Presidential Contender, Gov. Richardson Enacts Major Clean Energy Bills in New Mexico

Governor Bill Richardson wants to make New Mexico the “Clean Energy State” and has recently enacted four state bills that promote investment in clean electricity generation and reduction in New Mexico’s dependence on foreign oil. In the past he has aggressively promoted wind power, solar energy and biofuels, as well as new technologies being developed in New Mexico to provide clean energy and emissions control technology.

“These bills will keep New Mexico’s rapidly growing clean energy economy moving forward,” said Governor Richardson. “New Mexico is showing that we can create jobs through spurring significant investment in electricity generation from our world-class solar and wind resources, promoting advanced coal technologies, building more efficient homes and offices, and increasing the production and use of biodiesel.”

Bills recently signed are as follows:

SB 994 (Cisneros) Advanced Energy Tax Credit
Is the first tax credit in the nation to cover carbon capture technology and include specific capture goals for coal-fired power plants.

SB 489 (Ortiz y Pino) Biodiesel Blend Required by 2012
Requires by 2012 that 5% of every gallon of diesel fuel sold in New Mexico come from an agricultural source.

HB 318 (Wirth) Power plant mercury emissions control
Protects New Mexico citizens from the damaging effects of mercury pollution by passing higher state standards than allowed by the federal government.

SB 463 (Cisneros) Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Amendments
Contains six tax incentives to promote clean energy.

“These vital pieces of legislation will work hand in glove with the other major clean energy bills I enacted earlier this session – the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority and the quadrupling of the Renewable Portfolio Standard – to continue to make New Mexico the nation’s Clean Energy State,” said Governor Richardson.

See the Source:
Office of New Mexico Governor Richardson

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