Energy and Natural Resources

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Co-authored the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which was signed into law. The bill takes positive steps towards improving energy supplies, boosting energy conservation and developing the new energy technologies that we will need in the future.
• Energy bill will increase funding for critical federal programs that help low income consumers in New Mexico pay their energy bills and weatherize their homes in order to reduce energy bills
• Energy bill also contained strong pro-consumer provisions championed by Senator Bingaman that will help guarantee New Mexicans reliable, affordable, fairly priced and fairly marketed electricity
• Energy bill creates and Office of Indian Energy Policy & Programs at the Department of Energy that will use grants, technical assistance, and loan guarantees to assist Pueblos and Tribes with the production of energy resources
• Energy bill will expand and extend for two years the existing tax credits for the production of electricity from solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, landfill gas and trash combustion
• Energy Bill provides a new tax credit for the purchase of qualified solar electricity systems for homes and qualified solar water heating systems for homes
• Energy Bill expands existing tribal energy programs and grant opportunities at the Department of the Interior
• Sponsored an amendment to expand the R&D tax credit to encourage more energy-related research at our nation’s federal laboratories, universities and small businesses
  

POLICY THEMES

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