It has been quite a month for the Green Chamber! We closed out March with a very successful event in Taos celebrating the Monument designation of the Rio Grande del Norte. Special thanks to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Senator Martin Heinrich, former Senator Jeff Bingaman, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, and all the local officials who came out to celebrate with us at Taos Mesa Brewing Company. The designation of the Rio Grande del Norte Monument will help drive business in Northern New Mexico for years to come. Below you will find a thank you video featuring the event and many of the people who made the RGDN Monumnet possible. Please take a moment to watch.

Our Santa Fe chapter was pleased to host a luncheon with Senator Heinrich at the Santa Fe Area Homebuilders Association where over 60 businesses had the opportunity to discuss the issues important to their industries and the state of New Mexico.

Our chapters in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Silver City, and Santa Fe could be found at a variety of Earth Day events at the end of the month. Talking about the work of the Green Chamber, supporting our local businesses, and letting people know what Green Chamber membership means is one of our favorite member services. We would especially like to thank Exhib-it! for the wonderful flags that drew people to our booths.

This month we are pleased to announce our new CEO, Laura E. Sanchez.  

Laura Sanchez is currently serving as an attorney at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Prior to that position, she served for over five years as an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the NM Renewable Energy Transmission Authority and was a co-founder of the New Mexico Green Chamber in 2010. In addition, Sanchez is a passionate advocate with experience in New Mexico politics, clean energy, and local business.

“The New Mexico Green Chamber will continue to play a key role for emerging businesses in our state as we transition through this recession into a new economy,” said Sanchez. “I am thrilled to help lead our members through this momentous effort.”

Click here to read the full press release.

The NM Green Chamber Board of Directors and staff are excited to move forward with Laura at the helm. She will officially start May 13th.

Kind Regards,

Celerah Hewes-Rutledge

“Laura Sanchez will be a great asset to the NM Green Chamber and we are confident she will hit the ground running,” said Lawrence Rael, President of the New Mexico Green Chamber. “Her knowledge and understanding of the issues important to our business community will ensure our continued success well into the future.”

Sanchez is currently serving as an attorney at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Prior to that position, she served for over five years as an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the NM Renewable Energy Transmission Authority and was a co-founder of the New Mexico Green Chamber in 2010. In addition, Sanchez is a passionate advocate with experience in New Mexico politics, clean energy, and local business.

As NM Green Chamber CEO, Sanchez will also serve as Executive Director of the Partnership for Responsible Business (PRB), the educational arm of the NMGCC. PRB Board President Dante Di Gregorio said “We are all looking forward to working with Laura Sanchez to promote sustainable business activity and to support local businesses.  Laura brings the right mix of experience, skills and passion to help meet these objectives.”

“The New Mexico Green Chamber will continue to play a key role for emerging businesses in our state as we transition through this recession into a new economy,” said Sanchez. “I am thrilled to help lead our members through this momentous effort.”

Outgoing CEO Allan Oliver announced in March that he would be stepping down after serving as the first CEO of the NMGCC. Sanchez begins serving as CEO of the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce on May 13^th.

Click here for a pdf version: NEWS RELEASE- Laura E Sanchez NMGCC CEO

This is my last column for the NM Green Chamber of Commerce.  As many of you know, I’ve taken a position as the new Executive Director of the Thornburg Foundation, which is an exciting opportunity for me and my family.  I’m pleased to announce that Celerah Hewes-Rutledge has agreed to serve as the interim CEO.  She will do a spectacular job.  Chamber VP Bob White and PRB President Dante Digregorio are leading the search committee, which will identify a new CEO by the beginning of next month.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the members of the NM Green Chamber of Commerce.  I’m proud of the work we have accomplished together-from expanding new chapters into Albuquerque, Taos, and Santa Fe, to helping pass legislation to support local and clean energy businesses, to helping advance strong policy platforms and build networks of like-minded businesses.    We have linked into national networks such as BALLE, the Advanced Energy Economy and the American Sustainable Business Council.

