SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 18

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

INTRODUCED BY

Stephen H. Fischmann

A JOINT MEMORIAL

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF NATIONAL SOLAR OBSERVATORY STAFF TO NEW MEXICO AND ENCOURAGING EFFORTS TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF THE CONSOLIDATION TO THE NATIONAL SOLAR OBSERVATORY AND THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, the main facility of the national solar observatory is currently located in Sunspot, New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, a call for proposals from the national science foundation to consolidate the national solar observatory scientific and engineering staff to a single university campus is expected to be issued in early 2010; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico state university, the university of New Mexico and the New Mexico institute of mining and technology desire to retain the national solar observatory within the state and to have New Mexico state university host it on its Las Cruces campus; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico state university's science, engineering and mathematics departments and its physical science laboratory will directly benefit from interactions with the national solar observatory as it will allow for better recruitment of excellent faculty, increase the quality of education for graduate and undergraduate students and accommodate joint research programs between New Mexico's universities and the national solar observatory; and

     WHEREAS, there is a potential that one hundred jobs could be created in Dona Ana county with a yearly labor income impact of six million dollars ($6,000,000); and

     WHEREAS, these high-paying jobs will not be created in New Mexico unless a compelling state response to the anticipated national science foundation call for proposals is constructed; and

     WHEREAS, other groups will aggressively seek to relocate the national solar observatory to their states;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it express its support for the consolidation of national solar observatory staff to New Mexico and that it encourage efforts to maximize the benefits of the consolidation to the national solar observatory and the people of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the directors of the national solar observatory and the national science foundation and to the board of regents of New Mexico state university.

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