New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico SB78: NUCLEAR ENERGY AS RENEWABLE ENERGY
Status: In committee, February 4, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to utilities; adding nuclear energy to the list of renewable energy sources that satisfy the renewable portfolio standard for public utilities and rural electric cooperatives.
From the introduced text, January 22, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO UTILITIES; ADDING NUCLEAR ENERGY TO THE LIST OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES THAT SATISFY THE RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES AND RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 62-15-37 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 4, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: "62-15-37. DEFINITIONS--ENERGY EFFICIENCY--RENEWABLE ENERGY.--As used in the Rural Electric Cooperative Act: A. "energy efficiency" means measures, including energy conservation measures, or programs that target consumer behavior, equipment or devices to result in a decrease in consumption of electricity without reducing the amount or quality of energy services; B. "renewable energy" means electric energy .232374.2 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ generated by use of renewable energy resources and delivered to a rural electric cooperative; C. "renewable energy certificate" means a certificate or other record, in a format approved by the public regulation commission, that represents all the environmental attributes from one megawatt-hour of electricity generated from renewable energy; D. "renewable energy resource" means electric or useful thermal energy: (1) generated by use of the following energy resources, with or without energy storage and delivered to a rural electric (b) hydropower facilities brought in service on or after July 1, 2007; (c) other hydropower facilities supplying no greater than the …
Sponsors
- Anthony L. Thornton (R, SD-019) · primary sponsor
- Meredith A. Dixon (D, HD-020)
- John Block (R, HD-051)
- Cathrynn N. Brown (R, HD-055)
- Nicole Tobiassen (R, SD-021)
- Jay C. Block (R, SD-012)
- Craig W. Brandt (R, SD-040)
- Martin Hickey (D, SD-020)
- James G. Townsend (R, SD-034)
Latest actions
- : SCC: Reported by committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session
- : Sent to SCC - Referrals: SCC/SCONC/STBTC
- : Action Postponed Indefinitely
Subjects: ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
Common questions
- What is SB78?
- SB78 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): NUCLEAR ENERGY AS RENEWABLE ENERGY.
- What does SB78 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to utilities; adding nuclear energy to the list of renewable energy sources that satisfy the renewable portfolio standard for public utilities and rural electric cooperatives.
- What is the status of SB78?
- In committee as of February 4, 2026. Latest action: SCC: Reported by committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session (February 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB78?
- Anthony L. Thornton (R, SD-019), with 8 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB78?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legType=B&legNo=78&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.