By Sandy Buffett
For the last several years and thanks to the vision of Governor Richardson, the N.M. Legislature and our growing community of entrepreneurs, New Mexico has paved the way toward building a clean-energy economy. From renewable energy tax credits to recently-passed green jobs legislation to attracting new solar manufacturing companies and the nation’s largest solar plant, the Land of Enchantment is poised for a clean-energy boom.
At the same time, the Albuquerque Journal reported recently on new findings of the impacts of climate change on New Mexico. This study confirms what many New Mexicans are already observing and experiencing. Global warming from greenhouse gas emissions threatens to reduce our water supply, diminish our snowpack and lead to earlier runoff.
Climate change will enable conditions for massive wildfires and severe floods, create weather extremes that will make agriculture and livestock production more difficult, and increase temperatures in our streams and forests, which threatens our quality angling and hunting opportunities.
Now it’s time for the U.S. Congress to take the lead. With Congress now considering the American Clean Energy and Security Act, we can build upon New Mexico’s clean-energy leadership and abundance in sunshine, wind and geothermal to revitalize our economy and protect our natural heritage.
The act, proposed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, is a comprehensive solution to our energy and climate needs that places firm limits on carbon pollution and increases renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. This act will create jobs, reduce our dependence on oil and reduce the carbon pollution that causes global warming.
This act will open up entirely new job sectors for New Mexican workers — from engineers needed to design electrical grids that carry electricity from eastern New Mexico wind farms to manufacturers and installers of solar panels and construction workers who can weatherize homes and commercial buildings. These are jobs that cannot be outsourced to foreign countries if we grow them right here in New Mexico.
Making advancements in clean energy isn’t about the old industries fighting with the new or creating false choices of industry vs. environmental protection. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will create a new American framework for using smart and efficient energy and promote new clean, high-wage jobs for our workers.
Not only will the American Clean Energy and Security Act put New Mexicans back to work, it can give us the boost we need to lead the nation in clean and renewable energy production. Delay is not an option — we need to act now to create jobs in manufacturing and new industries, and protect the health of our families, as well as the air, land, water and quality of life we enjoy here in New Mexico.
It’s imperative that Congress strengthen and pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act so we can work together to provide new career opportunities and clean energy solutions for New Mexico.
Buffet is the executive director of Conservation Voters New Mexico.