That was the message this morning at an Albuquerque hearing before three members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The technology known as "concentrated solar" - big central solar power plants - is on the verge of being able to make a significant contribution to U.S. energy needs, a panel of experts, mostly from the solar and electric industries, said at the hearing, held  in southeast Albuquerque.

"If it were oil, we would be racing to develop this," said Fred Morse of Abengoa Solar, one of the largest manufacturers of the systems used to generate electricity.

But a congressional stalement over how to go about extending tax credits for renewable energy threatens to scuttle the bonanza, Morse and others said. "If that (the extension of the credit) doesn't occur, New Mexico will lose," Morse said.

Solar projects here that could be hurt by a failure to extend the credit include two solar technology companies - Advent and Schott - located at the Mesa del Sol development south of Albuquerque. A group of utilities, including PNM, have also announced plans for a large solar plant that some said could be in jeopardy if the tax credits are not extended.

The tax credits enjoy overwhelming support in Congress, but efforts to renew them when they expire later this year have been caught up in a feud between Democrats and Republicans over whether other revenue sources should be found to make up for the revenue lost because of the extension.

(My colleague Mike Coleman had a nice piece June 22 explaining the ins and outs of the issue. Image courtesy Sandia National Laboratories.) 

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Name: Frank Juarez Jr.

Comment: I would like to know more about the job aspect. Around the country, many states talk about the inclusion of renewable energies. Like anything else, you want to provide a foundation. There really are not many academic programs out there to facilitate this at the moment. Many are in developement, but we need to match that capability to the needs quickly. It's another way you can shoot yourself in the foot with an industry.

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Name: Red Drum

Comment: Solar energy would give New Mexico jobs to a lot of people and save a lot of people money on more than just energy ... I pray that NM has the foward thinking "sight" to take use of this natural abundant resource and lead the way with this blessing given to us. Revenue sources would be more than made up with the taxes, jobs, development and all the other things that would happen with this extension. Thanks for hearing me.

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