Lt. Gov. Diane Denish pulled the lever to switch on the ceremonial light at the gathering of state and congressional officials to dedicate Mesalands Community College’s wind turbine. Attending the ceremony were, from left, Tucumcari Mayor Antonio Ap

Local, state and federal officials attended the dedication Monday of the 1.5 Megawatt wind turbine at Mesalands Community College.

"I think this is the first carbon positive university in the U.S.," said New Mexico Secretary for Higher Education Reed Dasenbrock.

The turbine will generate more clean energy than will be used by Mesalands making it a carbon positive university.

New Mexico Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said Mesaland's North American Wind Research and Training Center is on the forefront of creating green jobs for the emerging renewable energy market.

U.S. Rep. Tom Udall said that New Mexico was in the lead with 26 other states designing legislation to require that a certain amount of their energy comes from renewable sources.

U.S. renewables will help the United States cut its dependance on foreign oil, Udall said.

Deputy Secretary of the state’s Department Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Reese Fullerton, echoed the remarks by other speakers.
Fullerton also said the state and rural areas need jobs and programs, such the the wind technology program, and more renewable energy businesses so that many of the youth can find work that allows them to stay in their own communities.