New Mexico recently launched a first-of-its kind energy information platform that gives researchers, policymakers, businesses and the public a single source for data on the state’s energy production, emissions and infrastructure– and it was created in part by the state’s leading STEM institution, New Mexico Tech. 

The DETECT platform, which stands for Data for the Energy Transition, Economy, Climate  Change and Technologies, was developed by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural  Resources Department (EMNRD) and New Mexico Tech.  Its recent release is a test version; New Mexicans are encouraged to explore the platform and submit  feedback through the site.  

EMNRD Acting Secretary Erin Taylor said DETECT is an “important step towards a truly one-stop shop for all of New Mexico’s energy data.  There is  much more to add. We believe this state-specific platform is unique and look forward to public  input as we continue building out its capabilities.”  

The DETECT platform combines multiple publicly-available data sources in one place — including from state agencies, the federal government and public utilities. It provides an  interactive platform that helps users visualize trends and patterns in New Mexico’s energy  landscape. DETECT is not meant to replace existing agency systems; instead, it connects and  aligns datasets that already exist to make them more useful. DETECT will ultimately serve as a  comprehensive hub for energy-related data, providing transparency and accessibility to  support informed decision-making across the state. 

Officials from EMNRD and New Mexico Tech recognized the need for this type of platform  during their ongoing work on developing New Mexico’s Comprehensive Energy Transition  Strategy. They discovered that there has been a major shift over the past several years in how  the state produces and uses energy, manages emissions, maintains electric reliability, supports  affordability and navigates economic change across regions and sectors. This shift has been  accompanied by a surge in energy-related data that is scattered across agencies, systems, formats and reporting methods. That fragmentation can make it hard to answer strategic  questions about our state’s energy past, present and future. 

“I’m glad to lead New Mexico Tech’s work on the DETECT prototype in partnership with EMNRD. This was a strong team effort with our project partners and many state agencies,” said Jean-Lucien Fonquergne, Research Engineer with the PRRC at New Mexico Tech and the founder of the New Mexico Energy Initiatives Consortium. “There is still much more data to integrate and analysis to develop, and I look forward to helping build DETECT into a valuable resource for New Mexico through the end of the year and hopefully beyond.”

The DETECT website is available at https://detectnm.com. Feedback can be submitted  directly through the site.