GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN NEW MEXICO

INTRODUCTION Important economic growth in New Mexico has occurred during the last decade and a half with direct-use of geothermal energy. New Mexico has taken the nation's lead in geothermal greenhouse acreage with more than half of the state's acreage now heated by geothermal. In some recent years, geothermal greenhouse gross receipts have exceeded those of field grown chile and ranked as high as fifth in over all agriculture sector gross receipts. New Mexico is appealing to the greenhouse industry for several reasons, including a good climate, inexpensive land, a good agricultural labor force, and the availability of low-cost geothermal heat. More than half of this geothermal development is directly-tied to the geothermal program at the Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces.