On this week’s discussion show, Paul and Wally discuss PNM’s math problem when it comes to eliminating coal and natural gas. The company has plans for getting rid of eliminating energy sources, but what will it replace those sources with? Part of that will be nuclear power from Palo Verde, but it will require a lot of renewable energy to replace the electricity being eliminated.
Paul and Wally then go on to discuss some data the Foundation is highlighting regarding able-bodied adults without children and the ability for 27,000 of them in New Mexico alone to continue to receive food stamps despite record-low unemployment and a reasonably strong New Mexico economy with numerous job openings.
Finally, Paul and Wally have some fun with what is ultimately also a serious issue of abuse on the part of Attorney General Hector Balderas who recently was found to have used a recording device embedded in a coffee pot which (fortunately for the AG) malfunctioned (at least that is the current story).
1) The CETA is the best thing to happen to O&G in New Mexico. Renewables really means wind, solar and NG.
2) I do not believe NG turbines will be shut down based on the PNM timeline.
3) There is no reference to Palo Verde nuclear clean energy in this plan so far.
4) What is the XCEL plan? Are they working together in their planning with PNM?
5) XCEL is building industrial wind farms in SENM NM. Even Tucson, AZ is building a wind farm to transport electricity to AZ.
6) How does the delay of SunZia play into the PNM or XCEL plans?
7) There needs to be a coordinated plan or New Mexico will just get screwed again.
“PNM will collaboratively identify and model several distinct paths. This will not only illustrate the least cost plan, as mandated by law, but also considered alternatives that will include options for geographic placement of renewable energy resources and choices between emissions-free technology and lower cost next generation natural gas.”
What is next generation natural gas?
When comparing PNM emission between 2005 and 2017 is like night and day. Most of the improvements is improved technology, not closures. They should have continued on the innovative technology path because it would have been cleaner and cheaper than replacement in the long term.
Remember, PNM is banking on next generation natural gas whatever that is. Well, if that is ‘real’ than why not bank on ‘next generation’ coal energy without burning or emissions (already exist in the National Labs). That too would be cheaper and cleaner than full replacement with massive industrial W/S farms. Again, there is just no central planning for New Mexico’s future energy policies.