Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Geothermal Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to expand state support for geothermal development
Summary
House Bill 289 would expand the geothermal projects development fund and related state support for mapping, research and public-private partnerships to de-risk and scale geothermal energy in New Mexico. Committee adopted the amendment removing a direct appropriation and recommended a due-pass. Proponents highlighted the state's strong geothermal
The House Appropriations & Finance Committee recommended House Bill 289, which seeks to expand state support for development of geothermal resources through grants and related policy tools intended to reduce exploration risk and accelerate commercial deployment.
Testimony from state and industry representatives emphasized geothermal's potential as a clean, dispatchable, 24/7 energy source that complements wind and solar. The bill's sponsors and witnesses said funding would support geological mapping, pilot drilling and public-private partnerships to test drilling technologies and improve predictability.
The committee adopted an amendment that removes a standalone appropriation from the bill text; testimony noted a $10,000,000 item was included in the budget package (HB2) being considered by the legislature. Supporters said the state's existing experience in oil-and-gas drilling and national-lab research provides a competitive advantage for developing the resource and for workforce transition opportunities.
Public comment: The governor's senior climate advisor said the bill would help scale geothermal and urged support. Industry and advocacy witnesses, including geothermal working-group members and environmental groups, likewise supported the expansion.
Vote and next steps: The committee moved the bill forward with a due-pass recommendation. Committee members asked proponents to be prepared at the floor stage to address cost comparisons, identified hot-spot locations, infrastructure needs and potential environmental controls. Sponsors noted the technology is at an early stage and additional research, exploration and public-private activity are key to lowering costs and enabling commercial projects.
