Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2014
Did Governor Martinez’s Close Relationship with Big Out-of-State Oil and Gas Contributors Affect Efforts to Recruit Tesla?
Santa Fe, NM – Many New Mexicans were disappointed this week to find out that Tesla Motors Inc. named Nevada as the new site of its $5 billion gigafactory battery plant. New Mexico’s dwindling job market would have seen over 6,000 jobs created had Tesla chosen to build in the state. And although there were many who were hopeful about the bid, one state senator says he’s not surprised New Mexico wasn’t picked considering the Governor’s close friendship with big oil and gas.
“I think it would have been difficult to imagine the Governor effectively pushing for a company that makes electric cars to come to our state when she’s so close to big out-of-state oil and gas contributors,” said Senate Majority Leader Michael S. Sanchez (D-29-Valencia, Bernalillo). “Based on her opposition to bills designed to protect the environment and her support of policies favoring polluters, it’s not realistic to expect her to bring a ‘green group’ to our state.”
Senator Sanchez also questions the lack of transparency in the administration’s efforts to recruit Tesla. “One has to wonder why there was so much secretiveness and lack of collaboration with other policy makers when it came to the negotiations. Handling the issue with transparency would have gotten in the way of her political ambitions. The truth is that the Governor has been too busy maintaining her politically profitable relationships with big oil and campaigning out of state, to help create jobs for New Mexicans.”
“I’m just as disappointed as anyone that we did not win the Tesla bid,” said Sen. Sanchez. “But as long as our current Governor remains in office, unfortunately New Mexicans have little hope that environmentally friendly, innovative, and lucrative industries will be coming to our state. Her policies and actions have protected the mining, and oil and gas industries at the expense of the state’s best interests. The time to act is now. Citizens have the power in their hands to learn about what policies are being implemented in this administration and how those policies disadvantage the people of this state. ”
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