Sunday, February 24, 2008

The New Energy Future HERE in New Mexico

A few days ago, the New Mexican ran a story about a new solar energy installation in Arizona that will be one of the the largest in the world. The article can be found HERE.

This is just one more piece of evidence in support of the fact that New Mexico can - and must - be a leader in bringing renewable energy to the United States. With the correct investment incentives in place, the renewable energy industry could make New Mexico a major part of its future.

Consider the benefits that this new solar power plant will bring to Gila Bend, Arizona:
  • $1 billion in direct investment for the construction and operation of the plant
  • 70,000 Homes powered by clean renewable energy
  • A tripling of the renewable energy provided by Arizona Public Service
  • Many new jobs for the operation and maintenance of the plant
Not only will the project bring many benefits, it also uses a new and exciting technology that harnesses the sun's heat to generate the power, not the sun's light. The process looks like this:

At the top of the "central receiver" are liquids that store and retain huge amounts of heat, which is generated by the sunlight reflected from the mirrors below to create heat at 600 times greater than normal solar radiation. An instaled tower looks like this:


New Mexico, like Arizona, is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the growing renewable energy industry. We have the sun, the space, and a proven means to attract the industry. We have shown that with the right incentives and assistance, New Mexico can attract new industry to the state. Look at what we've done with film in just the last ten years. Imagine what we could do if we took the same incentives and programs that brought film to New Mexico and used them to attract the green economy. We could become an exporter of renewable energy and a leader in fighting global climate change.

For more information, please take a moment to visit New Mexico's very own "New Energy Economy" for lots of great insight about the potential benefits renewable energy could bring to New Mexico's future: CLICK HERE.

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