HM 49 — "KIT CARSON ENERGY INDEPENDENCE DAY"

HOUSE MEMORIAL 49 56TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEWMEXICO - FIRST SESSION 2023 INTRODUCED BY Kristina Ortez 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL DECLARING FEBRUARY 15, 2023 "KIT CARSON ENERGY INDEPENDENCE DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

145 WHEREAS, since 2013, Kit Carson electric cooperative members have set out to create change in how the cost of electrical power and the source of that generated power impacts e t 17 the lives of its community members;

and w l n d 18 WHEREAS, Kit Carson electric cooperative members agreed to = = 19 a l a first phase of action as part of an energy independence i a e r 20 transition plan, anchored by a necessary change in wholesale a t m m 21 power suppliers, which restored local decision making for Kit d r e 22 Carson electric cooperative members in matters of electric c e s k 23 power supply;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, Kit Carson electric cooperative members set a u [ goal to lower and stabilize the cost of power, and the cost .225152.1 savings goal has now been achieved with fixed wholesale power rates and with members realizing a reduction in power rates of up to twenty-five percent;

and WHEREAS, the clean, local power generation goal has now HM 49 Page 1 been achieved with Kit Carson electric cooperative's forty-one megawatts of distributed solar power generation, plus sixteen megawatts of accompanying battery storage;

and WHEREAS, by Kit Carson electric cooperative leaving its 5 former wholesale power provider in 2016 and partnering with new wholesale energy supplier, Guzman energy, Kit Carson electric cooperative set an ambitious goal of becoming one of the e t 17 cleanest energy cooperatives in America;

and w l n d 18 WHEREAS, that goal has been achieved with one hundred = = 19 a l percent of its power needs supplied in summer by daytime solar i a e r 20 power generation;

and a t m m 21 WHEREAS, New Mexico has set an objective to achieve a d r e 22 statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by forty-five c e s k 23 percent by the year 2030, and Kit Carson electric cooperative e a n b 24 is contributing to that reduction goal and is leading the way u [ for other cooperatives around the state and the country to .225152.1 - 2 - follow its model in driving the energy transition;

and HM 49 Page 2 WHEREAS, Kit Carson electric cooperative will continue to recognize cost savings through the Guzman energy and Kit Carson electric cooperative wholesale power partnership that is now expected to save Kit Carson electric cooperative one 5 hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) to one hundred seventy million dollars ($170,000,000) over the total lifetime of the wholesale power agreement;

and WHEREAS, the Kit Carson electric cooperative and Guzman e t 17 energy partnership has consistently shown community support, w l n d 18 especially in the area of education, as demonstrated by the = = 19 a l distribution of more than five hundred thirty-three thousand i a e r 20 five hundred dollars ($533,500) in scholarships to graduating a t m m 21 high school students for their continuing education;

and d r e 22 WHEREAS, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Kit c e s k 23 Carson electric cooperative provided much-needed services to e a n b 24 its community members, including providing wi-fi hotspots for u [ students and teachers thrust into remote learning, supplying .225152.1 - 3 - first responders with necessary broadband service and ensuring that the elderly had food delivery during a period marked by heightened isolation;

and WHEREAS, Kit Carson electric cooperative will continue its work on phase two of its energy independence transition plan with Guzman energy, focusing on expanding more distributed energy resources, local battery storage and electric vehicle infrastructure, as well as a commitment to HM 49 Page 3 the exploration of joint green hydrogen development;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 15, 2023, be declared "Kit Carson Energy Independence Day" in the 5 house of representatives;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Kit Carson electric cooperative be acknowledged for achieving "energy independence" for its members through electricity price stability, cost e t 17 decreases, the ability to serve additional renewable energy w l n d 18 resources and restoring local decision-making ability to better = = 19 a l serve its members;

and i a e r 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be a t m m 21 transmitted to the chief executive officer of Kit Carson d r e 22 electric cooperative.

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