New Mexico panel blindsides Facebook with $39M bill

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A powerful regulatory authority in New Mexico is requiring the state’s largest utility to bill Facebook $39 million for a new transmission line construction.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the Public Regulation Commission’s surprising decision Tuesday orders Public Service Company of New Mexico to charge Facebook for nearly half the cost of the $85 million transmission project for its New Mexico data center.

State officials and economic development professionals say the decision could be seen as reneging on the commission’s previous commitments and hurt New Mexico’s efforts to attract more large companies.

The Menlo Park, California-based Facebook says the ruling could affect its long-term operations in the state. It says such a requirement raises costs and puts in doubt plans to provide 100 percent renewable energy to run the facility.

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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com