The greening of New Mexico: Governor’s orders include full-scale geothermal development

In New Mexico, Gov. Bill Richardson has signed an executive order that strengthens state efforts to promote a green economy in New Mexico. Executive Order 2004-19 declares New Mexico the “Clean Energy State,” and created a Clean Energy Development Council (CEDC) and directs six cabinet offices to support and participate, overseeing planning and development of initiatives to promote renewable energy, assist in green business development and create green jobs.

The Governor called on the state to become a leader in renewable energy export, become the center of the North American solar industry, lead the nation in green grid innovation, continue being a leader in green building and energy efficiency and have an educational system that prepares New Mexico students for jobs in green technologies. As the state that is a year away from completing the world’s first commercial spaceport, New Mexico and its Governor may have what it takes to carve a new green economy.

On geothermal, he called on the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to work with the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) to conduct a statewide resource assessment and build a database to promote commercial-scale geothermal energy, and make policy recommendations to encourage investment in geothermal resources.

Specifically, the order instructs the EMNRD in cooperation of the NMT to convene a Deep Source Geothermal Commercialization Working Group no later than March 1, 2010, to be chaired by EMNRD. The Geothermal Group is to oversee the development of a Statewide geothermal resource assessment and database to characterize the State’s geothermal resource and provide a database to prospective geothermal developers that will promote commercial-scale development of the State’s geothermal resource.

The Geothermal Group is also to develop technical and policy recommendations to accelerate full-scale development of New Mexico’s deep-source geothermal resource. Based on the recommendations of the Geothermal Group, EMNRD is then to issue a report with technical and policy recommendations for developing the State’s geothermal resource to the Green Jobs Cabinet – created under Executive Order 2009-002 – and the CEDC no later than December 1, 2010. The Group will have representatives from NMT, EMNRD (including the Oil Conservation Division), the Economic Development Department, the New Mexico Environment Department, and other stakeholders as EMNRD sees fit to include.

As further proof that Richardson is taking this seriously, the Governor announced the release of the New Mexico Green Jobs Guidebook, which an overview of green occupations, their education requirements, and resources available at New Mexico colleges and universities. Finally, Richardson said he will look 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.

Follow the link to see the full text of the Executive Order.