Deputy Secretary Beaudreau Highlights Clean Energy, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments in Water Resilience in New Mexico Visit

Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau completed a multi-day visit to Albuquerque today where he met with state, local, and Tribal leaders, Interior Department employees and community members to highlight President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. During the trip, Deputy Secretary Beaudreau also underscored the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to unlocking and delivering the full potential of renewable energy on our public lands and waters, while creating good-paying union jobs and reducing emissions.

On Tuesday, Deputy Secretary Beaudreau toured the Petroglyph National Monument, an urban park cooperatively managed by the National Park Service and the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division. He later traveled to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge where he toured the refuge’s recently constructed visitor center, which features exhibits that tell the stories of community members’ connection to refuge lands and features an environmental justice resource library. The Interior Department is committed to investing in projects like these that help advance equity and tell a more complete story of America.

On Wednesday, Deputy Secretary delivered remarks at the Solar Energy Industry Association Summit to highlight the Interior Department’s progress to meet the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of permitting at least 25 gigawatts of onshore renewable energy by 2025 by collaboratively partnering with states, cities and Tribal communities. The Department recently outlined a roadmap for continued progress on renewable energy development on public lands and announced the advancement of three transmission projects that will help deliver renewable energy to communities in the West.

Deputy Secretary Beaudreau and Representative Melanie Stansbury also toured the New Belen Wasteway, a Bureau of Reclamation project that will provide operational flexibilities to respond to long-term drought, ensure that irrigation water can be returned to the Rio Grande and support critical habitat for the endangered silvery minnow. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes one of the largest investments in drought resilience in American history, including $8.3 billion for Reclamation for water infrastructure programs and $1.4 billion for ecosystem restoration and resilience. Reclamation has allocated $420 million for rural water construction activities in fiscal year 2022, including project sites in New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Montana.

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