New Mexico tribe awaits state ruling on $11.25M easement deal

Thursday, June 28, 2012  

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will decide whether to approve a $11.25 easement agreement between Ohkay Owingeh and Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative.

The reservation hosts a high concentration of the utility's lines, transformers and substations. But prior agreements were almost never written down, leading to uncertainty for the tribe.

"This time we had the ability to represent ourselves more professionally than before," Ben Lujan, the tribe's sheriff, who handled negotiations, told The Santa Fe New Mexican.

The Public Regulation Commission held a hearing on the deal last week. The utility said a favorable decision is expected next month.

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