New Mexico Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in New Mexico. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for New Mexico. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
- State leadership
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for New Mexico
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
New Mexico has significant reserves of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. The state accounts for 10% of U.S. natural gas production. And like other states in the region, New Mexico is experiencing a boom in natural gas drilling and exploration.
Read a more complete energy summary for New Mexico, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) New Mexico Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 352 (million Btu) |
State rank | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 296.8 (million Btu) |
State rank | 15 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | -0.2% | State rank | 40 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 3.3% | State rank | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 1,260 (million kWh) |
State rank | 25 |
New Mexico has a traditional regulated market for electric power. Electricity consumption is growing at 3.3% per year, which is half-again higher than the national average. The population is growing at 1.5% per year, which is also higher than the national average.
New Mexico contains significant wind energy resources, especially in the western and southern parts of the state. The state ranks 12th among states with wind energy potential. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the state had 498 megawatts of installed wind capacity at the beginning of 2008. Read more New Mexico electric power and renewable energy statistics published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 33% of all energy consumption in New Mexico, which makes it the second largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy, after industry. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in New Mexico from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 504 (gallons) |
State rank | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 6,004,622 (gallons) |
State rank | 24 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 75 | State rank | 12 |
The following coalitions are associated with DOE Clean Cities, which promotes the use of alternative fuels and helps build infrastructure to support alternative fuel vehicles in New Mexico:
- Land of Enchantment
| Population | 1,916,000 | State rank | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 56.7% | State rank | 36 |
| Annual population growth rate | 1.5% | State rank | 13 |
| Per capita personal income | $27,889 | State rank | 46 |
| Gross state product | $75,910 (million) |
State rank | 37 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for New Mexico put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
New Mexico has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
State Leadership
Governor Bill Richardson (D) began serving as governor in 2003. Previously, he served for 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy.
The New Mexico Legislature is composed of a senate with 42 members and a house of representatives with 70 members. The legislature is usually in regular session for 2-3 months starting in January. The senate majority leader is Michael S. Sanchez (D). The senate minority leader is Stuart Ingle (R). The speaker for the house of representatives is Ben Lujan (D).
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission regulates the utilities, telecommunications, motor-carrier, and insurance industries. The commission chairman is Ben R. Lujan.
The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department administers the DOE State Energy Program in New Mexico and advises the state's executive and elected leaders about energy policy. The office director is Fernando R. Martinez. The DOE State Energy Program publishes contact information for the New Mexico energy office.