As the United States attempts to wean itself from its dependence on foreign fossil fuels and unsustainable energy sources,  the State Land Office is playing a pivotal role in the development of clean renewable energy supplies.

 

Over the course of his tenure, Commissioner Lyons has leased thousands of acres of state trust lands for wind, biomass, and solar energy-sourced electric power production. Renewable energy projects are principal in the Land Office's efforts to diversify its leasing portfolio, generate additional sources of revenue for the trust's beneficiaries, and create economic growth opportunities and jobs in New Mexico.

 

Currently, New Mexico ranks twelfth in terms of measured potential wind capacity, second in the nation for solar potential, and provides "significant" bioenergy resources from overgrown range and forests.

 

Wind power is the fastest growing of the renewable energy technologies, and, in New Mexico, there are nearly 500 megawatts of wind power being generated currently, or enough energy to power approximately 250,000 homes at average consumption patterns.  if New Mexico were to reach full capacity, 49,700 megawatts of wind-sourced electric power could be generated.

 

Commissioner Lyons has leased, or optioned for lease 115,721 acres of trust lands for wind energy power plant development.  The combined earning power of the six wind power plants currently under lease approaches $55 million over the course of their prospective 35-year terms.

 

He continues to aggressively pursue other energy companies to locate in New Mexico and right now the Land Office is negotiating with nine development companies that have expressed an interest in investing in the state's wind energy generation portfolio - representing an additional 400,760 acres of submitted applications for wind power plant development.

 

Generating electricity from the selective removal of excess biomass from overgrown forests, river basins and rangelands, not only creates energy but is a practical and economical means of addressing land management concerns.  Commissioner Lyons has leased close to 56,000 acres of trust lands for biomass energy production which would ultimately heat homes, schools, and businesses.

 

With New Mexico's legislative and executive leaders continuing to drive an agenda that calls for utilities to meet renewable portfolio standards, in parallel, the commissioner endeavors to lease trust lands wherever it makes sense around the trust land system for construction of wind, solar, and biomass-oriented projects, as well as new and augmented electricity transmission lines in the state.