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Energy / Renewable Energy (Urban & Rural)
300 days of sunshine and unlimited wind potential give the region an immense opportunity to leverage energy production and renewable energy into economic growth; not only in the development of wind, solar, and biomass, but also in new energy technology, transmission, and storage.
A strategic focus on renewables can attract key companies and talent, bring collaborative partners together, and result in initiatives like certified sites and other incentives to help create a robust real estate effort and regionwide energy “roadmap.”
Rural communities have enjoyed the payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) benefits from wind and solar projects, jobs, ancillary business development, and the creation of new markets for energy exports.
New Mexico’s Governor and state legislature passed the 100% Clean Energy Bill in 2019 to require 50% renewable energy by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 100% carbon free electricity by 2045. The City of Albuquerque set a goal to power city government with 100% renewable energy in four years.
These new standards, the state’s own natural resources, and new technologies from the National Labs and the state’s research universities give New Mexico a competitive advantage for having a strong focus on renewables, and arguably a lower cost to deliver them.
Urban Energy / Renewable Energy
| Urban | Energy / Renewable Energy |
|---|---|
| Strategies for doing this? | • Build a uniform strategy and balanced energy portfolio to transition from oil and gas to renewables • Government takes the lead with green building infrastructure, solar, energy efficiency efforts • Employ PACE (Property Assessment Clean Energy) and other tools to give private commercial businesses incentives for transitioning or deploying renewable energy solutions • Showcase and model new technologies that increase energy efficiency or use of renewables • Support the region as a center of excellence for water technologies, desalination, and energy efficiency • Support renewable energy transmission
• Utilize recommendations from NM First’s New Mexico Energy Roadmap
• Identify Opportunity Zones and market them to investors |
| How would we know if we were successful? What are the key
metrics? |
• Jobs created
• New industry attracted
• Innovation and education in energy
• NM receives national recognition for its work in clean energy |
| Who are the catalysts?
Who should be accountable for this? |
• Government –for installations and training
• Industry
• Lenders—Nusenda Credit Union, etc.
• Educators |
| How do we build resilience in this focus area? | • Use the research and development capacity of the region to assure a clean transition to renewables |
Rural Energy / Renewable Energy
| Rural | Energy / Renewable Energy |
|---|---|
| Strategies for doing this? | • Build transmission lines
• Assure that municipalities and rural communities provide private companies with a consistent message and policy framework on renewables
• Work with USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to finance
projects in rural communities • Use PACE (Property Assessment Clean Energy) as a tool to support rural
businesses with a clean transition to solar • Invest in biomass activities
• Focus on the manufacturing of renewable components to create rural
clean energy jobs • Utilize recommendations from Senator Heinrich’s Solar Toolkit
• Identify Opportunity Zones and market them to investors
• Support companies eligible for rural job tax credits • Support the alternative energy product manufacturers tax credit, biomass-related equipment deduction, and renewable energy production tax credit |
| How would we know if we were successful? What are the key
metrics? |
• When transmission lines are complete
• Increase in in-state renewable projects |
| Who are the catalysts?
Who should be accountable for this? |
• Local government; State, Governor; FAA/DOD/Air Force: all possible delays/blocks to programs, so need them engaged on board; Association of Counties, leveraged with local plans to guide development |
| How do we build resilience in this focus area? | • Through planning; workforce development (education, technical training); and collaboration in rural communities. |