A separate committee voted to advance a statutory grid modernization roadmap that would require the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to coordinate with the Public Regulation Commission on an explicit grid modernization plan.

Representative Dixon, sponsor of the bill, said Senate Bill 142 directs statutory coordination, recognizes project deployment speed in application reviews, adds school districts and charter schools as eligible locations for grants, and expands the definition of grid modernization to include integration of net-zero resources, grid-capacity increases and artificial-intelligence tools for operational use, including methane-detection technologies.

Supporters included utility and clean-energy groups. Carlos Lucero of Public Service Company of New Mexico told the committee PNM supports the bill because it expands eligible grid projects to include distribution and transmission capacity work and artificial-intelligence projects. Charles Goodmacher of Healthy Climate New Mexico and Camilla Feibelman with the Sierra Club also testified in favor, urging that adding schools to grant eligibility would support on-site solar, electric school buses and use of bus batteries for backup power.

Committee members asked whether the Public Regulation Commission had input and whether the proposal would change adjudicative duties at the commission. Toya Corey, an expert witness from the commission, said the PRC helped draft technical language and does not expect the bill to alter internal adjudication processes. Several members said availability of grant funding and the question of how costs are allocated to customers remained a policy concern; one member said she would be reluctant to push additional costs onto existing ratepayers.

Representative Dixon moved the bill, and the committee recorded a roll-call vote. The motion carried and the committee gave the bill a do-pass recommendation for further legislative consideration.

What happens next: proponents said the statute will direct agencies to develop a coordinated roadmap and allow grant programs to include additional project types; PRC and EMNRD staff said they will continue technical collaboration during implementation and subsequent rule-making and program administration.

Votes at a glance: Motion to give Senate Bill 142 a do-pass recommendation; committee recorded a favorable roll-call and advanced the bill (outcome: approved).