 |
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is a former U.S. secretary of energy. That means that unlike any other, our state has experienced, forward-thinking leadership, combined with federal research funding and ideal natural resources.
Wind Works Here
New Mexico’s potential wind resource is estimated at 48,700MW, but only a fraction of it is being harnessed right now. The New Mexico Wind Energy Center has 136 turbines that generate 200MW of power at peak capacity. According to Public Service Company of New Mexico (the state utility company), the facility could potentially power 100,000 homes. Even so, there is room for more development in this area.
Solar—The Sky’s the Limit
Long ago, some Native Americans called what is now New Mexico the Dancing Ground
of the Sun, and for good reason. With more than 340 days of sunshine each year,
the environment is ripe for solar technologies. Not only are we blessed with
sunny skies, but the high altitude and low cloud cover make the sunlight here
more intense, ranking us second in the nation in solar energy potential.
Getting Down to Earth: Geothermal Energy
New Mexico has more geothermically heated greenhouses than any other state in
the nation. According to the U.S. Geologic Survey, New Mexico could produce 2,700MW
from geothermal energy—putting us second only to California.
Clean Coal: The Fossil Fuel of the Future
Our state boasts the third largest recoverable reserve of coal in the United Sates—1.4 billion tons, and we are finding new ways to generate energy while controlling pollution. Currently, most coal in the United States used to generate electricity, and President Bush is sponsoring the $2 billion Clean Coal Power Initiative to find ways to use coal’s power without the associated environmental costs. Here in New Mexico, the Peabody Mustang Clean Coal Project received a $19.7 million Department of Energy grant toward their $79 million project, underway at the Mustang Generating Station in the town of Milan.
Cleaning Up with Natural Gas
New Mexico is a leader in natural gas production, generating 1.6 cubic feet the stuff each year. In addition to burning cleaner than other fossil fuels, natural gas plays a key role in new hydrogen generators that could lower the operating costs of large-scale fuel cells.
|
New Mexico is a world leader in hydrogen fuel-cell research and development.
New Mexico is second in the nation in solar energy potential, and many solar-energy enterprises are located here.
|
