By BRIDGET DIXSON, IOM
President and CEO
Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce

Earlier this month, Governor Lujan Grisham took a bold step toward creating a cleaner energy future for New Mexico by signing House Bill 41, Clean Transportation Fuel Standards, into law. This innovative legislation is essential to reducing our state’s transportation emissions and reinforces New Mexico as a leader in the energy transition.

Thanks to Governor Lujan Grisham’s support, New Mexico is now the fourth state in the nation to enact these fuel standards that promise to create both an environmentally and economically prosperous future for our great state.

Recognizing apprehension from the private sector and environmental advocates in past efforts, Governor Lujan Grisham put our financial and environmental resources to task to ensure her carbon capture debate moved from an idea towards R&D striving for live quantifiable results.

The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce applauds New Mexico’s commitment to policies that ensure sustainability in everything we do, and we thank our local Santa Fe Legislative delegation for their work this past Session. Because we represent a variety of business interests in the capitol city, we are always looking for opportunities to grow our local economy while keeping in mind the state’s commitment to sustainable initiatives. During her administration, Governor Lujan Grisham has made it her goal as well. Implementing policies that reduce emissions and support clean energy technologies remains her top priority, and no bill better exemplifies this than the Clean Transportation Fuel Standards Act. 

By enlisting a broad base of stakeholders in the rulemaking process, we are encouraged this effort will take into account key technological, environmental, and balanced rules that will help grow our local economies by building a competitive marketplace for cleaner fuels.

HB41 also provides new economic opportunities for New Mexicans, spurring meaningful job growth and attracting significant investment in our state. Having signed the Clean Transportation Fuel Standard Act into law, Governor Lujan Grisham will usher in more than 2,300 construction jobs and at least 1,600 new full-time jobs, generating more than $470 million in wages. We collectively and confidently look forward to the transformative results HB 41 will undoubtedly deliver. 

Thank you again, Governor Lujan-Grisham and our local Santa Fe Legislative delegation for being trusted allies by supporting sustainable economic opportunities and expanding New Mexico’s clean energy capabilities. Through your leadership, New Mexico has become a nationwide leader in clean energy policy and has set the national standard towards a zero-carbon economy.