Martin Heinrich
10/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/14/2026 18:31
Heinrich Meets with New Mexicans to Discuss How Landmark Bipartisan Legislation Will Lower Costs, Create Jobs, & Hold Data Centers Accountable
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - This week, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, met with New Mexicans to discuss his newly introduced Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, legislation that will lower utility bills, create good-paying jobs, and force data centers to fully pay for their grid upgrades, as well as their share of the existing grid - resulting in savings for New Mexico families.
Heinrich hosted a roundtable discussion with members of UA Local 412, LiUNA Local 16, Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36, and New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council to underscore how his Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will create more high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around, lower electricity bills, and require data centers to fully pay for the costs they create.
"We want to build the jobs in New Mexico that you can build a family around, and that's what unions are all about. That's the way I grew up with my dad," said Heinrich. "My Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act is going to generate benefits for our skilled workers in the state of New Mexico for a very long time to come. This bill is about building the infrastructure and manufacturing capacity we need with union labor for the future of our country - and making sure that those jobs are right here in New Mexico."
Heinrich hosted a second roundtable discussion with Pattern Energy, Grid United, Black Forest Partners, RioSol New Mexico, and NM Renewable Energy Industries Association to highlight how his Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will bring more energy projects online faster and lower utility bills for New Mexico families by speeding up the federal process for reviewing and approving energy projects. Right now, 83% of energy projects stuck in the interconnection queue are clean energy projects.
Heinrich's legislation will get those projects up and running to address rising demand, while creating greater certainty for energy projects approved and financed across presidential administrations by prohibiting any administration from improperly delaying or blocking clean energy projects without facing legal action or fines.
"Our whole premise as we approached this permitting bill was: How do we create a faster process, not lower the bar on standards," said Heinrich. "My Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will help us create more certainty and predictability for projects permitted and financed across administrations - so that energy companies can get projects from idea to go, faster. That means more clean energy projects can get off the ground, more good-paying jobs, and more investments in New Mexico communities."
Additionally, Heinrich joined a roundtable discussion hosted by ABB and the National Association of Manufacturers to highlight how his Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will create more jobs and spark a manufacturing renaissance in New Mexico and nationwide by creating a construction boom and increasing demand for American-made machinery and equipment.
"We need permitting reform to put more electrons on the grid. It results in more jobs, and it's the one thing that can bring down the pressure on the cost of electricity and energy right now," said Heinrich. "The folks at ABB make the components that really build out the grid across the country, and so they're supplying the individual components that connect from the grid, through the utility, to the neighborhood. The more of these projects move forward, the more demand there is for the things that they manufacture right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico."
Photos of Heinrich's roundtables to discuss his Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act are here.
Heinrich's press release announcing his legislation is here.
The full video of Heinrich's New Mexico press conference unveiling his bill is here.
A fact sheet on the bill is here.
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Martin Heinrich published this content on October 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 15, 2026 at 00:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]