Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced an executive order Sept. 23 to expedite New Mexico’s transition to a clean energy economy and address the critical need for infrastructure development across the state.
According to a press release, the order reflects pressing needs of New Mexico communities such as Ruidoso and the Mescalero Apache Nation, which suffered extensive fire and flooding damage which the governor discussed with residents during town halls last week.
The order will allow the state to leverage billions of federal and state dollars to ensure that New Mexico’s workforce is prepared for the work of modernizing transportation, telecommunications, water and energy systems. Lujan Grisham, the co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, is leading the organization’s upcoming Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative.
“Communities that have been devastated by natural disasters are wisely demanding that we sustainably manage the forests, build bridges that withstand flooding, and harden our telecommunications infrastructure against the threat of fire,” Lujan Grisham said. “In short, they are demanding climate-ready infrastructure.”
Lujan Grisham said record investments in public infrastructure and the clean energy transition have spiked demand for labor, necessitating a coordinated approach to training workers from all backgrounds to fill these high-quality jobs.
“New Mexico is ready to get to work on implementation of the U.S. Climate Alliance Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, and this executive order provides the blueprint for doing so,” Lujan Grisham said.
The release said New Mexico is investing nearly $2.5 billion through the American Rescue Plan, $5.3 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and over $217 million from the Inflation Reduction Act. These investments, combined with $2.5 billion allocated by the state in the 2024 legislative session, will help the state strengthen infrastructure and climate resilience.
Federal initiatives, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act, are expected to create nearly 3 million jobs nationwide, with approximately 70% of these jobs accessible to workers without a college degree.
The increasing risks of heat, fire, floods and other severe weather also require investments in infrastructure designed, built and maintained to withstand climate impacts and meet the needs of communities for decades to come. For example, the Ruidoso wastewater treatment plant is investing in solar power to provide more resilient services when disaster occurs.
According to the release, the executive order will help mitigate rising construction costs and address workforce shortages in many high-demand sectors as New Mexico embarks on large-scale infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams, water systems, broadband, and affordable housing.
“Achieving the ambitious goals that Gov. Lujan Grisham has set out in this executive order will require participating agencies to establish innovative new partnerships with industry, trade unions, apprenticeship programs, educational institutions and other partners,” Department of Workforce Solutions Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair said in the release. “Recent natural disasters in New Mexico demonstrate the need to build an energy sector that can help prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Together, we can overcome gaps in New Mexico’s workforce and fulfill the promise of federal and state climate-ready infrastructure investments.”