Rep. Eliseo Alcon House District 6 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) has rejected El Paso Electric's proposal to construct a 228-megawatt natural-gas generator. The decision was unanimous, with the commission citing the company's failure to adhere to the Energy Transition Act requirements.
Communities near the proposed plant site, including Chaparral, NM, and northern El Paso County, already experience air quality issues that breach federal standards for ozone and other pollutants. The new generator would have exacerbated these conditions. El Paso Electric now faces a decision on whether to proceed with the project solely for its Texas customers. Meanwhile, local groups are encouraging the El Paso City Council to reject the plant at a municipal level.
Over 1,200 residents of New Mexico submitted comments opposing the generator to the PRC. A coalition of local organizations—including Chaparral residents, Sunrise El Paso, neighborhood faith leaders from Interfaith Power and Light, Earthworks, Vote Solar, and Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter—advocated for clean energy solutions and healthier air quality.
The commission followed hearing examiner Elizabeth Hurst's recommendation in denying EPE’s request. Hurst sided with the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy in determining that the plant did not serve public interest.
Contact information for members of the commission is available: Valerie Espinoza (Valerie.Espinoza@state.nm.us), Cynthia Hall (Cynthia.Hall@state.nm.us), Jefferson Byrd (Jeff.Byrd@state.nm.us), Theresa Becenti-Aguilar (T.Becenti@state.nm.us), Stephen Fischmann (stephen.fischmann@state.nm.us).
