New Mexico’s combination of visionary leadership and abundant natural resources positions it to be a leader in the field of renewable energy. As a former U.S. secretary of energy, Governor Bill Richardson understands our country’s growing energy needs and the kind of research and development it will take to meet them in the future. Nationally, clean energy accounted for $13 billion in revenues in 2003. In the next 10 years, that figure is expected to rise to $92 billion.

New Mexico’s combination of ideal weather and entrepreneurial spirit make it a potential epicenter for renewable energy in the twenty-first century. The state experiences more than 340 days of sunshine per year, and in the eastern region, sustained winds are the norm, making the Land of Enchantment an ideal location for solar and wind energy.

Most notably, New Mexico is now ready to take a national leadership role in research, development, manufacturing, and integration of hydrogen energy technology products and systems. The fuel cell is one such technology that holds great promise for meeting the world’s future energy needs. For more than 25 years, New Mexico has led the world in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development. The department sponsored the creation of the Hydrogen Technology Partnership, which is now managed by the Regional Development Corporation. It's an alliance of industry, academia, and government leaders envisioning a New Mexico that uses its research and resources to reduce the nation’s dependency on imported oil.

Research in renewable energy is thriving here. In 2004, New Mexico received $40.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for a variety of state and federal programs relating to renewable energy development. Both Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories are leaders in the quest for new, affordable energy sources. Research is also burgeoning at University of New Mexico, New Mexico Tech, and New Mexico State University.