Environmental Highlights 2014 - pnmprod

Boy thumbs up

PNM has been helping customers save energy and money through our energy efficiency programs for eight years.
Since 2007, residential and business customers have earned $44 million in rebates and saved almost 1.5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), enough energy to serve approximately 205,000 homes for a year. But energy isn't the only thing they're saving ¿ the programs have also saved an estimated 905,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 481 million gallons of water.
In 2014 alone, the energy efficiency programs generated approximately 75 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy savings for customers, enough to power approximately 10,417 homes for a year. PNM submitted a new program filing to the PRC (Public Regulation Commission) in 2014 to request an increase in the company's investment in energy efficiency programs and to expand the offerings to include a new multi-family program for apartment buildings.
As a result of customer participation, we have exceeded the 2014 state-mandated energy savings goal by about 3 percent.

Girl with owl

Sometimes birds can collide with power lines because they are unable to see them during flight. In 2014, PNM installed bird flight diverters on 19 transmission and distribution line crossings on the Rio Grande, which is a major thoroughfare for migrating birds.
We continued our avian protection efforts by making over 1,600 poles in sensitive locations throughout the state safe for birds.
Through use of a vehicle GPS system, PNM reduced the number of miles travelled and fuel used, reducing fleet vehicle carbon emissions by 1,245 metric tons. In addition, PNM started moving our fleet to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, adding ten new bucket trucks and six plug-in hybrid pickup trucks.
Since 2002, we have reduced fresh water usage on a gallon-per-megawatt hour basis by 25 percent through improved plant operations, the use of greywater and air for cooling, and the addition of renewables.

In 2014, the PNM Fund awarded $250,000 in Reduce Your Use Grants to more than 50 non-profit organizations throughout PNM service areas to help them reduce energy use and put more money into their missions. Organizations used grant monies for a variety of different energy saving projects, including upgrading to more efficient lighting, replacing inefficient appliances, replacing windows, plus adding solar shades and panels.
The PNM Fund also awarded $500,000 in PNM Power Up Grants to non-profit organizations for innovative projects that helped to build stronger and more vibrant communities. Some of the projects funded include:

The New Mexico Water Collaborative was awarded $15,000 to support the installation of plant material in a 1.5 acre storm water detention pond and around a perimeter walking path at the Sawmill Community Land Trust in Albuquerque.
The Nature Conservancy of New Mexico was awarded $15,000 to develop a half-mile loop trail adjacent to the Gila River at the Iron Bridge Conservation Area, only half an hour from the town of Silver City. The trail will improve accessibility, making it easier for youth and school groups to participate in educational programs such as the Children's Water Festival.
The Commonweal Conservancy in Santa Fe was awarded $50,000 to create and develop a 60-seat, multi-use outdoor amphitheater adjacent to the Galisteo Basin Preserve's most popular trailhead to host community gatherings and use as an outdoor classroom to expand engagement and participation in the Preserve's stewardship and conservation efforts.

In 2014, PNM continued to expand its use of renewable energy resources. The company installed 23 megawatts (MW) of new photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facilities at three sites in Valencia, Cibola, and Sandoval Counties. These resources are more cost-efficient than earlier solar investments and use advanced tracking technology that shifts the solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day.
We also received PRC approval to add 40 MW of additional solar PV, and construction is scheduled to be completed by end of this year.
By the end of 2015, PNM will have invested approximately $270 million in 107 MW of solar energy at 15 solar plants located throughout the state. The combined one million panels will produce energy equivalent to serving 39,600 homes.
In early 2014, PNM began receiving energy from the state's first geothermal energy plant, which is located near Animas, NM.
In early 2015, PNM added wind energy from the 102-MW Red Mesa Wind Energy Center project to our existing portfolio.
PNM's combined renewable energy resources in 2015 will produce over 960,000 MWhs of electricity, enough to power 134,000 New Mexico homes.

Boy with checked shirt

By the end of 2014, more than 4,600 PNM customers were participating in our customer solar program, receiving Renewable Energy Credits and net metering benefits. More than 3,600 customers were participating in the PNM Sky Blue voluntary renewable program to purchase additional wind and solar energy, resulting in the purchase of 1,459,011 kWh of renewable energy.
PNM continued to reduce emissions at its coal plant through more efficient operations. Since 2006, the San Juan Generating Station, our largest power plant, has reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 42 percent, sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 67 percent and particulate matter by 70 percent. San Juan Generating Station has very low mercury emissions that are well below the federal Mercury Air Toxics Standard as well below all other state mercury limits imposed across the country.

In 2014, our New Mexico facilities recycled approximately 10,427 tons of materials, meeting our third, multi-year solid waste reduction goal in the last decade. The resources saved through this recycling are equivalent to conserving 2,292 households' energy consumption, 43,411 barrels of oil or 2,030,131 gallons of gasoline.
Twelve out of 13 PNM facilities increased their diversion rates from the previous year. As a result of our diversion efforts, more than 37,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions were reduced from PNM's operations.
Through our customer Refrigerator Recycling Program, we recycled 8,394 refrigerators and freezers, including 525 tons of metal, 105 tons of plastic, 42 tons of insulating foam and 13 tons of glass. Additionally, 3,672 pounds of refrigerant and 656 gallons of compressor oil were kept out of landfills.