Sen. Tom Udall Announces Southern NM Jobs Tour

Senator Tom Udall will kick off the Senate's August work period with a southern New Mexico jobs tour through Doña Ana, Luna, and Sierra counties. Udall will also chair an official Senate field hearing titled “Fighting Drunk Driving: Lessons Learned from New Mexico” in Albuquerque, and visit Raton for a fire damage tour and briefing.

On Monday, Udall will speak at the construction launch of the Union Pacific Santa Teresa Rail Facility. The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs once the facility is complete. 

Next, Udall will tour Macho Springs Wind Farm, a 50-megawatt facility that has been awarded a Department of Treasury Renewable Energy Grant. The wind farm has already created 150 construction jobs and is expected to create additional permanent jobs. Following the tour, Udall will meet with Luna County small business and economic development leaders to discuss alternative energy projects targeting unemployment in the area.

On Tuesday, Udall will tour New Mexico State University’s Energy Research Laboratory with researchers from their Algal Bioenergy Program and the College of Business. The lab is the recipient of a Department of Energy grant to study the commercialization of algae-based fuel.

Following the tour, Udall will hold a press conference to announce a new initiative to encourage the state's developing algae industry. NMSU President Barbara Couture and industry partners will also participate in the event. 

Udall will then travel to Truth or Consequences to participate in a Sierra County Economic Development Organization (SCEDO) fund announcement ceremony. The funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program will provide assistance, including the creation of a business incubator, to area small businesses.

In addition to the events in southern New Mexico, Udall will chair a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation field hearing titled "Fighting Drunk Driving: Lessons Learned from New Mexico" at the University of New Mexico Law School in Albuquerque.   

Udall will conclude his trip with a fire damage tour and briefing in Raton. The following is Udall’s schedule:

Monday, August 8, 2011

Udall Speaks at Union Pacific Santa Teresa Rail Facility Launch

• 10 - 11:30 AM
• Verde Logistics Park, 2800 Airport Road
• Santa Teresa, NM

Udall Participates in Renewable Energy Jobs Meeting and Tour

• 3:15 – 4:15 PM
• Macho Springs Wind Farm
• Milepost 24 on Highway 26, Between Deming and Hatch, NM

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Udall Hosts Press Conference to Announce Algae Initiative

• 10:00 AM
• Energy Research Laboratory, 
• Fabian Garcia Science Center, Room 158, Las Cruces

Udall Speaks at Sierra County Economic Development Organization (SCEDO)

• Small Business Funds Announcement
• 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
• SCEDO Offices
• 400 W 4th Street, Truth or Consequences, NM

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Udall Chairs Senate Committee Field Hearing, “Fighting Drunk Driving: Lessons Learned from New Mexico”

• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• University of New Mexico Law School, Room 2404
• 1117 Stanford Drive Northeast, Albuquerque, NM     

***Additional details to come***

Friday, August 12, 2011

Udall Receives Fire Briefing and Tour

• Noon – 1:00 PM
• Sugarite Canyon State Park Visitor Center
• HCR 63, Box 386, Raton, NM