CONSIDERATION OF RPS IN GRID MODERNIZATION

HB 337 amends New Mexico's grid modernization grant program to require that the energy department explicitly consider how proposed projects help meet the state's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) when evaluating applications. The bill directly affects entities applying for grants, including municipalities, schools, universities, tribal nations, and rural communities. It adds RPS compliance as a specific evaluation factor alongside other criteria like grid efficiency, technology innovation, and economic development. This change ensures grant-funded projects actively support New Mexico's renewable energy goals without altering the existing RPS requirements. The amendment integrates RPS considerations into the grant program's assessment process for grid modernization initiatives.