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New Mexico utility says demand for ‘green’ energy exceeds projections

PNM Energy Project Gets Green Light

More than 3,400 residential customers have signed up for "green energy"

ALBUQUERQUE — Public Service Company of New Mexico says the response to its "green energy" initiative so far has exceeded expectations.

Associated Press Santa Fe NewMexican

Some 38 retail, industrial and service-industry businesses have signed up along with more than 3,400 residential customers from every major community in PNM’s service area since it began marketing electricity generated by the wind under a program called Sky Blue.

"It’s been a great response across all segments of the business market," said Dan Drennan, product developer for Sky Blue.

The utility said it had hoped to sign up 20 businesses and 850 residential customers this year.

PNM has offered its 385,000 customers renewable energy since Oct. 1, when a wind turbine center went into operation near Fort Sumner. Customers voluntarily sign up for the renewable energy for an extra monthly charge.

So far, New Mexico business and residential customers have spoken for just under 1 percent of the 204 megawatts of electricity produced by the 136-tower wind ranch.

PNM also has signed a wholesale deal to sell 50 megawatts of wind power to the Arizona-based Salt River Project, which supplies electricity to Phoenix.

New Mexico residential and small-business customers pay $1.80 a month for each 100 kilowatt-hour block of renewable energy in addition to the regular approximately $8.50 cost for that amount. Large businesses may opt to pay 1.8 cents extra on a percentage of their electricity up to a maximum of 90 percent.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=36848

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