<div id="subtitle">Nevada falls behind as New MexicoÕs government woos industry</div><div><p> New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson signed an executive order Tuesday, pushing his state to Òbecome the center of the North American solar industry.Ó RichardsonÕs extensive order calls for state agencies to work aggressively to develop renewable energy technology, which he says will build a Ònew era of economic vitality and stability.Ó</p><p>In addition to bringing state agencies together to work on renewable energy, Richardson also said he was in favor of expanding the stateÕs tax credit for renewable energy production. His plan appears to position New Mexico as a national leader in renewable energy.</p><p>ÒNew Mexico, with a business-friendly environment and world-class solar resources, is quickly becoming an important hub in the Southwest for solar manufacturing, installation and project development,Ó said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association. ÒDespite the recession, New MexicoÕs solar industry truly represents an economic bright spot.Ó</p><p>RichardsonÕs announcement and ReschÕs statement should be sobering for Nevada. Our state is business-friendly and it has world-class sources with abundant wind, solar and geothermal potential. But on Gov. Jim GibbonsÕ watch, the state hasnÕt shown a commitment or the leadership to capture the renewable energy industry. It didnÕt help that Gibbons spent much of his term championing coal-fired power plants instead of positioning the state for the future.</p><p>Any self-respecting company would see RichardsonÕs executive order as a clear invitation to New Mexico. That is not to say there havenÕt been steps made. There are producers in Nevada, and others are looking at the state. But the state can certainly do more.</p><p>There are still some leaders pushing ahead to help Nevada compete against New Mexico and other states in the West. For example, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced last week that stimulus money was going to help build a transmission line across eastern Nevada. NV Energy and LS Power, which had planned two competing lines, agreed to a deal that will create one line that will connect the stateÕs transmission grid as well as provide an important link for renewable energy producers.</p><p>What is needed is more leadership like that. Renewable energy is a good industry — it is sustainable, provides clean power and good jobs. Nevada shouldnÕt let New Mexico and other states take the lead. It should be setting the pace.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67331971&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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