CREATE OFFICE OF ENERGY INFO

HB0284

HOUSE BILL 284

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Meredith A. Dixon
and
Kristina Ortez
and
Tara L. Lujan

AN ACT

RELATING TO ENERGY; CREATING THE OFFICE OF ENERGY INFORMATION;
PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES; CONVENING THE ENERGY INFORMATION
WORKING GROUP; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1.
A new section of Chapter 71 NMSA 1978 is
enacted to read:

"[
NEW MATERIAL
] OFFICE OF ENERGY INFORMATION--ADMINISTRATIVELY ATTACHED--POWERS AND DUTIES.--

A. As used in this section, "energy-sector entity"
means a person engaged in:

(1) ownership or control of mineral fuel
resources or nonmineral energy resources;

(2) exploration for or development of mineral
fuel resources;

(3) extraction of mineral fuel or nonmineral
energy resources;

(4) refining, milling or otherwise processing
mineral fuels or nonmineral energy resources;

(5) the storage of mineral fuels or nonmineral
energy resources;

(6) the generation, transmission or storage of
electrical energy;

(7) the transportation of mineral fuels or
nonmineral energy resources; or

(8) wholesale or retail distribution of
mineral fuels, nonmineral energy resources or electrical
energy.

B. The "office of energy information" is created
and is administratively attached to the energy, minerals and
natural resources department. The energy, minerals and natural
resources department shall provide administrative services for
the office of energy information.

C. On or before July 31, 2026, the director of the
office of energy information shall be appointed by the governor
with the advice and consent of the senate. Subject to
appropriations, the director may hire staff as necessary to
carry out the powers and duties of the office of energy
information.

D. The office of energy information shall:

(1) assess existing relevant energy and
emissions data collection and reporting across executive
agencies;

(2) consult with the Indian affairs department
to create a protocol for acquiring and analyzing energy and
emissions data from Indian nations, tribes and pueblos that
will then be included in a data collection framework;

(3) at least annually, require energy-sector
entities to submit energy and emissions data in a form
specified by the office of energy information, including:

(a) all significant energy-related
functions within the energy-sector entity, sorted by energy
source and geographic area;

(b) costs associated with exploration,
development, production, processing, transportation and other
significant energy-related functions within the energy-sector
entity;

(c) the quantity of fuels consumed,
using standardized units of measurement identified by the
office of energy information;

(d) energy expenditures;

(e) fuel switching capabilities;

(f) uses of nonpurchased sources of
energy, such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, waste
byproducts and cogeneration;

(g) volumes of imports and exports of
energy in and out of New Mexico;

(h) water used during energy generation;
and

(i) other information that the office of
energy information deems relevant;

(4) make energy and emissions data publicly
accessible, while protecting against the release of proprietary
business information, trade secrets or other confidential
information;

(5) analyze the data provided by executive
agencies, Indian nations, tribes and pueblos and energy-sector
entities to produce an annual report that includes:

(a) an analysis of the competitive
structure of sectors and functional groupings within the energy
industry;

(b) a list of the energy-related
functions of energy-sector entities within New Mexico, sorted
by energy source and geographic area;

(c) costs associated with exploration,
development, production, processing, transportation and other
significant energy-related functions within the energy-sector
entity; and

(d) other analyses or evaluations that
the office of energy information deems relevant; and

(6) beginning on January 1, 2027 and on every
January 1 thereafter, publish the annual report in a form that:

(a) is publicly accessible and
transparent; and

(b) protects against the release of
proprietary business information, trade secrets or other
confidential information from individual facilities and
operations.

E. The energy, minerals and natural resources
department; the department of environment; the economic
development department; the department of transportation; the
New Mexico department of agriculture; the homeland security and
emergency management department; the public regulation
commission; the Indian affairs department; the state land
office; and the New Mexico renewable energy transmission
authority shall provide energy and emissions data requested by
the office of energy information.

F. The office of energy information may:

(1) promulgate rules regarding the collection
of energy and emissions data, including the form and schedule
for reporting that the office deems appropriate to meet the
requirements pursuant to this section; and

(2) conduct other studies and publish findings
that the director deems relevant to inform policymakers and the
public with objective energy and emissions data and analysis."

SECTION 2.
TEMPORARY PROVISION--ENERGY INFORMATION
WORKING GROUP.--

A. On or before August 31, 2026, the secretary of
energy, minerals and natural resources shall convene a working
group composed of:

(1) the secretary of energy, minerals and
natural resources;

(2) the director of the office of energy
information;

(3) a representative from the department of
environment;

(4) a representative from the economic
development department;

(5) a representative from the department of
transportation;

(6) a representative from the New Mexico
department of agriculture;

(7) a representative from the homeland
security and emergency management department;

(8) a representative from the workforce
solutions department;

(9) a representative from the public
regulation commission;

(10) a representative from the Indian affairs
department;

(11) a representative from the state land
office; and

(12) a representative from the New Mexico
renewable energy transmission authority.

B. On or before December 1, 2026, the energy
information working group shall identify relevant energy and
emissions data collected from energy-sector entities by the
executive agencies participating in the working group and
propose formats and permanent schedules for providing that data
to the office of energy information.

SECTION 3.
APPROPRIATION.--Three million dollars
($3,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
office of energy information for expenditure in fiscal year
2027 for staff, furniture, equipment, supplies and other costs.
Any unexpended balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2027
shall revert to the general fund.

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