HB 622, Green Jobs Bonding Act (Representative Ben Lujan): This bill allows New Mexico to take advantage of green jobs training money available under the federal Green Jobs Act of 2007. Funding will be targeted for training low-income individuals, veterans, tribal and rural constituencies, and other citizens who need a little extra help. The bill also requires the Higher Education Department and the Public Education Department to develop a state plan for green jobs training programs.
SB 288, Higher Ed Alternative Energy Program Awards (Senator Mary Jane Garcia): Creates a new Higher Education New Energy Development Fund to develop research programs and educational courses in the fields of energy efficiency and alternative energy. Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to the eligible higher education institutions.
SB 318, Development Training Funds for Green Jobs (Senator Eric Griego): Allows up to $1 million each year to be disbursed from New Mexico’s Job Training Incentive Program for development training in green industries. This will be a useful tool in recruiting clean technology companies to our state.
SB 237, Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Senator Carlos Cisneros): Expands the Advanced Energy Tax Credit, which was enacted in 2007, to include utility scale solar photovoltaic and geothermal technologies.
SB 257, Solar Market Tax Development Credit (Senator Tim Keller): Allows New Mexico’s Solar Market Development Tax Credit to piggyback on federal solar credits.
HB 375, Certain Geothermal Heat Pump Tax Credits (Representative Bobby Gonzales): Provides a tax credit for the purchase and installation of a ground-coupled heat pump for a New Mexico home, business, or agricultural enterprise. The tax credit will help with the deployment of these climate-friendly systems.
HB 572, Solar Energy Improvement Special Assessments (Representative Brian Egolf): The bill allows counties to impose solar energy improvement special assessments on single family residential or commercial property if the property owner requests it. The bill is modeled on successful initiatives in Colorado and California, and the program is voluntary for both the county and the property owner. The voluntary assessment will be collected at the same time and manner as all other property taxes, and will improve access to up-front financing.
SB 647, Renewable Energy Financing District Act (Senator Peter Wirth): Allows counties and municipalities to form renewable energy financing districts to help fund renewable energy improvements. This includes solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, geothermal, or wind energy. Participating property owners in a district will have a special assessment placed on their property. The district may then use that revenue to secure bonds which pay for the costs of the improvements, including bond issuance, debt service and administrative fees. Most importantly, the bill allows local governments to obtain the low interest bonds offered as part of the federal stimulus package.
