8-09-2023 8:17am

President Biden Visits New Mexico Wind Turbine Plant

Chris Edwards Editor

President Joe Biden arrived in New Mexico Tuesday after visiting Arizona amongst heavy rains and flash flooding in Albuquerque.

Biden flew into Kirtland Air Force Base and traveled into Albuquerque.

Air Force One officially touched down in Albuquerque at 5:02 pm Tuesday.

There was a slight delay due to the weather. Once on the ground, Biden was greeted by the state’s top elected leaders, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan, Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.

From there, Biden attended a campaign reception ahead of his reelection bid in 2024. President Biden spoke at a fundraising event shortly after landing. He talked about his accomplishment as president, and announced an upcoming trip to Vietnam.

On Wednesday, the president will conduct his daily briefing at 9 a.m. Traffic delays in the Albuquerque area are expected on Wednesday as his motorcade makes its rounds within the area.

At 1 p.m., he will give a speech in Belen about his clean energy manufacturing just one year after the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act were signed into law.

Biden’s supporters claim the president isn't here to campaign but more about his clean energy policies as New Mexico is safely in the Biden camp going into the next presidential election. Trump the frontrunner for the Republican party’s support is minimal, in New Mexico, and shrinking as indictments move forward shaking Republican Party confidence.

Trump support is languishing in New Mexico in all areas except the deep red holds, such as Otero County. Otero County has a history of radicalized Trump supporters such as former County Commissioner, Couy Griffin, John Eastman linked state representative John Block and his partner Karl Melton.

President Joe Biden is making the rounds touting the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act as part of his dialogue in New Mexico.

Biden says it promotes green energy, invests in infrastructure, and will lower costs for Americans. In New Mexico, it means a new company is coming to town.

Soon, the sparks will be flying in a brand-new wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in New Mexico.

“They should feel great,” said Mark Roper with the New Mexico Economic Development Department told KOB News in reference to the president’s visit. “Not only is it going to be a great job creator, it’s going to be great for the economy.”

Roper says the Inflation Reduction Act opened the door for Arcosa, a Dallas-based company, to bring jobs to New Mexico from outside the country. Up to $5 million in state incentives sealed the deal.

“I think it does show that the fact that despite New Mexico’s small populated state, that we do have an impact on the national scale,” Roper said.

Roper says 250 new jobs will equal a $314 million impact in the state over the next decade.

He says construction is already underway, and the state will start seeing the benefit this quarter.

“The fact that the President of the United States is making a trip to New Mexico states big things about New Mexico. The fact he’s taking the time to announce a business in New Mexico really shows that making great strides in New Mexico on the economic development front,” Roper said to KOB news.

President Joe Biden’s visit to Valencia County, New Mexico Wednesday afternoon is to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act’s action to combat the climate crisis and unleash a clean energy and manufacturing boom.

Biden will travel from Albuquerque making his his way to the Arcosa Wind Towers facility in the Rio Grande Industrial Park south of Rio Communities.

Earlier this year, Arcosa Wind Towers announced it would be moving into the old Keter facility.

The Belen City Council unanimously approved a resolution spelling out its intent of issuing taxable industrial revenue bonds not to exceed $65 million for Arcosa.

The councilors also unanimously approved another resolution directing the city clerk to publish a notice of intent to consider an ordinance approving the Arcosa Wind Towers, Inc., proposal for economic development project under the Local Economic Development Act. That agreement will be between the company, the city and the state. This agreement and partnership was in collaboration with the state and federal incentives as a part of the president’s economic development strategy into promoting clean energy economic development.

The local Otero County Democratic Party gave no response on thoughts on the presidential visit to New Mexico. The state party released a statement:

“New Mexico Democrats are thrilled that President Biden is visiting our state to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act invests in communities like ours to create a historic boom to New Mexico’s clean energy industries. While creating steady, good-paying jobs right here in New Mexico, President Biden’s economic and climate agenda is taking unprecedented action to combat record extreme heat caused by the climate crisis and increase clean energy and manufacturing.” - Democratic Party of New Mexico Spokesperson Daniel Garcia.

Biden’s visit is limited to Northern New Mexico this trip. In a statement, the Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce called Biden "out of touch," adding, "If President Biden cared about our state, he would have come and listened to New Mexicans pleading about the influx of fentanyl, crime, violent cartels, and child traffickers coming through our border daily."