One of the highlights was this last week, when President Obama designated the Rio Grande Del Norte as a national monument and we had the honor to co-host Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Senators Bingaman and Heinrich, and Congressman Lujan for opening ceremony at the Mesa Brewing Company in Taos.  This was the culmination of many, many hours of strategic bottom-up advocacy by our members and partner organizations.  Senator Heinrich called it a “textbook” strategy for getting things done.   We are honored that Senator Heinrich will be joining us in Santa Fe this week.

PRB President Dante Digregorio, Former NMGCC CEO Allan Oliver, and NMGCC President Lawrence Rael

Last week, I’m pleased to report that Governor Martinez signed into law two priority GCC bills: the Qualified Energy Conservation Bond bill to enable $20m in local government funding for energy efficiency and clean energy projects, as well as the Public Regulation Qualifications bill which significantly raises the bar for new PRC commissioners.  By the end of the week, we are optimistic that the Governor will sign the Benefit Corporation Bill, the Solar Permitting bill and the Sustainable Building Tax Credit-each of which will have a big positive impact on our business sector.  We will continue to urge members to contact the Governor’s office to support these key bills.

I plan to stay on the NM Green Chamber of Commerce board of directors and look forward to continuing to serve this great organization. I’d like to give a special thanks to our tremendous staff, the board of directors, and members, who give so much. This is great organization because of you.

Best regards,

Allan Oliver

For Immediate Release:  March 25, 2013

Contact: Carrie Hamblen, Executive Director

Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce

carrie@nmgreenchamber.com

575-323-1575

  COMMUNITY LEADERS PRAISE RIO GRANDE DEL NORTE NATIONAL MONUMENT DESIGNATION BY PRESIDENT OBAMA, VOICE SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED ORGAN MOUNTAINS-DESERT PEAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT 

LAS CRUCES— Doña Ana County leaders cheered the announcement that Rio Grande del Norte is America’s newest national monument. They also noted that the proposed Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument enjoys overwhelming community support and would protect iconic landscapes with diverse cultural heritage. Five local governments (Ysleta del Sur Pueblo; Doña Ana County; City of Las Cruces; Town of Mesilla; City of El Paso, Texas) have unanimously supported the proposed national monument. A recent poll showed that over 80 percent of registered voters in Doña Ana County support the creation of a National Monument to protect our natural and cultural heritage.  More at: www.organmountains.org.

Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce President Renee Frank

“President Obama’s designation of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is a win for all New Mexicans. National Monuments are proven job creators for nearby communities. We’re hopeful that President Obama will help bring the same economic boost to our region by protecting the iconic Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks region”.

Nopalitos Restaurant & Nopalitos Galeria Owner Victor Gallegos

“As a family owned business located along the Camino Real del Adentro Historic Trail, we know first-hand how historical preservation can help a local economy and strengthen cultural identity. We strongly believe protecting the proposed Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks national monument will be good for business, drawing more people to Las Cruces and our surrounding region.”

Doña Ana County Associated Sportsmen President John Cornell

“With today’s action, the President brings hope to southern New Mexico sportsmen who have worked for decades to protect the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Region, like our prized public lands in the Sierra de Las Uvas and Potrillo Mountains.”

Author and Border Book Festival Director Denise Chávez

The proposed Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is pivotal and anchoring legislation that will protect all that New Mexicans hold sacred:  land, mountains, sky, animal, plant and mineral life. It is up to us as caretakers of La Tierra Enchantada–Our Magical, Miraculous, Enchanted  and Dearly Loved New Mexico–to protect  and respect the legacy of our ancestors.  We see in their petroglyphs a world, a people, a culture that is so intrinsically “Lo Nuestro”–”Our Own.  As we follow the tracks of those who came before–and imagine our grandmothers grinding their seeds and corn in the metates and storing their food in the huecos/the hollows of rock found in these places to be honored and protected–we truly divine that we are but another traveler on the Great Road. And that Road is ours to respect to love and to protect.

March 21, 2013

Contact: Chris Cervini 505-980-6110

(TAOS)– Local businesses in Taos and Rio Arriba counties, as well as the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce, are celebrating President Obama’s announcement to designate Rio Grande del Norte as a National Monument.

