In collaboration with the New Mexico State Land Office and Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, HECHO will be facilitating a conversation between the people leading the way for renewable energy in New Mexico. This event will build your knowledge of the intersection between public lands management and the climate crisis, provide an opportunity for you to share the climate change impacts you are seeing in your community, and will empower you to push for a climate plan in your city.
Date:
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Time:
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PT
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. MST
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. MDT
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. CT
2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET
Speakers:
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard is the first woman, the first Latina, and the first educator to serve in the position as New Mexico’s Commissioner of Public Lands.
Stephanie was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2012. During her six years as a State Representative, she championed laws to increase access to a quality education, transparency, and investments in renewable energy, job training, and economic development. She served as Chair of the House Education Committee for two years before being elected Land Commissioner in 2018.
Representative Abbas Akhil
Representative Abbas Akhil is a New Mexico State Representative for House District 20. Representative Akhil is an engineer with expertise in energy storage and renewable energy who retired from Sandia National Labs before forming his own energy consulting business. The Representative has spent his entire career in energy storage and clean energy innovation, and wants to bring this experience to the State Legislature. Representative Akhil and his wife have lived in Albuquerque for over forty years and raised their three children in their community.
Sarah Webster
Ms. Webster is Vice President of Investor Relations, Government Relations and Corporate Communications for Pattern Energy. In her role, Ms. Webster oversees Pattern Energy’s global investor relations program, as well as all government relations at the state, provincial, and federal levels. She is also responsible for corporate communications, including media, branding, and corporate social responsibility. Ms. Webster has been with Pattern Energy since 2013, and she enjoys the opportunities her position affords her to build relationships with company stakeholders and serve as the diplomatic core for Pattern Energy.
Fernando Martinez
Fernando Martinez is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority. He previously held a number of senior natural resource positions in New Mexico state government with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the Environment Department, including Manager of the Mining Act Reclamation Program, Chief of the Drinking Water Bureau, Director of the Energy Conservation and Management Division, and Director of the Mining and Minerals Division.