The Clear Horizons Act passed its first hurdle! On the docket the rest of this week..
- New Energy Economy
- Jan 28
- 3 min read
Today at the Roundhouse SB4, the Clear Horizons Act to codify emissions reduction goals into law, passed its first hurdle. Thank you to Senator Stefanics, Senator Sedillo-Lopez, Senator Pope Jr, Senator Charley and Senator Hamblen for taking this first courageous step in the face of strong opposition from the oil and gas industry and their allies, who continue to lament the potential economic costs of taking climate action while ignoring the giant elephant in the room - the clear and present danger of flood, fire, drought and insurance industry collapse that are already costing New Mexicans billions.
SB4 will go next to Senate Finance. Your action is critical to ensure that this bill makes it to the Governor's desk intact! Read more about the bill.
Also this morning an attempt to add an excise tax to solar panels was tabled, and HB 51, the Energy Storage System Tax Credit brought by Rep. Sariñana passed its first committee on a party line vote. Yay!
Nominated PRC Commissioner Greg Nibert will have a confirmation hearing in Senate Rules tomorrow morning. His long career as a lawyer for Hinkle Shanor LP, a law firm with many cases before the Commission, raises concerning ethical issues that he has downplayed, stating that he does not intend to recuse from such cases. We hope that legislators will press him to hold to the highest ethical standard.
Other important environmental bills were rolled or will be heard later this week. Coming soon:
SB 21 and 22 - Water Quality and Pollution Act - Scheduled for Senate Conservation Thursday at 9:00AM - SB 21 authorizes the state to take over pollutant discharge permitting for waters still federally protected and under EPA jurisdiction. SB 22, the Water Quality and Pollution Act, puts in place a discharge permit regime for the 95% of New Mexico waterways that were excluded from Clean Water Act protections by the Sackett decision. Without these protections all New Mexico waterways, streams and wetlands are at risk of pollution and destruction by industry and developers. Email Committee Members here.
SB 23 - Oil and Gas Royalty Rate Changes - Scheduled for Senate Conservation Thursday 9:00AM - The act will increase royalty rates for oil and gas leases on state land from 20% to 25% on the best tracts. Existing leases will not be affected and bidding on leases remains voluntary. The increased rate would bring royalties in NM in line with those assessed in Texas and would raise an estimated $1 billion to fund NM schools and other priorities. Learn more here.
HB 34 - Oil Conservation Protect Health & Environment - Scheduled for House Agriculture Thursday 9:00AM - Sponsored by Rep. Debbie Sariñana and Rep. Tara Lujan, this act requires the Oil Conservation Division to protect public health and environment as part of its mandate. Under the current law, OCD is only empowered to prevent oil and gas waste and protect property rights as it makes and enforces rules, regulations, and orders regarding production and permitting. Learn more here.
HB 35 - Children’s Health Protection Zones - Scheduled in House Energy Thursday at 9:00AM - Sponsored by Rep. Debbie Sariñana, this bill will establish a 1-mile health protection zone around all schools and educational facilities and prohibit the drilling of new oil and gas wells within such zones. Pollution from existing wells within the health buffer zone would be subject to additional monitoring and control measures to ensure that no pollution is leaking from these sites and endangering children. Learn more here.
HJR 3: Environmental Rights Act. Friday morning let's show up to demand a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment! In Montana youth were able to hold the State accountable to consider climate emissions in all permitting decisions because they are protected by the Green Amendment. Our children deserve no less. Learn more and take action here.
Finally, the Strategic Water Supply Act, HB 137 has been assigned to three committees: House Agriculture, House Energy and House Appropriations but has not yet been scheduled. Click here to read the one pager and write to House Agriculture to ask them to vote NO on this dangerous bill.
댓글