La Vista
by Michael A. Fletcher
mfletcher@ccgmag.com
TAKING THE LEAD ON CLEAN ENERGY REP. BEN RAY LUJÁN SAYS CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN STEM EDUCATION CRUCIAL
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ew Mexico congressman Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat, was a staunch advocate of clean energy and the technology to make it happen long before gasoline prices ap- proached $4 a gallon.
While serving on his state’s Public Regu- lation Commission several years ago, he helped push a rule that required utilities in New Mexico to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. He also required utilities to use diverse energy sources to meet that standard, including solar, wind and biomass.
A member of Congress since 2009, Luján has become one of the House of Representative’s most liberal members. He is the only Hispanic member of the Committee on science and technol- ogy, where one of his top aims is to combat climate change, while making New Mexico a leader in clean-energy technology. He also serves on the Com- mittee on Natural Resources.
Luján says he is concerned about the relative dearth of Hispanics in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related fields. He also worries about the nation’s continuing high unemployment rate, which he believes has a disproportionate impact on His- panics and African Americans.
Given the current political climate in Washington, making progress on his priorities is going to be no easy task. Republicans control the House of Representatives, and their ranks include many climate change skeptics. In addi- tion, Congress and the White House are enmeshed in a historic debate about the role of government and how best to wrestle down the nation’s staggering debt, and the political winds are point- ing to deep cuts in domestic spending.
All of which means Luján and his allies will struggle for resources to help them
6 HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | 2011 Representative Ben R. Luján
meet their goals. But Luján, whose father is speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives, is undaunted.
Before coming to Congress, he served on the Regulation Commission, includ- ing as chairman from 2005 through 2007. Previously, he served as deputy state treasurer and in the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department. A graduate of New Mexico Highlands University, Luján also has worked as a casino dealer
and in human resources at a racetrack.
HE&IT magazine recently posed a series of questions to him about his aspira- tions and priorities in Congress. The conversation follows here:
HE&IT: What is it going to take to get more Hispanics into science and technology professions? Luján: The Hispanic community is the fastest growing population in the
www.hispanicengineer.com
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