SANTA TERESA – Governor Susana Martinez visited Santa Teresa this morning to celebrate the groundbreaking of Union Pacific’s new rail facility. The groundbreaking was made possible by a locomotive fuel tax exemption supported by Governor Martinez and passed with wide bi-partisan support in the previous legislative session. The exemption, which brings New Mexico onto even footing with neighboring states like Texas when it comes to taxing rail fuel, allowed Union Pacific to begin construction on a new $400 million facility in Santa Teresa and is also attracting many of the company’s jobs and operations previously housed in El Paso to Southern New Mexico.
“Encouraging businesses like Union Pacific to invest in New Mexico is an important milestone as we work to revive New Mexico’s economy and take steps that allow our employers to create new jobs,” said Governor Martinez. “Bringing one element of our tax code onto even footing with states like Texas has resulted in economic development that will result in new, permanent jobs here in New Mexico. We welcome Union Pacific’s operations to New Mexico, but this is just one example of how we can revise our tax structure to invite businesses from neighboring states and encourage growth on our side of the state lines. A friendlier tax structure is a common-sense approach that will foster growth and encourage businesses to hire New Mexico workers."
Contact: Scott Darnell
(505) 819 - 1398
scott.darnell@state.nm.us