Rep. Tom Udall Responds to Endorsements of LCV and Conservation Voters New Mexico

Santa Fe, NM – At a Roundhouse press conference today, Congressman Tom Udall proudly accepted endorsements for his U.S. Senate campaign from two leading conservation groups, while outlining a number of common-sense proposals for energy independence. Udall was joined at the press conference by League of Conservation Voters national President Gene Karpinski and Conservation Voters of New Mexico Director Sandy Buffett.

"I am honored to accept these endorsements today," Udall said. "Fighting to protect our natural resources is not just a political issue for me –- it has been a lifelong commitment of mine, and I look forward to continuing the fight for conservation and energy independence in the United States Senate."

Rep. Udall (right) greeting Dems at NM Preprimary Convention

Udall, who has long been as a champion of policies to protect New Mexico's treasured landscapes like the Valle Vidal, spur national policies to promote renewable energy and reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, continued, and spoke of the initiatives he has championed in the House and also looks forward to taking-on in the Senate.

"As a United States Senator, I will continue the fight to end our fossil fuel addiction, develop alternative sources of energy, secure our energy independence and reduce green house gas emissions in the Senate. For me, and so many New Mexicans, these are more than buzzwords, they are the economic future of New Mexico and the moral imperative of this country."

Touching on what he called three common-sense proposals, Udall said he said will not only help redefine the way we look at energy, but do so in a way that creates jobs:

The first is his plan to establish a federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), under which big electric utilities would be required to chip in by providing 15 percent of their electricity from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources by 2020.

"Not only will this help us meet our growing demand for electricity –- it will create thousands of jobs, lower energy prices, a nation less dependent on foreign oil and significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions," Udall said. "This plan would also revitalize rural America by helping farmers and rural land owners by creating a new revenue stream for their future."

Udall fought for the inclusion of an RES, which passed the House twice despite long odds last year, in the Energy bill last year. But as he said, "It died at the hands of a slim minority in the Senate."

The congressman also spoke of a plan to keep extending renewable energy and efficiency tax credits to promote stable growth in the industry.

"Not only would these tax credits translate into a reduction in residential and commercial energy costs, but they generate new domestic green collar jobs, and boost the economy," said Udall. "Renewable energy sources are proven economic engines for our country."

Finally, Udall also promised to continue his work to ensure the government does its share to reduce its carbon footprint by encouraging "Green Building," on the federal and commercial level.

"The plan I have successfully championed requires improved Federal and commercial building energy efficiency, with green building standards for new federal buildings and a zero net energy initiative to develop technologies, practices and policies to reach the goal of having all commercial buildings use no net energy by 2050. We've accomplished much in this area, but we can and must do more.

He said that the government should extend and expand tax credits for individuals, builders and businesses that use energy-saving technologies and applauded the efforts already underway in New Mexico.

Udall's father Stewart was Interior Secretary under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and his uncle Morris spent three decades in the Congress working on these issues. Udall currently serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment.

Click to visit Rep. Udall's Senate campaign website.

To see our previous coverage of the 2008 U.S. Senate race in New Mexico, visit our archive.