Enchanted Thoughts
By Vince Martinez, CEO
With the holidays in our rearview mirror and 2025 just a memory, we can look forward to an active 2026.
The New Mexico Legislature kicks off its 30-day session at high noon Jan. 20 and wraps up at noon Feb. 19. As always, several pieces of proposed legislation could affect rural electric cooperatives. Some we know about, and others we won’t know about until the session starts.
Ensuring rural electric cooperatives are protected from bankruptcy due to wildfires is one of our priorities. As we face higher liability insurance premiums and only half the coverage we once had, New Mexico’s rural electric cooperatives are working with a broad group of stakeholders to mitigate wildfire liability.
Legislation concerning the impact of data centers, microgrids and renewable energy standards will be debated. Cooperatives support the economic development and tremendous potential data centers offer, and we must ensure they are not realized on the backs of cooperatives and their members.
I encourage you to follow legislative activities and reach out to your representatives with your thoughts and concerns. You can watch and participate in the legislative committees and watch the floor sessions live at nmlegis.gov.
Stay warm and safe.