News Release

Oct. 10, 2003

U.S. Sen. Bingaman, NMPIRG and New Mexico
Businesses Sign Up for Renewable Power

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Albuquerque: PNM added five government, business and non-profit leaders to its list of customers who have shown their commitment to the environment by purchasing wind-generated electricity through PNM Sky Blue.

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG), Whole Foods Market, Page One Bookstore and Newsstand, and Johnson & Johnson Ethicon Endo-Surgery today signed up for PNM Sky Blue, a voluntary program that allows customers to purchase renewable energy for a small monthly premium.

Bingaman, a longtime advocate for renewable energy, signed up to have 90 percent of the electric use at his Santa Fe residence met with energy from PNM Sky Blue, the highest participation rate available to residential customers.

"We need to move in the direction of using more renewable energy," Bingaman said during a sign-up ceremony this morning. "I'm very pleased to see that PNM is leading the way in that regard."

Jeanne Bassett, executive director of non-profit, non-partisan NMPIRG, also lauded PNM Sky Blue. "Besides good public policy, the second component to developing our vast renewable resources is through consumer choice — and that is where PNM's Sky Blue program comes in," Bassett said. "New Mexicans now have an opportunity to go beyond the 10 percent base load that is being phased in over time and send the message they want the immediate additional development of renewable energy sources."

Bassett signed NMPIRG's Albuquerque office at the 90 percent participation rate. She estimated it would cost NMPIRG only an additional $6 a month.

Sonya Woodhouse, facility engineer for Ethicon Endo-Surgery said, "We have to find other ways to support our environment, and this is a way to do it." Woodhouse, who toured the New Mexico Wind Energy Center in May, remarked, "After I took that tour, I said, 'We have to do this.' "

Steve Stout, owner of locally-owned Page One Bookstore and Newsstand, said he would urge his customers and the local business community to follow his lead in signing up for PNM Sky Blue. "We are your community," he said.

Jamie Bair, manager of Whole Foods Market, which has locations in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe, said purchasing renewable energy supported her company's motto: Whole Food, Whole People, Whole Planet. "PNM Sky Blue helps create that symbiotic circle," Bair said.

Customers interested in subscribing to PNM Sky Blue can do so online by visiting PNM.com, by calling PNM, by visiting a PNM walk-in office or by sending in a form they will find in their October PNM bill.