After 13 years as New Mexico’s de facto

After 13 years as New Mexico’s de facto state planner, Ken Hughes has moved to a new position as clean energy specialist in the state’s Energy Department. “Smart growth is an area I brought over with me, so I continue to keep a handle on the subject, albeit from the perspective of how to redirect land use policies to minimize carbon emissions,” Hughes says. Before the changeover, Hughes got Governor Bill Richardson’s community development commission to adopt regulations requiring Community Development Block Grant-funded comprehensive plans to analyze and adopt carbon reduction policies. The Energy Department is expected to a report in late summer that will include land-use policy recommendations.