Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., recently announced that Lisa Szot, formerly a transmission engineer and executive at BP and the California Independent System Operator, will be the first executive director of the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA), beginning in January 2008.
RETA was established by the 2007 state legislature to help plan and develop the transmission systems necessary to move New Mexico's renewable energy to in-state and out-of-state markets. The board of directors was appointed this fall.
‘This position is critical in achieving New Mexico's vision of clean energy throughout the state and the Southwest region,’ says Richardson.
Szot is currently BP's manager of renewable energy transmission in Houston.
‘New Mexico can provide a lot of its own electric needs as well as other states' with its wind, solar and geothermal energy,’ says Szot. ‘Governor Richardson, the legislature and the Public Regulation Commission have put RETA in position to be very influential in the West's energy future.’
