ALBUQUERQUE — Sen. Tom Udall finally has a chance to help pass a proposal that would require utilities to use renewable sources to generate part of their energy, a measure he has fought for since 2002 and one that prompted him to run for the U.S. Senate.

In his maiden speech Monday on the Senate floor since taking office last month — the first such speech for a New Mexico senator in more than 25 years — the New Mexico Democrat echoed his campaign-trail rallies as he spoke of a "do-it-all" energy plan and advocated renewable energy as a way to help the economy and to stave off climate change.

"Some people say that the world's demand for fossil fuels has not yet begun to outstrip supply or that the climate is not changing that quickly," Udall said. "I look at it this way. We are driving toward a cliff. I don't want to spend a lot of time arguing about how far off the cliff is. I want to stop accelerating."

Udall has been trying to pass a federal Renewable Electricity Standard since 2002. When the bill passed in the House, but failed by a single vote in the Senate, Udall said the experience prompted him to run for the Senate so he could cast the vote to pass the measure.

Quoting a Union of Concerned Scientists study, Udall said requiring 20 percent of utilities' energy to be renewable would save consumers $31.8 billion by 2030, if the measure passed this year.

Udall said the measure would strengthen rural communities, provide new income for farmers and ranchers and create new high-paying jobs for the middle class.

Climate change has been tough for his home state, Udall said.

"In New Mexico, this means fewer farms and more forest fires, more thirst and less water, the end of a unique and treasured way of life," he said.

Alternative energy has led to green job creation in other countries. Spain has almost five times as many workers in the solar thermal industry as America. China has more than 300 times as many, he said.

Udall said 28 states have renewable standards, including New Mexico.

"But a national RES has never become the law of the land," he said. "It's time for Congress to make it so."

Udall said congressional support for the RES might have prevented a New Mexico energy company from laying off workers and having to delay plans to manufacture its new technology.

Advent Solar in Albuquerque laid off 55 people in January after tight credit markets made it impossible for the company to raise money to manufacture solar cells and modules.

"It did not have to be this way," Udall said.

Like his predecessor, Republican Pete Domenici, who retired earlier this year, Udall touted Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories as being capable of inventing the new technology required to develop renewable energy.

"It is clear that these are difficult times. I devoted this speech to a proposal I believe will allow us to meet these difficulties head-on, and to emerge a safer, stronger, more prosperous nation," Udall said.

Udall thanked his colleague, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who was the last senator from New Mexico to give a maiden floor speech after he was elected in 1982.




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