U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich helped lead a task force — initially convened by former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman in 2010 — that led to this grant award, which will fund an innovative initiative to promote job creation by expanding energy efficiency and renewable energy in southwest New Mexico.
The new Economic Development Administration investment will jumpstart implementation of the Southwest New Mexico Energy and Green Jobs Task Force’s Regional Strategic Plan for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is a plan to build southwest New Mexico’s potential to create jobs by expanding the region’s clean energy economy.
Reportedly, over the last five years, Luna, Grant, Hidalgo and Catron counties have worked together through the task force to lay the groundwork for this project by forging partnerships around energy and economic development, building regional capacity for job growth and completing energy projects.