Renewable energy holds economic promise
As Mayor of Cimarrón, I have seen firsthand the challenges our community has faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But I have also seen our resiliency – neighbors helping neighbors, small businesses adapting and finding new ways to do business, and the ingenuity of our healthcare workforce in New Mexico.
As we look ahead to economic recovery in the coming months, I know we will take that same spirit, embracing ingenuity to become more resilient. I feel we are at the cusp of great opportunity in one area in particular – renewable energy.
New Mexico has a long history of success in the energy sector. With the rise of renewable energy like wind and solar, we are poised for economic opportunity that will help us recover from this pandemic.
Renewable energy development creates jobs in rural areas in particular, and as the mayor of a small town I find that very important. The wind energy industry has brought 3,000 jobs and $3.4 billion in capital investment to New Mexico, and these numbers can continue to rise with the development of new renewable energy projects around the state, including right here in Colfax County.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that “wind technician” is the No.1 fastest growing job in the USA, and “solar technician” ranks No. 3. Wind technician jobs pay upwards of $50,000 a year for a position that only requires a two-year degree – money that goes a long way for a family in Cimarrón.
The importance of building a resilient local economy has been made alarmingly clear in the past year. We may not be able to predict the future, but creating economic opportunities that will help the Village of Cimarrón sounds like a good idea to me.
Leo Martínez Cimarrón