The Richardson Solution

Richardson's Thoughtful Green Interview

Richardson gave an interview with Salon recently and it focusing almost exclusively on the Governor's record and plans for energy independence.

Read the whole thing here.  I've included a favorite snippet:

You've dubbed yourself the "energy president." Why did you choose that moniker?

Right now, the most important domestic and national-security issues involve America becoming energy independent and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. I believe it's going to take an "energy president" who will lead this country toward these goals by asking all Americans to sacrifice for the common good and be more energy-efficient and promote a green style of living.

Many of the candidates are trying to paint themselves as the green candidate. What makes your platform stronger than the others'?

On energy, both the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters have stated that my plan is the most aggressive, with the strongest timetables.

But what differentiates myself from other candidates is I've actually done it. I've done it as energy secretary in the Clinton administration by tightening air-conditioning energy-use standards by 30 percent, building a strong portfolio of renewable energy, and promoting 100-mile-per-gallon vehicles through a fuel-efficiency initiative with the auto companies.

Then, as governor of New Mexico, I believe we have the most clean-energy initiatives of any state. We have a renewable portfolio standard going to 20 percent by 2020. Our state is on track to observe the Kyoto treaty. We have no taxes on hybrid vehicles. We're the first in the country to export wind energy. We also have a number of incentives for solar, wind, biomass, biodiesel and distributed-generation fuel cells.

I was also probably one of the most active pro-environment congressmen. I pursued and made law a number of national parks, wilderness areas, river protections and air-quality standards. When I was on the committee [overseeing the] Interior [Department], I worked on bills including the Jemez National Recreation Area and the South San Juan Wilderness.

You've vowed as president to mandate a 90 percent greenhouse-gas emission reduction by 2050 --

I've also proposed a strong standard in the short term: 20 percent reductions by 2020.

These goals are even stronger than some environmental groups are calling for. Why such dramatic targets?

Because we can't wait. It's a matter of necessity. It's important because it involves our national security. Our energy dependence on foreign oil is so unhealthy -- we could be vulnerable to an oil price shock, to $5-per-gallon gasoline prices, to long lines at the pumps. What I'm also advocating is a dramatic shift in mass transit, like I've done here in New Mexico with the Rail Runner. But we'd have, nationally, transportation policies that promote sensible land use -- not just proposing highway funding bills, but bills to establish light rail and bullet trains and more energy-efficient transportation. Also, land-use policies that advocate open space. This is for a better quality of life for all our people.

Oil and Gas listen to Richardson's vision of a cleaner tomorrow

Richardson spoke today at an investers confernce in New York City for oil and gas.  Richardson didn't cowtow - he actually laid out his plan for weaning America off our oil addiction:

Calling dependence on foreign oil America's ``Achilles heel,'' the New Mexico governor outlined a broad plan for promoting energy independence in a keynote address at an oil and gas conference in New York sponsored by investment banking giant Bear Stearns.

In prepared remarks, Richardson set a goal of reducing oil imports by 40 percent and replacing liquid fuels with biofuels by 2025, and called for a 75 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050.

``Our ability to drain the swamps of terrorism depends in part on our political will to change how we produce, distribute and consume energy,'' Richardson said. ``In the West, it's not just liberal college kids who ask what we are doing about global warming - it's the conservative farmers and ranchers whose way of living is at risk.''

The final segment really gets me.  Coloring terrorism, global warming and the political spectrum of American in the frame of renewable energy & energy security creates a vivid scene for any reader.  Renewable energy security is the future of our country. 

We could choose a candidate that has little to no experience moving government towards that better and cleaner tomorrow, or we could choose someone who has made the calls, politically innovated and seen results.

Richardson signs strongest consumer protection from oil and gas drilling

Today Bill Richardson signed into law the strongest nation-wide private property protection against oil and gas drilling:

The law, effective July 1, requires that companies notify landowners 30 days prior to drilling-related operations, describe in detail what will go on and propose an agreement covering compensation for the use of _ and any damages to _ the land

It goes further:

Landowners would have 20 days to accept or reject the agreement. If no agreement was reached, operators would have to post a bond before drilling wells. The law also requires reclamation of the property. Richardson said the new law shows that New Mexico is "an energy producer with sensitivity to the land and property rights and property owners." "We consider it to be the strongest landowner bill in the country," said Gwen Lachelt, director of the Oil and Gas Accountability Project, a Colorado-based advocacy organization for landowners that participated in the negotiations.

