N.M. Stat. § 19-13-26
Nothing in the Geothermal Resources Act [19-13-1 to 19-13-28 NMSA 1978] shall be construed to require the commissioner to offer any tract or tracts of state lands for lease. The commissioner may withhold any tract or tracts from leasing for geothermal resources purposes, if, in his opinion, the best interests of the state would be served by so doing. Nothing in the Geothermal Resources Act shall be construed to prohibit the commissioner from rejecting any application at any time prior to approval, or offering the land embraced within the application for lease by competitive bidding by sealed bids or at public auction to the bidder offering the highest bonus in addition to the annual rentals or royalties as set by the commissioner. Notice of the public sale pursuant to this section shall be given by posting in a conspicuous place in the state land office not less than ten days before the date of sale, a written notice of the sale specifying the day and hour when the sale will be held, the place where the sale will be held and a description of the state land to be offered for lease. The notice shall also state that the sale will be conducted through sealed bids or at public auction and any other information the commissioner determines is necessary. Where two or more sealed bids are received making the same offer on the same land, the commissioner shall award the lease to the land in accordance with regulations prescribed by the commissioner.
NMS § 19-13-26