Solar power companies hoping to peddle renewable energy to Public Service Company of New Mexico [PNM] customers received approval on Tuesday from the state’s Public Regulation Commission.

Todays ruling cleared the way for private companies to set up renewable energy systems on property belonging to schools, cities and other organizations that couldnt take advantage of alternative energy tax incentives before, because of their tax-exempt status.

For months, Santa Fe has been in talks with the solar power provider Sun Edison to put solar panels at places like the airport, convention center, and other city buildings. Todays ruling allows the city to have solar panels installed and maintained for free, then buy clean electricity for less than PNM is selling.

But PNM, the states largest electricity provider, is challenging that decision.

PNM says those kind of deals aren’t fair because, by law, regulated public utility companies are required to keep producing and maintaining electricity for the entire state.

The utility companies challenging the decision say their customers will end up footing the bill through rate increases when big end users start looking elsewhere for energy.

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