This is a serious boon for New Mexico and private property owners within our state. It also highlights an important aspect of Bill Richardson - his ability to bring parties together to broker serious agreements that benefit consumers but also allow for the continuity of economic and resource development. The article continues to highlight some of the major benefits that surface-owners recieve:

...New Mexico's law is notable for the extensive information that must be provided the landowner, the scope of damages that can be recovered _ for loss of agricultural income, or loss of land value, for example _ and for the reclamation requirement, she said. The new law also allows landowners to collect triple damages in court under some circumstances if operators enter land to drill wells without giving notice or having agreements or posting bonds. Gallagher described the legislation as fair and balanced and said it wouldn't impede production. He said companies already are doing much of what the new law requires.

Since you can't take at face value that all drilling operations will just naturally play by the rules, it is imperative that we create standards and regulations that create a fairer playing field for the entire operation. Richardson for President - it just makes sense. If you want someone with a history of building serious consumer and environmental protection and also creating economic opportunity then he is your candidate.

New Mexico - A renewable energy leader

The Governor signed two bills yesterday, both working together to assure long term renewable energy production and development in New Mexico:

Gov. Bill Richardson proclaimed Monday that by his signing of two bills, New Mexico has moved past California and reclaimed the title of the nation's renewable energy king.

The bills would create a new authority to finance and oversee the building of additional transmission lines (House Bill 418) and increase the renewable energy requirement for utilities operating in New Mexico (Senate Bill 418).

The two bills work together to increase both the generation and transmission of renewable energy, said Joanna Prukop, secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department...

This year's bill would increase those requirements to 15 percent by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020. For rural co-ops, the requirements would be 5 percent by 2015 and 10 percent by 2020...

The Renewable Energy Transmission Authority would have the ability to issue bonds and exercise rights of eminent domain to build on New Mexico's existing transmission grid and to enter into agreements with other states.

Prukop said the first thing the Authority would do is look at small transmission projects to build existing energy transmission capacity within the state, and will then look to exporting energy to other states. She said the authority would also look at joining with multi-state transmissions projects already in the planning stages.

This sort of development is a huge boon to New Mexico and to regional renewable energy production.  Exciting projects like this will assure New Mexico will stay the "King" of renewable energy.  Having a transmission authority that will assure new renewable energy exchange or sell-off to other states will also mean investing in New Mexico's future.

Richardson's foreign policy objectives

This was posted on DailyKos recently, in advance of a speech the governor will be making tomorrow in Washington, D.C. at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The seven key points of "The New Realism and the Rebirth of American Leadership":

1. Repairing international alliances by working with traditional allies and reengaging them in our foreign policy;

 

2. Renew the U.S. commitment to international law and treaties, including abiding by the Geneva Convention, shutting down Guantanamo, rejecting torture as a policy device;

 

3. A "wholesale assault" to reduce global warming, including going beyond the Kyoto protocols in establishing national benchmarks for enivronmental protection;

 

4. Engage our enemies by having direct talks with North Korea, Iran, and Syria;

 

5. Refocus on the "real international threats" including nuclear proliferation and the threat of nuclear terrorism;

 

6. Engage Latin America on a range of issues from immigration reform to economic, energy, and environmental cooperation;

 

7. Fight international poverty.

BRS Focus:  This may be the inner IR geek inside me, but that focus list is pretty much my dream list (excepting UN and NATO reform).  I was actually invited to a Facebook group the other about global warming and not that I don't mind the substantial effort Kyoto will make toward combating global warming, I really believe we need stronger and more effective national and international agreements.

Engaging Latin America could be the rebirth of our role in our hemisphere and a return to the spirits of the "Good Neighbor" policy of FDR or the Alliance for Progres under JFK.  The IR geek in me will also be parsing the speech tomorrow, guarenteed.  Exciting times.

Climate Change in New Mexico

We're about to get snow tonight (for the fifth week in a row) and maybe people will start to understand the effects of our behavior on our climate.  I'm not sure about it relating to climate change, though I know it's becoming a little excessive (and weird) to expect snow on Thursday like clockwork.

Lost in all the holiday traffic was this piece of new momentum arising from New Mexico:

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has signed an executive order (2006-69) that specifies greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies to address climate change in New Mexico.

The order creates a state government implementation team tasked with ensuring policies from the order are carried out. These policies include:

• Creating a market-based greenhouse gas emissions registry and reduction program;

• Advancing carbon capture and sequestration technology;

• Mandating that state vehicles use mainly clean, renewable fuels;

• Proposing a one-time tax credit of up to 40% for the purchase, construction or retrofitting of alternative fuel filling stations;

• Promoting the use of manure from the dairy industry in power generation;

• Developing an education and outreach program on green buildings for those private sector builders; and

• Creating new procurement rules that ensure state government offices have energy efficient appliances.

