Richardson Orders Steps To Build NM Green Economy

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson on Tuesday signed an executive order outlining a plan to build a comprehensive green economy based on green jobs in the state.

The executive order includes recommendations developed by the Governor’s Green Jobs Cabinet.

The Green Jobs Cabinet identified five immediate goals for the state to realize its full green economy potential:

1. To become a leader in renewable energy export.
2.  become the center of the North American solar industry. This includes everything from research and development to manufacturing to the installation of solar elements in our buildings.
3. To lead the nation in Green Grid innovation.
4. To continue being a leader in green building and energy efficiency.
5. To have an educational system that prepares New Mexico students for jobs in green technologies.

Governor Richardson’s executive order lays out a wide scope of directives to reach these goals, and involves several state agencies, including the Economic Development Department, the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, the Indian Affairs Department, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the Public Education Department.

Governor Richardson also announced the release of the New Mexico Green Jobs Guidebook. The Guidebook provides an overview of green occupations, their education requirements, and resources available at New Mexico colleges and universities. The guidebook is available on the Economic Development Departments website.

Additionally, Governor Richardson announced he will seek legislation to expand the state’s Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit during the upcoming legislative session. The expansion will double the available credit for solar generators to one million megawatt hours. The Production Tax Credit expansion is critical for ensuring that there is an in-state market for the products from the staes growing group of solar manufacturers like Schott, Emcore, and Signet Solar.

Governor Richardson signed the executive order at Schott Solar’s Albuquerque manufacturing plant. “A comprehensive green economy is critical to the future of New Mexico and will lead our state into a new era of economic vitality and stability,” Governor Richardson said. “Today I am outlining a clear path to ensure our state capitalizes economically and environmentally on our abundant renewable resources and assets.”