2024 News Releases
Commissioner Garcia Richard Bans Mineral Leasing and Large Transmission Lines on Caja del Rio State Lands
SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard today issued Executive Order 2024-0o1 in protection of the Caja del Rio Plateau by banning mining, the construction of large transmission lines (115 kv or above) and major throughfares...
State Land Office Earns Most Money Ever from Activities Other Than Oil and Gas Royalties in Fiscal Year 24
The New Mexico State Land Office earned $2.56 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2024 (FY24), the 2nd highest amount ever earned by the agency, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced today. The agency also set a new record for the most revenue...
Commissioner Garcia Richard Awards Lease for Community Solar Project in Doña Ana County
New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has executed a long-term lease for the second-ever community solar project to be constructed on state lands. Affordable Solar submitted the highest bid at a public auction at the State Land Office...
State Land Office Again Wins Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards
SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico State Land Office is a recipient of the 2024 Fall Culture Excellence Awards, winning the Top Workplaces 2024 Culture Excellence Award and the Top Workplaces 2024 Women-Led award, as announced in Business Wire today. The Woman-Led Top...
Commissioner Garcia Richard Awards Lease for First-Ever Community Solar Project on State Lands
SANTA FE, N.M. – During National Clean Energy Week, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has executed a long-term lease for the first-ever community solar project to be constructed on state lands. Affordable Solar won rights to the lease...
State Land Office Wins Massive Damages in Case Against Oil and Gas Polluter Smith & Marrs
SANTA FE, N.M. – A Santa Fe district court judge has awarded the State Land Office nearly $7.5 million in damages in a lawsuit against Texas-based oil and gas company Smith & Marr’s for contaminated oil sites on state lands, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands...
Commissioner Garcia Richard Awards Leases for Major Wind Projects on State Lands
SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard today executed long-term leases for two major wind projects on state lands. One lease was awarded to EDF Renewables to develop a wind energy project on 23,840 acres in Grant County; a...
City of Albuquerque, State Land Office Team Up to Help New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Expand
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The City of Albuquerque and Stephanie Garcia Richard, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands have joined forces to help the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NMSBVI) expand so that it can safely serve students and families....
State Land Office Named a Top Workplace by the Albuquerque Journal for 2nd Consecutive Year
The Albuquerque Journal has announced that the New Mexico State Land Office has won a Top Workplaces award, ranking 2nd among midsize employers – organizations with between 150-499 employees – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced...
May 18 at 10 a.m.: State Land Office to Host 3rd Public Meeting in Albuquerque on Management of South Valley Bosque Parcel
ALBUQUERQUE -- The State Land Office is hosting the third of three public meetings in Albuquerque on Saturday, May 18 to consider a proposal to transfer a 212-acre parcel of state land in the Rio Grande Bosque in the South Valley to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife...