On November 2, the Environmental Protection Agency released critical new draft rules to reduce methane emissions and other pollution from the oil and gas industry. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is more than 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Methane is also emitted alongside other harmful pollution that puts communities at risk of serious negative health effects.
Big news from Climate Summit: Gov. Lujan Grisham to put “net zero by 2050” bill on 2022 call
For immediate release: Oct. 25, 2021 Santa Fe, NM – At her speech at the Speaker’s Climate Summit (2:33:35) on Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham promised to propose legislation codifying the goals of her 2019 Climate Executive Order in the
A real climate plan for New Mexico to invest in
A coalition of climate and community groups has been working together to propose a broad plan for New Mexico to address climate change and provide market mechanisms to protect communities and drive equitable economic innovation. The package would also include appropriations to invest in grants to support energy-efficiency improvements for low- and moderate-income families; decarbonization credits for small business; and fleet electrification and other job-creating investments
PRC approves strong EV infrastructure plan for SPS
On Sept. 22, New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission approved Southwestern Public Service Company’s Transportation Electrification Plan — essentially a state-required plan for adding electric-vehicle infrastructure — with some important improvements your actions helped secure. Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy and Sierra Club fought hard to make sure that the plan provides New Mexicans adequate rebates for installing home EV fast chargers and ease of payment at public charging stations.
New Mexicans urge senators to repeal fossil-fuel subsidies in budget reconciliation
For Immediate Release: August 26, 2021 Photos HERE Albuquerque, N.M. — On Aug. 26, elected officials, residents from across New Mexico and groups representing nearly 300,000 members sent a letter urging U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján to
Rio Grande Chapter statement on Interior Department lease announcement
The U.S. Interior Department issued a statement on August 16 announcing that it will fight the Louisiana U.S. District Court judge’s injunction on its oil and gas leasing moratorium but comply with the judge’s order to resume federal oil and gas lease sales.
Community secures health, climate concessions on Newman 6
On August 17, the Chaparral Coalition for Community Health and the Environment, the Sierra Club, and Earthworks (the Community Groups) reached an agreement with El Paso Electric (EPE) that will substantially reduce air pollution in El Paso and southern New Mexico. The agreement will temporarily block new fossil fuel power plant construction while pushing EPE toward a clean energy future.
NM is stalling on Clean Cars: Let’s get them started
New Mexico has pledged to create Clean Cars standards to tackle the climate emergency — but the state’s timeline could delay adoption for years. So we did it for them.
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter responds to court order on leasing pause
On June 16, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal public lands pending reviewing of the Interior Department’s leasing program. The court’s preliminary injunction, which applies to Interior leasing nationwide, harms the needed transition from fossil-fuel pollution and efforts to address the climate emergency.
Drilling pause brings hope in NM
By Miya King-Flaherty, Our Wild New Mexico organizer Advocates are awaiting a federal report on oil and gas leasing this summer that could set New Mexico on a path for a safer climate, more stable economy and healthier communities. Almost