We are halfway through the legislative session and the Governor's promised action to codify emissions reduction goals has fallen by the wayside. Instead we are faced with a real-life enactment of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Our supposedly pro-environment Democratic legislators are proposing bills that only NMOGA could love, bills that erode transparency, accountability and democracy while increasing emissions and profits for fossil fuel companies. Each bill co-opts the language of climate action, pretending earnest care for the earth and the people, while proposing false solutions that accomplish the opposite. Meanwhile real solutions languish without progress or leadership support.
With oil and gas lobbyists stalking the Roundhouse and contributing almost $500,000 to Democratic lawmakers, we know that the only power we have is people power. Your phone calls, your emails and your presence at hearings is necessary to oppose these dangerous bills and demand real solutions like Local Choice Energy. Without your involvement the body-snatchers won't even need to pretend anymore.
HB 12 - An Unlimited Public Wealth Transfer To Fossil Fuel & Nuclear Corporations Act
This dangerous bill establishes a finance authority to facilitate Public Private partnerships for the development of hydrogen, nuclear and carbon capture. It authorizes the unlimited transfer of public funds into private hands for fossil fuel and nuclear development, suspending procurement rules and Inspection of Public Records (IPRA) protections to facilitate secret deals at the sole discretion of the new cabinet member it proposes. At a time when climate action is needed, this bill takes us in the opposite direction we need. It is scheduled on Saturday for a hearing in HENRC and urgent action to defeat this bill is needed now.
HB 431 - PNM'S ANSWER TO LOCAL CHOICE PRE-EMPTS NEW MEXICO COMMUNITIES FROM TAKING CONTROL OF THEIR ENERGY FUTURE
Monopoly utility industry fears of competition got a leg up last week from Republican and Democratic sponsors who brought this bill to prevent New Mexico municipalities and counties from establishing their own energy generation priorities and daring to challenge the exploitative and abusive monopoly control that these private companies enjoy. The bill passed its first committee in the house with the support of all the Republicans and two Democratic Representatives and goes next to House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs.
HB 436 - The Not so "Clean" Fuel Standards Act
The not so "Clean" Fuel Standards Act enables carbon offsets and trading mechanisms that will help industry to continue polluting indefinitely. Carbon trading undermines the emission reduction goals of a fuel standard, and without a clear definition of participants in the credit trading market, the bill leaves open the possibility of polluting industries such as oil and gas using a carbon credit and trading scheme to prolong their use of New Mexico as a sacrifice zone. Expected to be heard TOMORROW in HENRC.
HB 174 - Underground Injection Control Fund
Proposes to take over permitting of Class VI injections wells from the EPA to speed the pace of approvals in New Mexico. Class VI wells use a technology known as geologic sequestration, which is often referred to as Carbon Capture and Storage or “CCS”. This process uses wells that are drilled into deep rock formations, where they (hopefully) store captured carbon emissions. It’s a way for polluters to “offset” their emissions by hiding them underground, risking groundwater contamination and future CO2 emission leaks while delaying action to curb fossil fuel combustion.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? SHOW UP TOMORROW AT 12:00 TO RALLY AGAINST THE FALSE SOLUTIONS BEING PEDDLED BY OUR LEGISLATORS
As NMOGA holds its private reception for legislators tonight - groups are organizing for a rally and direct action tomorrow, Thursday, February 23rd on climate justice day at the roundhouse to point out the exclusion of climate justice legislation this session. The rally will call out false climate solutions embedded in these bills, and specifically HB 12, which has an upcoming hearing on Saturday.