EMNRD leading Comprehensive Energy Transition Strategy for NM
Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor
Melanie Kenderdine, Cabinet Secretary
Ben Shelton, Deputy Cabinet Secretary
Erin Talyor , Deputy Cabinet Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Sidney Hill
Public Information Officer, EMNRD
sidney.hill@emnrd.nm.gov
May 12, 2025
EMNRD leading Comprehensive Energy Transition Strategy for NM
CETS will provide roadmap for sustainable, reliable & affordable energy future
SANTA FE, NM – The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) today launched the first of three phases of a major project to develop the state’s first Comprehensive Energy Transition Strategy, or CETS.
The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology has been selected to lead the first phase, which was announced at a workshop involving high-level energy and environmental experts from government, business and non-profit organizations.
“The CETS will address the ongoing need to provide all New Mexicans with affordable energy in the near, mid- and long-term,” said Travis Kellerman, senior climate policy advisor to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham . “This phase of the project, coupled with the two subsequent phases supported by an appropriation from the state legislature, will provide a detailed roadmap that will reinforce New Mexico’s position as a national and global leader in the energy transition."
Phase I will start with consolidating and analyzing existing policies, rules, laws, regulations and studies from multiple state agencies that make up the state’s energy ecosystem. This baseline work will identify key, successful legislative and executive acts in the last seven years and what elements have contributed to their success. The baseline will consider policy recommendations that were made but not implemented and what contributions, if any, these could make to a successful transition. Phase I will assess gaps in current policies and how they could be addressed to meet key goals of energy security, energy jobs, tribal issues and concerns, and clean energy and affordable energy.
More specifically, the phase I baseline analysis will identify key opportunities and challenges related to:
· Mapping of locations of various subsurface energy resources in New Mexico, such as geothermal energy and geologic hydrogen.
· Tribal needs and equities.
· Assessing the range of subsurface uses, including energy storage and carbon sequestration, to ensure their integrity and separation.
· Evaluating the developmental status of innovative energy technologies essential to the energy transition.
· Identifying the location, availability, and development challenges of critical minerals required for energy production and distribution.
· Developing a virtual, real-time emissions reporting and verification platform/database that reflects on the ground oil and gas operations.
· Analyzing Scope 2 and 3 emissions (indirect emissions from the use of electricity, heat or steam supplied by others, and supply chain emissions).
Additionally, the phase I analysis will evaluate current availability of relevant data, highlight critical data gaps, and establish a robust strategy for data collection to inform long-term energy and climate policy planning in New Mexico
“Building on a strong foundation laid by Gov. Lujan Grisham, the Comprehensive Energy Transition Strategy will provide a cross-cutting, analytically based roadmap for meeting the state’s energy needs,” said EMNRD Sec. Melanie Kenderdine . “New Mexico has large conventional and renewable energy resources. This roadmap will help ensure that New Mexicans have clean, affordable and reliable energy now and in the future.”
After completion of the project’s three phases—which will include deep-dive analyses of a range of options identified in phase 1 baselining, stakeholder outreach and workshops focused on regional issues—the final Comprehensive Energy Transition Strategy will provide specific recommendations that will enable and include:
· An integrated view of short-, intermediate-, and long-term objectives for state energy policy.
· Strong analytical bases to inform policies and decision-makers.
· Legislative proposals/needs/actions to inform state legislators.
· Resource requirements for RD&D and incentive programs.
· Interregional and cross-border engagement, opportunities and needs.
More than 50 high-level participants attended the workshop announcing the winner of the award for phase one of CETS. These included Dr. Mahyar Amouzegar, president of New Mexico Tech, Ernest Moniz, the 13th US Secretary of Energy, Travis Kellerman, senior climate policy advisor to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and a range of stakeholders with equities in the state’s energy future.
Key quotes from some of the workshop participants and their affiliations follow.
Rep. Meredith Dixon, NM District 20
“The energy transition presents incredible opportunities and challenges for New Mexico. The CETS initiative will provide policymakers with the clarity we need to understand where we are and where we still need to go, as we work to meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and unlock our state’s potential to become a global leader in clean and advanced energy technology. I applaud Secretary Melanie Kenderdine for her steadfast leadership and EMNRD for this data-driven approach to advancing our transition to clean energy.”
Dr. Mahyar Amouzegar, president of New Mexico Tech,
“New Mexico Tech has a long-standing tradition of collaborating closely with both state agencies and private industry to address complex energy issues. We’re proud to be part of this crucial effort to shape New Mexico’s energy future. Our primary role is ensuring policymakers have access to objective, science-based data, empowering them to make informed, practical decisions that benefit our communities, economy, and environment.”
Ernest J. Moniz, Founder and CEO, EFI Foundation
“At the U.S. Department of Energy, we led the administration’s Quadrennial Energy Review,…