This precedes the actual policy recommendations mentioned in the State of the State:

We have invested heavily in clean energies like wind, solar and biomass, while
requiring utilities to produce more of their energy through renewable sources.

We have led the fight against global warming—even when the federal
government has not.  We have followed the principles of the Kyoto treaty and mandated
some of the toughest emission reduction goals in the country.   

We have the potential to lead once more. We can, and should become the first
state in the country to use 100-percent renewable energy in government buildings.

Rather than wait for Washington, I propose adopting tough carbon emission
standards for new cars and trucks sold in New Mexico.  Tough standards will cut vehicle
emissions by 30% within the next ten years. 

I am also proposing an advanced coal tax incentive.   This will help ensure that
any new coal-fired power plant built in New Mexico will install state-of-the-art pollution
controls and achieve significant carbon dioxide reductions.

I ask this legislature to join me in transforming our schools into “green
buildings”—protecting our environment and saving energy costs.  We should also
provide tax credits to promote green offices and homes, create an Energy innovation fund
to develop clean energy projects, and give consumers a one-month tax holiday to
purchase energy-efficient appliances.   

And once again I propose a land conservation fund to support land, wildlife and
clean energy projects that create a legacy for future generations.   

Now this is what I'm talking about.  So many Senators in this race have little to no accomplishments that have affected people or furthered the progressive cause. 

Richardson on the other hand has made substantial efforts to produce serious change in the arena he now operates in.  The simple fact he has made such a large stride in this capacity speaks to his dedication and inner political strengths.  In a purple state such as this, he could have done nothing and pleased many.

Instead he did something (a lot of something, really) and is securing our environment for future generations.

How's about that for a solution?

NM finds massive budget surplus

What do you know? Being fiscally responsible (and enjoying some great revenue streams) pays off:

Study the state's economic outlook, its revenue forecast, its gross receipts tax trends and one thing will be clear: Gov. Bill Richardson has some serious cash in the bank.

The money - a just-announced boost for the next fiscal year of $723 million more than this year - no doubt will help Richardson appease the wants of 112 lawmakers in the upcoming 60-day session...

Richardson already has outlined parts of his wish list for the 2007 session. He got some input on his health care, homeland security, education and energy ideas at a closed-door retreat with a group of policy advisers, consultants and former governors from New Mexico and across the country on Monday...

On the list from Republicans and Democrats: More police officers to enforce DWI laws. Additional cash in the trust fund for water projects. Millions more for Medicare, health care, teachers. Expedited income tax cuts. And overall, avoid creating new programs that will take money each year...

Richardson said he wants $100 million in tax cuts. The relief among other things is aimed at helping New Mexicans make paying for college more affordable, helping clean energy companies and assisting working families.

"The consistent strength of our economy gives me confidence that we can cut taxes, invest in our schools and make health care available to more New Mexicans, while maintaining prudent cash reserves," he said in a statement.

TRS Focus:

1 - Tax cutting that helps out regular folks and clean companies just makes sense. This is such an excellent frame for the national debate - not a tax raiser, but a tax invester - that usually falls along such predictable lines.

2 - Richardson should take the Governor's scapel and cut some program costs right now when he has the chance. Being fiscally responsible means making tought choices and he's done it in the past. He might as well prove his mettle even more now while he has the money and resources.

3 - Be innovative. Experiment with some new ideas at the local level to increase resource (energy, water) conservation or development controls. Again, he's been doing this for awhile but more can't hurt.

Moving New Mexico Forward

Not resting on his laurels from his overwhelming victory, Bill Richardson has asked task forces to come together and discuss with the general community about how New Mexico can move forward.

Check out the main website at http://billrichardson2006.com/transition/

A quick snippet:

The objective of the Transition Team is to provide an evaluation of Governor   Richardson's key initiatives in five policy areas that will continue to Move New Mexico   Forward. The Transition Committee will be chaired by Ambassador Edward Romero   and Gayla Brumfield.

The Transition Committee will include five subcommittees that focus on the   following key areas:

• A Healthy New Mexico, chaired by Dr. Paul Roth, Executive     Vice President of UNM Health Science Center
• Making Schools Work, chaired by Governor Toney Anaya
• A Safer New Mexico, chaired by Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest
• Promoting and Growing New Mexico, chaired by Kim Sanchez-Rael,     general partner of Flywheel Ventures
• Protecting and Promoting New Mexico's Environment, chaired     by Jeff Sterba, CEO of PNM

This was followed with a series of community conversations around the state and Albuquerque designed to promote reciprocal civic dialogue regarding these issues.

While many potential 2008 candidates went straight into campaign mode (I know Bill was in NH last weekend, but that doesn't mean he lives there yet) Bill Richardson was starting to set the infrastructure in place to make his second term productive and meaningful.