Why and How Solar for NM

Regina Wheeler, CEO Positive Energy Solar

For Environment New Mexico

January 2015

Today’s Reality

Economic Impact of Fossil Fuels-NuclearCapital Expenditures per Million BTUs

$-

$0.50

$1.00

$1.50

$2.00

$2.50

$3.00

$3.50

$4.00

1974 1985 1995 2005 2014

Oil and NG (fuel)

Nuclear Pwr Plant

Source: Oil & Nuclear – The Poverty of Power by Barry Commoner,

Economic Impact of Fossil Fuel-NuclearOur Global Investments Show…

Risk: Social-Environmental Impact

Source: Gasland II

Gas Hydraulic Fracking

Risk: Methane Cloud Over Four Corners

Oct. 9, 2014: One small “hot spot” in the U.S. Southwest is responsible for

producing the largest concentration of the greenhouse gas methane seen over the

US – according to new study of satellite data by scientists at NASA and U of

Michigan.

"The results are indicative that emissions from established fossil fuel harvesting

techniques are greater than inventoried," Kort said. "There's been so much

attention on high-volume hydraulic fracturing, but we need to consider the industry

as a whole."

Risks: Social-Environmental Impact

Fukushima Daichi

Nuclear Power

Meltdown

Risk: Social-Environmental Impact

West Virginia Coal-Chemical Spill

The Tipping Point is Behind Us

Tipping Point 2014

1. Supreme Court upholds EPA regulations that impose

additional limits on emission – May 2014

2. US Announces reduction of carbon emissions 30%

below 2005 levels by 2030

3. Barclay’s downgrades quality of bonds investing in

utilities – May 2014

4. Rockefeller Fund and many divest

5. Cities, DOE, Universities declare net carbon zero goal

6. Grid Parity cost of renewables in 14 states

PV Roadmap

didn’t reflect

rising energy

costs.

Market

penetration

years ahead

of this

projection

The US Solar Price Trends

http://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/YIR%202013%20SMI%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

PNM’s View of Future

Our Future

California Study 100% Renewables

http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/susenergy2030.html

Future of Renewables and PV in NM

Source: EIA, The Solutions Project

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

Electricity ICE to EV Natural Gasto Electricity

Me

ga

Wa

tts

New Mexico Capacityin 2035 with PV

Today's Capacity

Total Capacity Required

PV required

PV Installed

Solar Industry in New Mexico end 2013

• Approximately 93 solar companies, employing

1,900 people in 2013

• In 2013, New Mexico installed 45 MW of solar

electric capacity, ranking 13th nationally.

• 319 MW of solar energy installed by end 2013,

ranks NM 10th in the country in installed solar

capacity.

• In 2013, $131 million was invested in New

Mexico to install solar for home, business and utility

use. This is a 61% increase over the previous year,

and was greater in 2014.

Source: NMSEA

Job Creation by Energy Technology

Source: Thought Leadership Series #4 Copenhagen Climate Council

Technology Job Years per GWh

Solar PV 0.91

Energy Efficiency 0.38

Solar Thermal 0.27

Geothermal 0.25

Biomass 0.22

Carbon Capture 0.18

Wind 0.17

Nuclear 0.15

Coal 0.11

Natural Gas 0.11

Source: Marco Vangelisti, http://transitionus.org/event/essential-knowledge-transition-economic-system