The monument, which is expected to be designated on March 25, encompasses approximately 240,000 acres of historically and culturally significant and wild land west of Taos and north to the Colorado border, including the Rio Grande Gorge, Ute Mountain, and the Taos Plateau.

“The President’s national monument designation of Rio Grande del Norte will not only protect a pristine land for all time, it will also create jobs and economic opportunities for the people living in Taos and Rio Arriba counties right now,” said Jamie Tedesco, Executive Director of the Taos Green Chamber of Commerce. “Rio Grande del Norte is one of the most beautiful regions of our state, and I applaud President Obama for protecting it.”

Tedesco said that the designation wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, retired U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujan, in addition to local leaders and businesses who advocated for National Monument status for years.

“Not only is Rio Grande del Norte an important part of our collective cultural heritage, but it is a vital component to our local economy,” Tedesco continued. “The protected public lands across New Mexico, including Rio Grande del Norte, support jobs and attract visitors and new businesses to our state. The President’s designation will only improve the long-term economic prospects for this area.”

The economic impact of Rio Grande del Norte has long been evident. It already supports approximately 312 jobs per year in the Taos and Rio Arriba counties, and is responsible for about $17 million in revenue from out-of-state visitors. A recent study conducted by BBC Research & Consulting estimates that the President’s designation will result in an increase of about $15 million in additional revenue and 279 new jobs created in the tourism- and outdoor-related activities as the monument’s status is promoted in guidebooks and travel blogs the world over.

“When a national monument is designated, it achieves a higher status in guidebooks and travel blogs, luring people who might otherwise be just passing through to stay a while longer,” said local Taos business owner Cisco Guevara of Los Rios Rivers Runners. “Those longer stays mean revenue for our northern New Mexico economy. In fact, the BBC study noted that some similar regions which received a national monument designation in 2001 experienced approximately 500 percent growth in visitation from 2003 to 2007. If Rio Grande del Norte experiences a visitation growth anywhere close to that number it will do wonders for our local economy.”

###

March 16, 2013

Contact: Allan Oliver

505-553-0759; allan@nmgreenchaber.com 

HB40 heads to Governor’s Desk

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Senate today passed House Bill 40, a measure to enable New Mexico corporations to choose a Benefit Corporation designation. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk having received bi-partisan support in every committee and both chambers.  Should Governor Martinez sign the bill, New Mexico would be the thirteenth state to pass Benefit Corporation legislation.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Zachary Cook (R-Ruidoso) and Sen. Tim Keller (D-Albuquerque), establishes a new type of for-profit entity that may establish duties inaddition to returns to shareholders. This voluntary designation will provide social or environmental-minded businesses with a transparent way to demonstrate their commitment to the community.

This model follows companies such as Patagonia, which has cultivated strong brand loyalty and attracted significant investment because of its commitment to conservation and community.

“HB 40 unleashes the power of the free market while allowing businesses to give back to the community,” said Cook. “The benefit corporation designation is entirely voluntary and transparent, and it will not disrupt any current business structures.”

Sen. Keller echoed Rep. Cook’s statements.

“This legislation helps protect mission-driven companies when there is a leadership transition.  It also helps protect investors by requiring accountability in demonstrating the company benefit back to the public,“ said Sen. Keller.  “Most importantly, this bill helps protect consumers through transparency measures, such as publishing their annual report.”

In New Mexico ever-changing economic landscape, Green Chamber CEO Allan Oliver believes that benefit corporations will become a popular business model.

“Access to capital is a big challenge for business, but there is over $3 trillion dollars worth of social-impact funds seeking to like-minded investment opportunities,” Oliver said. “This new designation will help companies utilize the power of business to make profits, while helping solve societal and environmental challenges.”

The Green Chamber is the state’s leading advocate for renewable energy, local small businesses and innovative business practices, and is made up of about 1,100 businesses statewide.

The New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce has chapters in Las Cruces, Silver City, Albuquerque, Taos and Santa Fe. Through programs such as Think Local First, the NMGCC promotes locally owned, independent businesses that contribute to our local economies.

The Association of Commerce and Industry, Conservation Voters of New Mexico endorsed this bill.

View the Press Release: Green Chamber Applauds Final Passage of Benefit Corporation Legislation

As we approach the last two weeks of the legislative session our top priority bills remain in play. Some of the bills we are currently advocating:

HB40 Benefit Corporations (Cook/Keller) will enable NM companies to provide a public benefit, attract new investment. HB279 Solar Permitting (Stewart) will establish a statewide model code that will help streamline the permitting process and reduce costs for consumers. SB14 Renewal Sustainable Building Tax Credit to continue investing in residential and commercial green building practices. HB135 Homebuyers Tax Credit to spur buying of new energy efficient homes. SB566 Commercial Building Tax Credit to help renovate energy inefficient buildings and create thousands of new jobs. SB14 Combined Reporting to require big-box retailers to report on NM income. SB7 Tax Expenditure Reporting to require tracking of state tax expenditures.

We’ve taken a fiscally responsible approach–proving that each of our bills are either revenue neutral or revenue positive.   And-important to this economy–all of them create jobs. Thanks to all who have made calls, or sent emails on behalf of our bills. As we approach the finish line, quick actions by our members will make all the difference.

In February, our chapters were incredibly busy.  Taos held a clean energy roundtable with US Senator Martin Heinrich.  Silver City participated in solar appraisal workshops.  Las Cruces held numerous “Green Ribbon” cuttings to highlight their member companies green initiatives.  Santa Fe Green Drinks hosted over 100 people with a presentation of “Marketing by Nature.”  Each of the chapters have lots of great upcoming programs as well.

Special thanks to all our new and renewing members listed at left–we simply could not do our work without you.

Best regards,

Allan Oliver

Read the Newsletter: Statewide Newsletter – March 2013

February 7, 2013

The following is the statement of Allan Oliver, CEO of the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce, upon the news that members of New Mexico’s Congressional delegation have introduced legislation calling for permanent protection of the Rio Grande del Norte region of New Mexico, just west of Taos:

“Congressman Lujan and Senators Udall and Heinrich have once again affirmed their commitment to protecting public lands and growing jobs in Northern New Mexico’s fragile economy. As overwhelming public support and studies have demonstrated, protection for the Rio Grande del Norte will create jobs in the tourism and outdoor recreation industries while also preserving a critical piece on New Mexico’s landscape. This is a win-win. It is important to note that northern New Mexico and Taos can start enjoying these economic and recreation benefits today as President Obama has the ability to immediately designate the area as a National Monument. We appreciate the leadership of our delegation but also fully support presidential action on this popular proposal.”

Our third annual legislative action day was a big success with over 40 member businesses from across New Mexico and culminating in an evening reception where were joined by key legislators and Public Regulation Commissioners.

Our legislative agenda continues to move forward:  Benefit Corporation passes House Business and Industry Unanimously, our Homebuyers Tax Credit passed House Energy and is holding House Taxation and Revenue, the Sustainable Building Tax Credit passed Senate Corporations and is moving into its second committee. Other legislation such as combined reporting, solar permitting and community solar, PRC qualifications will be on the forefront in the coming weeks.

On the PRC front, stay tuned, as it looks like the PRC may reconsider the recent rule that protects the solar carve out and maintains strong overall investment in renewables. NMIAC, the Attorney General, PRC staff have filed for a rehearing of the case that took 17 months to resolve.

This month NMGCC rolls out its new logo and brand “power up your business.”  We believe this is new brand helps mark our bottom line purpose of helping our member business’s grow and succeed. A special thanks to Mind Over Markets, who developed the brand with extensive consultation with our members, staff and board.  We think it looks terrific.

We also have completed our 2012 Green Chamber Progress Report–Click here.  It’s really impressive to see the great work and growth of all our our chapters over the last year.

Stay posted.

Best regards,

Allan Oliver