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SENATE MEMORIAL 16
57
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Pat Woods and Pat Boone
A MEMORIAL
EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ESTABLISH
A NATIONAL INTEREST ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION CORRIDOR IN EASTERN
NEW MEXICO.
WHEREAS, the United States department of energy has
designated a substantial portion of land stretching across
eastern New Mexico as a potential location for the
"southwestern grid connector national interest transmission
corridor"; and
WHEREAS, the national interest electric transmission
corridor proposed for New Mexico is intended to facilitate the
development of an electric transmission system aimed at meeting
national energy demands; and
WHEREAS, spanning between three to fifteen miles in width,
this corridor seeks to pave the way for transmission developers
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to build vital infrastructure for energy delivery and storage;
and
WHEREAS, heavy industrial transmission infrastructure and
dangerous battery storage for renewable energy could be
developed within this corridor and nearby areas; and
WHEREAS, while the designation of this corridor is
intended to enhance the nation's energy grid and support
renewable energy growth, many are raising concerns about
potential risks to local communities and the environment; and
WHEREAS, the designation of this corridor in eastern New
Mexico has the potential to adversely affect farming, ranching
and small businesses throughout the region, with particular
concern over the use of eminent domain, which would grant the
government or private entities the authority to seize land from
its owners without their consent; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico's farming and ranching communities are
central to the state's economy and cultural identity, providing
agricultural products, livestock and open spaces that sustain
local businesses, jobs and traditions; and
WHEREAS, the use of eminent domain to acquire land for the
construction of transmission lines would force farmers and
ranchers to give up valuable land that has been passed down
through generations, potentially disrupting long-established
operations, displacing family-run businesses and diminishing
economic security for thousands of families in rural areas; and
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WHEREAS, the designation of a national interest electric
transmission corridor in eastern New Mexico would impose
significant burdens on small businesses, particularly those in
rural areas that rely on the local land for their livelihoods.
The loss of land or access to essential resources could
endanger the viability of these businesses, many of which do
not have the financial resources or operational capacity to
withstand the disruption that may be caused by the designation
of a national interest electric transmission corridor in
eastern New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, farming and ranching operations rely heavily on
the land for grazing, crop production, water access and
infrastructure. The establishment of electric transmission
lines, towers and associated infrastructure on private
agricultural land could pose a serious threat to soil health,
water resources and the ability to conduct business in a way
that aligns with sustainable practices, leading to long-term
financial damage and ecological harm; and
WHEREAS, farming and ranching families are often forced
into difficult decisions when faced with eminent domain,
including selling off parts of their land or accepting
compensation that does not accurately reflect the loss of their
heritage, business or livelihood; and
WHEREAS, small businesses in rural areas depend on the
stability of their local economy, which is tied to the ability
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of farmers and ranchers to operate effectively. The
designation of a national interest electric transmission
corridor in eastern New Mexico could increase operating costs,
lead to land fragmentation and reduce land values, potentially
resulting in the closure or relocation of many small
businesses; and
WHEREAS, the property tax revenues in several eastern New
Mexico counties will be negatively affected by the land being
acquired by the federal government via eminent domain; and
WHEREAS, the use of eminent domain for transmission
projects resulting from the designation of a national interest
electric transmission corridor in eastern New Mexico could
potentially benefit large corporations and government agencies
at the expense of local communities and private landowners,
with minimal direct benefit to those who are most impacted; and
WHEREAS, farmers, ranchers and small business owners are
the backbone of New Mexico's economy and should be supported in
their efforts to maintain their businesses, protect their land
and contribute to the continued success and prosperity of the
state; and
WHEREAS, there is a need for comprehensive and fair
alternatives to eminent domain that would balance the need for
infrastructure development with the protection of local
economies, landowners' rights and sustainable agricultural
practices;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO that the senate strongly oppose the southwestern
grid connector national interest transmission corridor and the
use of eminent domain in eastern New Mexico, as it threatens
the viability of farming, ranching and small businesses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate call on all
policymakers, agencies and developers to reconsider and avoid
the use of eminent domain to establish a national interest
electrical transmission corridor in eastern New Mexico and to
instead seek alternative solutions that prioritize local
economies, respect private property rights and ensure the
continued vitality of New Mexico's agricultural and small
business sectors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate urge lawmakers and
decision makers to work with impacted communities to develop
solutions that respect landowners' rights while meeting energy
infrastructure needs through collaborative, noninvasive means
that do not jeopardize local livelihoods or cultural heritage;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate urge the members of
the New Mexico congressional delegation to oppose and take
appropriate action to prevent the United States department of
energy from using eminent domain to seize private property in
eastern New Mexico for use as an electric transmission
corridor; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the United States secretary of energy, the New
Mexico congressional delegation and the governor.
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