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Sierra Club Lawsuits

Defending New Mexico’s Renewable Energy Program

Case Updates:

March 25, 2004

New Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson recently signed into law a requirement for the development of renewable-energy resources, thereby granting the victory pursued by the Sierra Club as an intervenor in a lawsuit brought against the state’s Public Regulations Commission by a large energy company. El Paso Electric had challenged a December 2002 state regulation that requires electric utilities to develop renewable energy resources, but the recently signed law now makes the renewable portfolio standards a state code requirement immune from legal attack.

August 1, 2003

The Sierra Club intervened as a defendant on behalf of the State of New Mexico in a lawsuit brought by a large energy company. El Paso Electric is challenging a December 2002 state regulation that requires electric utilities to develop renewable energy resources. The Sierra Club’s goal is to prevent judicial invalidation of the renewable energy mandate.

Details and Documents: