Ray Powell worked to establish private-public partnerships that are good for our communities, good for business, good for the land office and most importantly good for earning more money for school children in the long run.

Mesa Del Sol

One major example is the Mesa del Sol Project in Albuquerque. As the former Commissioner of Public Lands, his office had the opportunity to develop a plan for the Mesa del Sol area's use. The area had previously been scheduled for sale, but fortunately, the deal fell through.

Encompassing 20 square miles, it is one of the largest development projects in a metropolitan area in North America. The area is comparable in size to the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque. Powell recognized that a land parcel so close to metropolitan area had the potential to increase dramatically in value. It also had the potential to establish a new standard for land use and provide a huge economic boost for the entire state.

Powell's Mesa del Sol plan won national awards, including one from the President's Council on Sustainability. Powell's long term planning for “jobs first”, and a plan to reduce sprawl and create economic opportunity for the region, is being implemented by the master developer that he chose-ForestCity/Covington. Powell's vision of a sustainable energy mesa is coming to fruition. The first tenant at the business park is a national leader in solar energy technology.

La Semilla

He established La Semilla, a 3,000-acre nature preserve next to the master planned community and within the city limits of Albuquerque. This is the largest nature preserve within a metropolitan area in the world and will give the residents a wonderful place to celebrate and learn about nature. In addition, it insures an appropriate buffer to the possible growth at Kirtland Air Force Base.

Powell also wanted to see the beneficiaries of state trust lands receive the long term benefit of increased land value from development, not just pocket the one time purchase price of the raw land. This was accomplished by partnering with the private developer to make sure that the Trust also received the benefit of increased value of the development. In addition, it ensured that the local community input would be included in the type of development that occurred, thus optimizing this extraordinary opportunity.

Now, Mesa del Sol is rapidly becoming a reality and the project will generate BILLIONS of dollars for New Mexico's schools over the 50-75 year life of the project.

The point is that the Mesa del Sol model can be used repeatedly throughout New Mexico as a way of retaining the economic upside of our state trust lands for the benefit of our educational system while helping our communities prosper. It also shows that by working together, the public and private sectors can create a plan that benefits both.

Ray Powell is proud of his team's accomplishments in his previous terms as New Mexico's State Land Commissioner. He is proud to share his vision of the future of New Mexico's State Land Office.