SENATE MEMORIAL 24

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

ENCOURAGING STATE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT FUTURE ENERGY CAREERS IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is an energy resource-rich state, with solar, wind, geothermal, natural gas and oil; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico energy conservation and management division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department has developed an energy roadmap through multiple meetings with energy stakeholders who represented energy producers, large energy users, regulators, transportation interests, local and regional governments and energy advocates; and

     WHEREAS, these energy stakeholders identified a highly skilled energy workforce as a key priority to strengthen and diversify New Mexico's energy economy; and

     WHEREAS, growing and diversifying New Mexico's energy economy will require employees to be trained in the areas of renewable energy, fossil-fuel energy, nuclear energy, energy storage and produced water; and

     WHEREAS, a well-trained energy workforce can position New Mexico to be a national leader in developing and exporting energy as global demand rises; and

     WHEREAS, maximizing New Mexico's energy export potential will require investment in a workforce ready to support and develop the expansion of the state's electrical transmission system, energy storage, natural gas processing infrastructure and produced water infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico energy roadmap also supports the increased use of alternative-fuel vehicles, which necessitates an adequately trained labor pool to support alternative-fuel vehicle research, infrastructure, use and maintenance; and

     WHEREAS, new educational and training programs, as well as increased support of existing resources, could support the increase in a trained and ready energy workforce; and

     WHEREAS, increased resources and policy directives from the state could help encourage underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, women, veterans and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, to enter into energy-related careers;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that state agencies be requested to advance and support policies and programs that remove access barriers, improve outreach and better align education and training programs with energy workforce needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate be requested to support enabling diverse opportunities in energy careers as a priority of the state, and to support the continued implementation of the New Mexico energy roadmap; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the secretary of higher education, the secretary of public education, the secretary of economic development, the secretary of workforce solutions and the governor.

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