Governor Richardson today signed Senate Bill 471 (Several
Tax Bond Projects), which included more than $21 million in environmental
capital outlay funding.
Funded projects include:
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$3.5 million for clean energy grants to public entities
or innovative energy projects intended to advance solutions to energy problems
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$1.5 million for land and wildlife projects,
conservation easements and fee land acquisitions for working farms and ranches,
forests and watersheds, natural areas, outdoor recreation and trails and
wildlife habitat and for land and habitat restoration
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$2.8 million for projects that restore in-stream
ecosystem function and watershed health to major river basins statewide
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$123,500 to plan, design and construct the Rio Grande
trail in Bernalillo, Valencia, Sandoval, Socorro, Sierra, Dona Ana, Santa Fe,
Rio Arriba and Taos counties
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$400,000 to purchase and install well meters for
groundwater measurement statewide
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$2.5 million to conduct leak detection, regional and
demonstration projects for water systems statewide
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$500,000 for retrofitting state park facilities for
energy efficiency
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$2 million to the Northern New Mexico
state school to acquire land for and plan, design, construct and equip a solar
energy research park at the Espanola campus
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$7.5 million to provide assistance to a solar equipment
economic development project in Bernalillo county
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$5,000 for state park and trail improvements statewide
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$30,000 to plan, design and construct trails along the Rio
Grande bosque in Albuquerque
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$175,000 to purchase land adjacent to Los Poblanos
fields for open space in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque
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$45,000 to plan and design a solar energy production
facility in McKinley county
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$25,000 to plan, design, construct, equip and furnish
the North American wind research and training center, including infrastructure and
site preparation, at Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari
“Much of this funding is badly needed and we applaud the
Governor and legislators who contributed their capital outlay funds to these
important projects, especially since this was a lean year,” said Environment
New Mexico Advocate Lauren Ketcham. “However, many of these projects, like
river restoration, low-income weatherization, the Rio Grande Trail, and
proactive solutions to global warming, remain underfunded. We will continue to
work with the legislature to fully fund these and other areas.”
