On Feb. 23, Leadership Albuquerque hit the road — to Kirtland Air Force Base.
Participants engaged in its “Energy and National Defense” program day.
Jeremy Oswald, Leadership ABQ chair and ABQ Market President, Citizens Bank, told participants that the program included learning about how New Mexico plays a leading role in energy and national defense.
Oswald said 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 the state’s national laboratories and military bases.
“Their economic worth and impact cannot be overstated – to Albuquerque, to small towns like Clovis and Alamogordo and Los Alamos, and to the state overall,” Oswald said.
When it comes to energy, New Mexico is one of the most energy-rich and energy-diverse states in the country.
“New Mexico is well-positioned to produce wind, solar, oil and gas, nuclear, hydrogen, geothermal,” he says. “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. More oil and gas, more wind, more solar, more hydrogen, etc. Of course, a lot of energy debates end up pitting one source vs. another source.
The first presentation — “Modernizing the Electric Grid and New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act” — was given by Lisa Goodman, PNM VP, Investor and Community Relations, who presented about several of PNM’s priorities, including the role they play in implementing a landmark state law called the Energy Transition Act and their efforts to modernize our electric grid.
Right after, Dylan Connelly, director of Commercial and Community Solar Development at Affordable Solar & president of the Renewable Energy Industries Association of NM, presented “The State of Solar Energy Production in New Mexico.”
Leean Kravitz, Leadership Albuquerque vice chair and vice president for Fidelity Investments, told participants that solar energy in New Mexico is a key renewable source of power
After a short break, Missi Currier, president and CEO of New Mexico Oil and Gas Association presented on the industry and the opportunities and challenges that the industry faces.
Kravitz said oil and gas production is responsible for more than 40 cents of every dollar of state revenue and is also the primary source of revenue for several of our local communities and creates thousands of jobs statewide.
|