New Mexico Register / Volume XXXIV, Issue 3 / February 14, 2023

 

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND RULEMAKING

 

The State of New Mexico, The Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECMD) of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) hereby gives notice of the following proposed rulemaking.  EMNRD proposes to adopt 19.1.10 NMAC, Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) Program.

 

Purpose of Rule.  In 2022, the Legislature passed the Community Energy Efficiency Development Block Grant Act, directing ECMD to establish a Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) Program.  The statute delineated entities eligible for CEED Program funding, established project requirements and selection consideration, and provided a definition of community energy efficiency projects.  The Act required EMNRD to promulgate rules to establish requirements and procedures for applying for a CEED Program grant.

 

19.1.10 NMAC, Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) Program.  ECMD proposes to solicit community energy efficiency projects that provide improvements to residential buildings in underserved communities that will, in the aggregate, reduce energy consumption, energy-related operating costs, carbon intensity of energy consumption, or a combination thereof.  These projects will target the adoption of energy-efficient consumer behavior, equipment, or devices that result in a decrease in energy consumption without reducing the amount or quality of energy services.

 

The rule establishes procedures for administering the program, adopts application requirements and evaluation criteria, and defines the purposes and qualifications for which CEED Program funding may be utilized. The rule will apply to all eligible entities, which includes Indian nations, tribes, or pueblos; counties; municipalities; or the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.  Stakeholders were engaged in the development of the Rule.

 

Legal Authority.  EMNRD proposes the rules under the authority of Subsection B of 62-17A-3 and Subsection E of 9-1-5, NMSA 1978.

 

The full text of the proposed rules are available from the EMNRD, Energy Conservation and Management Division, 1220 S. St Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505; at https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/ecmd/ecmd-public-notices; or by contacting Dana Howard at Dana.Howard@emnrd.nm.gov; telephone (505) 395-0855.

 

Public Hearing and Comment.  EMNRD will hold a virtual public hearing on the proposed rules at 10 am on March 17, 2023.  The public may join the hearing virtually through WebEx using one of the following:

 

Grid Modernization Grant Program Rule Public Hearing

Date and time:

Tuesday, March 17, 2023, 10:00 am | (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)

 

Join link:

https://nmemnrd.webex.com/nmemnrd/j.php?MTID=m525cd97fc6e980d11257f2a618ab9734

 

Webinar number:

2483 485 9855

 

Webinar password:

1qQASZX887 (17727998 from phones)

 

Join by phone

1-844-992-4726 United States Toll Free

+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

 

Access code: 2483 485 9855

 

Those wishing to comment on the proposed rules may make oral comments or submit written comments at the hearing or may submit written comments by March 17, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. by mail or e-mail. Please mail written comments to Dana Howard, EMNRD, Energy Conservation and Management Division, 1220 S. St Francis Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 or submit them by e-mail to Dana.Howard@emnrd.nm.gov.

 

If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing, please contact Dana Howard at (505) 395-0855 or the New Mexico Relay Network at 1-800-659-1779 two weeks prior to the hearing.  Public documents can be provided in various accessible formats.  Please contact Dana Howard at (505) 395-0855 if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed.