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HB 109: TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDORS

An Act Relating To Utilities; Amending A Section Of The Public Utility Act To Provide For Location Of Transmission Lines Within Designated Corridors Predetermined To Minimize Impacts.

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MOD HB 109
TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDORS

Legislative URL:
HB 109 on nmlegis.gov
Emergency Clause:
No
Germane:
N/A
Location:
HEENC
Action:
HPREF [3] HEENC/HTPWC-HEENC API.
Issue(s):

Related Legislators

Bill Sponsor:

Related Documents

Downloads:
Introduced
Fiscal Impact Report
Summary

This bill would amend the Public Utility Act to provide for the location of transmission lines within designated corridors predetermined to minimize impacts. § 62-9-3(F) NMSA 1978 requires that the Public Regulation Commission shall approve an application for the location of transmission lines unless the commission finds that the location will unduly impair important environmental values or the operation of the proposed transmission lines will unduly impair power system reliability. This bill amends that section by adding the requirement that the commission shall conduct studies and planning and designate appropriate corridors within which transmission lines may be sited to minimize impacts on environmental values, power system reliability, land use conflicts and aesthetics and to meet other state or local requirements affecting the siting. And it requires that the commission shall not approve a proposed transmission line that is located outside designated corridors. By requiring that PRC transmission line site selection studies include a focus on minimizing impacts on environmental values, land use conflicts and aesthetics, a benefit of this bill might be that it may help to ensure more conservation-friendly site selection. One concern might be that “environmental values” could turn out to be too vague a term to provide much guidance. Another concern could be that the potential impact on wildlife is not specifically mentioned.