Solar & Green Technology
Solar test site in Belen.New Mexico's near constant sun and sustained winds make it a perfect place for alternative energy and technology development and the Central New Mexico Corridor is home to some of the most inventive scientists in the country.
In 2009, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson created a "Green Jobs Cabinet" to support the workforce development needs of green technology companies. The goal of the Cabinet was to provide an overview of New Mexico's green economy and develop a strategic plan for economic development in the green technology sector. In September 2009 the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) released their report which outlined five strategies, and provided reccomendations, on how to grow the green economy. Per the NMEDD website, the goals are as follows:
The work of the Cabinet to develop these goals, coupled with rewarding incentives, helps to create a climate in New Mexico that is ripe for the development of the green technology sector. There are numerous incentives for green tech companies ranging from tax credits for companies that manufacture components to one of the most comprehensive, focused and successful workforce training programs in the United States. Some of these incentives include:
In the midst of algal growth tanks, researcher Brian Dwyer views a sample prior to a turbidity measurement. As part of a project to create alternative sources of energy, Sandia researchers are cultivating green algae as a promising new supply of biofuel.
More information regarding these incentives can be found on the New Mexico Economic Development website.
Recently The Bell Group celebrated the installation of the largest solar photovoltaic system in New Mexico. Per a New Mexico Business Weekly article, “the system will generate more than 1.6 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually, or enough to meet about 80 percent of The Bell Group’s needs.” A couple of the local companies that worked together to create this system include Schott Solar and Affordable Solar.
Sandia National Laboratories is a valuable for existing and start-up companies in this field. They are home to several research labs and facilities focused on developing commercially viable energy technologies including the National Solar Thermal Test Facility, National Center for Photovoltaics and the Distributed Energy Technologies Lab.
