Why New Mexico Must Compete in the Race to Fix Climate Change

Washingtons inexplicable failure to enact comprehensive climate change legislation has placed New Mexico in the position of needing to advocate for itself, says Lilia Diaz, education and outreach director for New Energy Economy (NEE). If New Mexico doesnt take proactive steps to address the statewide spectre of carbon emissions now, then we run the risk of missing out on millions of investment dollars which could flow into our struggling economy.

Other governments around the world are jockeying to take advantage of these opportunities, so New Mexico must act quickly to establish itself as a leader in the clean, renewable energy market, says Diaz in an article for the New Mexico Editorial Forum.

Predictably, the measures needed to address climate change and jump-start economic revival have met fierce resistance from the oil, gas and coal industries and their army of lobbyists who have resorted to fear tactics to mislead and confuse consumers, she says.

A local energy industry spokesperson and other opponents testified against NEEs petition to cap greenhouse gases at the August 16th Environmental Improvement Board hearing in Santa Fe, Diaz says. They issued dire warnings that NEEs proposal will cost too much to implement and will lose the state money. No statement could be more disingenuous.

Contrast the industrys alarmist arguments with the fact-based assessment of Brendan McDonagh, CEO of HSBC-North American Holdings, Inc., Diaz explains. McDonagh reported that the climate business sector now generates annual global revenues in excess of $500 billion, which is already larger than the global aerospace and defense industries. Moreover, these revenues are expected to rise to $2 trillion by 2020. Now thats the kind of green that should be going into the pockets of consumers and businesses in New Mexico.

New Mexico must pave the way for companies who want to invest in renewable energy and who want to do it here, she continues. Our state ranks 2nd in the nation for solar potential, 12th for wind potential, and boasts vast untapped geothermal and biomass resources. With all of this raw potential, we could lead the nation in clean, affordable, renewable energy production.

NEEs carbon cap petition has rallied strong support from the business community and the broad range of advocacy organizations around the state, Diaz concludes. New Mexico must act soon because the switch to a clean energy economy is not a matter of if, but when.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Washingtons inexplicable failure to enact comprehensive climate change legislation has placed New Mexico in the position of needing to advocate for itself. If New Mexico doesnt take proactive steps to address the statewide spectre of carbon emissions now, then we run the risk of missing out on millions of investment dollars which could flow into our struggling economy.

The climate business sector now generates annual global revenues in excess of $500 billion, which is already larger than the global aerospace and defense industries. Moreover, these revenues are expected to rise to $2 trillion by 2020. Now thats the kind of green that should be going into the pockets of consumers and businesses in New Mexico.

New Mexico must pave the way for companies who want to invest in renewable energy and who want to do it here. Our state ranks 2nd in the nation for solar potential, 12th for wind potential, and boasts vast untapped geothermal and biomass resources. With all of this raw potential, we could lead the nation in clean, affordable, renewable energy production. New Mexico must act now because the switch to a clean energy economy is not a matter of if, but when.

About Lilia Diaz
Diaz is the education and outreach director for New Energy Economy.