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton

Julia A. Stephens MEP

Community Planner-Facilitator-Coordinator

Stephens & Associates

505 877-7716 cell

jastephensassociates@gmail.com