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Commission directs staff to prepare Opportunity Zone nominations and drafts non-binding letter of support for IPUSA biofuel proposal
Summary
The Commission directed staff to prepare Opportunity Zone nomination materials for several census tracts and instructed the county manager to draft a nonbinding letter of support (not a letter of intent) for the proposed IPUSA biofuel facility, contingent on financing, permitting and agreed commercial terms.
Commissioners discussed potential census tracts for nomination if the governor moves forward with Opportunity Zone designations and directed staff to prepare nomination packages for final Commission approval. Commissioner Samantha J. Serna outlined eligible tracts including areas of Ruidoso, Capitan and rural Hondo. Staff will return to the Commission with a final recommended list prior to submission.
Manager Jason Burns updated the Commission on discussions with IPUSA regarding a proposed biofuel facility described as a potential $150 million investment that could create 50–100 jobs and use woody biomass from fuels-reduction projects. Commissioners expressed concern about IPUSA’s financing, engineering readiness and permitting. Chair Mark G. Fischer said he preferred a letter of support rather than a binding letter of intent; the Commission directed Burns to prepare a non-binding letter of support conditioned on demonstrated funding, permitting, engineering plans and mutually agreed feedstock and commercial terms and to return draft language for review.
