ENERGIZING NEW MEXICO
As a State Representative, I have been a leader in innovative energy legislation. In order for New Mexico to achieve its potential, we must position ourselves to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the increased demand for energy worldwide. As Lieutenant Governor, I will continue my commitment to energy independence, to sustainable and affordable energy, and to ensuring responsible stewardship of our environment.
A comprehensive energy strategy for New Mexico has five key components:
Developing renewable energy sources
Expanding the energy transmission infrastructure
Advancing technologies and processes that optimize fossil fuel resources
Promoting energy conservation
Leveraging in-state energy research and development
1. Renewable Energy. The urgency for investment in renewable energy is twofold. First, we need to produce fewer pollutants and mitigate the harm of global warming. Second, we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, a drain on our national economy and much of the cause of our growing trade deficit.
Fortunately, New Mexico has the capability to achieve significant power generation through solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass resources. The expansion of the renewable energy industry in New Mexico will benefit our economy through the creation of new jobs and the establishment of a new export industry.
Education programs that prepare our workforce for these new jobs are essential. With Mesalands College (Tucumcari) enrolling its first class of students in the Associate Degree in Wind Energy Technology program, New Mexico is well positioned to be a leader in alternative energy.
As a state representative, I have supported the expansion of the renewable energy industry and the development of the Renewable Portfolio Standards, which establishes goals and timelines for energy diversification. As Lieutenant Governor, I will continue to be a champion for renewable energy.
2. Energy Transmission Infrastructure. Enhanced transmission capacity is fundamental for the expansion of renewable energy production in New Mexico, for the diversification of our energy portfolio, and for the creation of better paying jobs for New Mexicans. New Mexico must build new transmission lines in order to transfer renewable power throughout the state, and to export clean renewable energy to out-of-state markets.
I led the effort to increase transmission capacity through my sponsorship of the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority, which brings together producers, carriers and consumers of renewable energy. I will continue my leadership in energy infrastructure expansion, as Lieutenant Governor.
3. Optimizing Fossil Fuel Resources.
New Mexico ranks number seven in oil production, number eight in natural gas production and number 12 in coal production in the United States according to the most recent data from the Energy Information Administration. New Mexico is one of the country's leading fossil fuel energy producers and these industries produce jobs and revenue for the state. Fossil fuels are a critical component for continued economic growth in New Mexico. The challenge is to extract these resources and produce energy from these fuels with a minimized impact on the environment.
As Lieutenant Governor, I will work closely with fossil fuel energy producers to ensure production efficiencies and to employ technologies and policies that result in responsible stewardship of our environment.
4. Promotion of Energy Conservation.
Each of us has a role in reducing energy consumption at home and at work. There are simple ways we can reduce our energy consumption such as switching over to compact fluorescent lighting and carpooling.
In addition, there are strategies to enable less energy consumption at the city, county, and state level. Examples of energy conservation initiatives include facilitating public transportation, enabling expanded recycling, instituting smart traffic control systems, and providing options for telecommuting.
As Lieutenant Governor, I will seek out new ideas for energy conservation, promote energy conservation initiatives, and provide leadership in creating new energy conservation incentives.
5. Leveraging In-state Energy Research & Development.
New Mexico is a leader in energy research and development led by the Department of Energy’s Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, UNM’s Energy Laboratory, and NMSU’s Institute for Energy and the Environment. The world class research and development within New Mexico’s academic, government, and private enterprise communities positions New Mexico to be a leader in achieving sustainable affordable energy and energy independence.
As Lieutenant Governor, I will seek and promote partnerships between state government and the leaders in energy research and development to ensure that research funding is robust and that technology transfer is realized.
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