(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Diane Denish today announced a bold plan to create high-tech and renewable energy jobs.

She announced her plan at the Silver Gardens Workforce Housing green apartments, an innovative workforce housing development that is applying for Platinum LEED certification and uses cutting-edge renewable technologies. Three-hundred New Mexicans were employed in the construction and development of Silver Gardens.

"These are difficult times and New Mexicans from all walks of life are hurting. That's why I believe the time is now for bold action to create jobs and give people hope for the future," Denish said. "Let my opponent focus on the past. I am going to be focused the the work that needs to be done to get New Mexicans back to work."

The Denish Plan for high-tech and green-job creation includes:

·      Innovate New Mexico: A statewide, high-tech development corporation focused on working with our federal labs and research universities to support the creation and marketing of tech-transfer spin-off companies.

·      A state Clean Energy Investment Pool -- By linking a portion of severance-tax revenue to incentives and programs for growing the clean-energy economy, we can target state capital to renewable-energy projects.

·      Create centers of excellence for green-energy development based at our research universities. These centers of excellence will go hand-in-hand with the goals of Innovate New Mexico.

·      Expand tax credits for clean energy companies -- Increase the Industry Research and Development Tax Credit to 10% for clean technology businesses and offer favorable tax treatment to startup founders to encourage them to stay in New Mexico.

·      Fight for the expansion of special assessment districts for renewable energy. I will take on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make sure this innovative program, which puts renewable energy directly into the hands of average homeowners, remains a viable green-job engine.

·      Support the creation of a green-job business incubator.

·      Encourage the conversion government car fleets to high-efficiency vehicles and natural-gas.

·      Ensure all new state buildings meet green standards, expand renovation of existing buildings and put all government utility bills online for the public to inspect.

·      Invest and bond for renewable energy transmission capacity so that New Mexico can sell its renewable power to other states.

·      Promote and develop deep-source geothermal energy using spent oil and gas wells. This new effort would be a great way to engage oil and gas companies in the green energy revolution and create jobs in the oil patch.

"Creating jobs takes a whole lot more than platitudes and sound bites, it takes hard work, innovative ideas and the courage to get it done," Denish said. "I've been a small business owner and I have a track record of creating jobs. As governor that will be my number one focus every day."

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