On Jan. 15, Leadership Albuquerque participants had the opportunity to learn about New Mexico’s role in energy and national defense.
The day started at the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce boardroom. Participants then made their way to the Air Force Research Laboratory and Phillips Space Conference Center, located on Kirtland Air Force Base.
David Campbell, Leadership ABQ chair and executive director of the Lobo Development Corporation, welcomed the group to the program’s “Energy and National Defense” day.
Campbell and participants received several energy-related presentations throughout the day, and Campbell said energy and national defense are natural topic partners because New Mexico plays a leading role nationally in both arenas.
New Mexico receives the third-highest investment of federal dollars, per capita, of any state – in large part due to the high number and significant footprint of our national laboratories and military bases. Their economic worth and impact cannot be overstated – to Albuquerque, to smaller communities like Clovis and Alamogordo and Los Alamos, and to the state overall.
Participants learned that, with respect to energy, we are one of the most – if not THE most – energy-rich and energy-diverse states in the country. If you name virtually any energy source, chances are, New Mexico is well-positioned to produce it. Wind, solar, oil and gas, nuclear, hydrogen, geothermal, etc.
“The Chamber’s policy position has long been that we should be aggressive in trying to produce more and more of all of those energy sources,” Campbell said. “More oil and gas, more wind, more solar, more hydrogen, etc.”
Campbell introduced Lisa Goodman, PNM executive director of Investor Relations and Kelsey Martinez, PNM chief of staff to the CEO, who talked about modernizing the electric grid and New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act.
Campbell said PNM has been a key sponsor for Leadership Albuquerque for years.
After a 35-minute presentation and a Q&A, Jeremy Oswald, of Citizens Bank and Leadership ABQ vice chair, introduced Dylan Connelly, director of Commercial and Community Solar Development at Affordable Solar and president of the Renewable Energy Industries Association of N.M., who talked about the state of solar energy production in New Mexico.
Oswald then introduced Patrick Killen, Chevron senior state government affairs representative for a conversation and Q&A.
“Oil and gas production is responsible for more than 40 cents of every dollar of state revenue,” Oswald told the group. “It’s also the primary source of revenue for several of our local communities. As of now, the revenues we take in from all other sources of energy production are a literal ‘drop in the bucket’ in comparison to the dominant role that oil and gas plays.”
After the discussion participants left the Chamber boardroom and traveled to the Gateway Center before being taken by shuttle to Kirtland.
Col. Jason Okumura, a former graduate of Leadership Albuquerque, was with the group and served as the primary facilitator for the afternoon. Okumura is the commander of the 377th Mission Support Group at Kirtland Air Force Base.
Leadership Albuquerque participants had briefings with:
- 377th Air Base Wing
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Space Systems Command – Space Force
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy
And toured:
- 58th Special Operations Wing Hangar walk-through
- 351st Special Warfare Training Squadron orientation
