Suzette Jean Haskie-Oberly Board President District 5 at Central Consolidated School District | Official website
Suzette Jean Haskie-Oberly Board President District 5 at Central Consolidated School District | Official website
The Central Consolidated School District (CCSD) has filed a Motion to Intervene and a Motion for Rehearing in Public Regulation Commission (PRC) Case No. 23-00353-UT, as announced on June 21, 2024. This action comes in response to the Energy Transition Act (ETA) passed in 2019, which significantly impacted CCSD's property tax revenues following the closure of the San Juan Generating Station and associated facilities.
The ETA includes provisions intended to mitigate the financial impact on CCSD by requiring that replacement energy resources be located within the school district. Specifically, § 62-18-3(D) NMSA mandates that "up to four hundred fifty megawatts of nameplate capacity" should be situated within the affected school district to maintain reliable service and serve public interest.
In an earlier case, No. 19-00195-UT, the PRC approved a plan allocating 430 MW of replacement resources to CCSD. However, while a 300MW resource proceeded as planned, a proposed 130MW project known as Rockmont was delayed and eventually canceled. Despite this setback, PNM has not sought alternative projects within CCSD's taxable area but instead requested additional resources from the PRC without acknowledging their status as SJGS replacement resources.
This situation has led to significant economic repercussions for San Juan County and CCSD. The abandonment of SJGS resulted in job losses and a reported 700% increase in student homelessness since its closure. The district's predominantly Native American student population faces substantial challenges; approximately 30% lack basic utilities such as electricity and running water, with figures rising to an estimated 70% in remote areas.
Steve Carlson, Superintendent of CCSD, highlighted these issues: “Without adequate bonding capacity and property tax revenues, CCSD will be unable to correct years of historic underfunding of school facilities in our District." Suzette Haskie-Oberly, School President for CCSD, echoed these concerns: “Our children, families and communities have borne the brunt of the energy transition for long enough."
CCSD is urging the PRC to vacate its current order and assign a hearing examiner for further proceedings to enforce compliance with both the ETA and prior decisions regarding replacement resources.
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