HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 41

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

John A. Heaton

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON TO INCLUDE NUCLEAR ENERGY AS A CENTRAL COMPONENT IN HIS CLEAN ENERGY POLICY INITIATIVES.

     WHEREAS, Governor Richardson declared New Mexico to be the nation's clean energy state; and

     WHEREAS, he created the clean energy development council to promote state policies that help create renewable energy development, including the renewable portfolio standard, the New Mexico renewable energy transmission authority, the renewable energy production tax credit, the alternative energy product manufacturer's tax credit and the energy innovation fund; and

     WHEREAS, nuclear reactors emit no greenhouse gases during operation and require less land use than most other forms of energy; and

     WHEREAS, nuclear energy is the nation's largest and only expandable source of continuously generated electricity with near-zero emissions; and

     WHEREAS, in the long term, nuclear power can directly reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil by producing hydrogen for fuel cells and by producing synthetic, liquid fuels to power trains, subway cars and automobiles; and

      WHEREAS, the energy from nuclear fission is essentially inexhaustible, just as is the energy from sources traditionally considered as renewable;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Governor Richardson be requested to include nuclear energy in his clean energy policy initiatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nuclear energy be encouraged alongside the other clean and renewable energy technologies to contribute to New Mexico's economy and the nation's energy security and economic sustainability; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.

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