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News Release
May 20, 2003
American Wind Energy Association Picks
PNM for Utility Leadership Award
Austin, Texas: The American Wind Energy Association
today will give its 2003 Utility Leadership Award (AWEA) to
PNM, the result of the New Mexico utility's role in the creation
of the New Mexico Wind Energy Center and its plans to offer
renewable energy to its customers later this year.
The association offers the award each year to an electric
utility that has contributed to the advancement of wind energy.
"We salute PNM for making such a large commitment to
wind energy," said Randall Swisher, executive director
of the American Wind Energy Association. "Utility leadership
in wind energy development is critical to the continued growth
of the industry. PNM's involvement with the New Mexico Wind
Energy Center, the third-largest wind farm in the world, is
an excellent example of the kind of leadership that can serve
as a model for other utilities."
"This is an award of which we are particularly proud,"
said PNM Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Sterba. "Our
involvement with renewable energy did not happen overnight
or by accident. In fact, it took years of thought, planning
and negotiation to make the New Mexico Wind Energy Center
a reality."
"We are proud of the difference this facility is making
for rural eastern New Mexico, and we'll be proud to give our
customers the option to choose renewable energy later this
year," Sterba said.
The New Mexico Wind Energy Center, near House, N.M., will
be capable of producing 204 megawatts of power, or enough
to supply 94,000 average-sized New Mexico homes. Once operational,
it will be the third largest wind-generation facility in the
world, according to AWEA. Florida-based FPL Energy will own
the facility, and PNM will purchase all of its output.
PNM plans to offer renewable energy to its 385,000 New Mexico
electric customers once the facility begins production and
state regulators have approved PNM's plan for selling the
renewable energy.
PNM is the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources,
an energy holding company based in Albuquerque. PNM provides
natural gas service to 441,000 gas customers and electric
utility service to 385,000 customers in New Mexico. The company
also sells power on the wholesale market in the Western U.S.
PNM Resources stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under
the symbol PNM. For more information about our company, visit
PNM.com.
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