April 27, 2018 • Local News
The New Mexican: New Mexico regulators demand answers from PNM on coal silo collapse
The Public Service Company of New Mexico has 13 days to explain the cause of the March coal silo collapse and resulting fire at its San Juan Generating Station, according to an order issued Wednesday by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
The order also requires PNM to explain what repairs it plans to make and when it will make them to restore the coal-fired unit No. 1 to service at the power plant near Farmington.
Eight advocacy groups, led by Santa Fe-based New Energy Economy, petitioned the PRC on April 12 for an investigation of the collapse and fire and a cost-benefit analysis by PNM to justify the unit’s continued operation. The petition asked whether further investment in the generation plant is fair to ratepayers compared to investment in other energy sources. The San Juan Generating Station, in operation since 1973, is scheduled to close in 2022.
The PRC order also requires PNM to address the New Energy arguments for an analysis that compares the cost to repair the unit to replacing it with an alternative source of power. PRC staff was ordered to make its own assessment, due 13 days after PNM submits its response.
The silo, where coal is stored, collapsed March 17, causing an explosion and fire near unit No. 1, a 16-story structure that produces 340 megawatts of power, according to the petition by New Energy Economy and the other groups. No one was injured in the incident.
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