Heinrich talks state's successes and challenges at economic forum

Pros: Clean energy, national security, defense technology and outdoor recreation.

Cons: Lagging literacy rates, health and child care shortages, poor infrastructure and crime.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., addressed about 400 business and professional leaders Wednesday at Sandia Golf Club during a meeting of the Economic Forum of Albuquerque in a wide-ranging speech and question-and-answer session that lasted for close to an hour.

His message was that New Mexico should shore up what it does well and try to fix its own unique challenges.

“Here’s what I can say about economic development for our state: I believe that New Mexico competes best when we compete as ourselves. Albuquerque is not Austin, (Texas). It’s not Raleigh-Durham, (North Carolina) and it never will be,” he said. “And New Mexico is not New York, or Texas or California, and it never will be.”

He also cautioned against a reliance on the extraction industries.

“I think we need to let go of the idea that our economy can or should rely on any single industry,” he said. “We need to let go of the boom and bust mentality that has incentivized short-term and narrow thinking over sustainable long-term economic planning.”

To highlight some of the state’s successes, Heinrich talked about two massive clean energy manufacturing projects that have recently gained significant attention, including through a presidential visit. President Joe Biden earlier this month came to Belen, where construction is underway on a wind-tower manufacturing facility.

Arcosa, a Dallas-based company, is investing $60 million in the Belen facility so that it can produce wind turbines to be used all over the Southwest. The company’s CEO said it has already received more than $1 billion in orders.

Heinrich also mentioned Maxeon Solar Technologies, which is investing $1 billion into a solar panel manufacturing facility in the Mesa del Sol area of Albuquerque.

Arcosa and Mesa del Sol officials as well as local lawmakers said the Inflation Reduction Act — a point of emphasis for the Biden administration and congressional Democrats who passed the bill — has spurred the investments.

David Campbell, the CEO at Mesa del Sol, said such large investments in New Mexico should also signal to leaders that a local workforce needs to be educated on the industries that are entering the state.

“It’s our challenge now,” he said. “We need to make sure we’ve got the people trained up.”

Heinrich acknowledged that he and some of the business leaders might not agree on how to correct the state’s problems. For example, he said the state needs to make mental health counselors and dual language instructors more widespread in school districts throughout the state to improve education.

And housing options and addiction treatment are needed to address public safety, he said.

“We might not agree on the exact next steps to deliver a stronger economic future for our state,” he said, “but our North Star is the same: the future that New Mexico’s kids deserve.”