Rio Grande Chapter

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 2022 New Mexico legislative session. Climate and community advocates, who applauded the announcement, have been supporting climate-justice legislation that would create jobs and uplift frontline communities by moving toward a clean-energy economy and enshrining the economy-wide commitments to net-zero climate ...

But climate is core to our survival, the quality of life of our kids in the future and now. It’s core to protecting our air, water, wildlife, lands, food and so much more. Now is the time and we are the ones. Join ClimateCORPS ...

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 ...

On October 5, a coalition of New Mexico community, environmental, and justice organizations warned state and federal lawmakers of the risks of diving head-first into fossil-fueled hydrogen projects. The groups’ letter provides guidance on the context and safeguards that must be enacted before hydrogen projects are considered in the San Juan Basin, and in New Mexico generally.The oil and gas industry has lobbied for billions in taxpayer funds for hydrogen in the coming federal infrastructure bill, and states, including New ...

Eighty-five of you (parents, kids, faith leaders, Sierra Club members) spoke in favor of strong smog rules in front of the Environmental Improvement Board at the end of September. The Environmental Improvement Board hearing lasted two weeks and involved testimony, witnesses, and cross-examining, all while climate and community groups made a case for the strongest safeguards possible. Our lawyers, witnesses and public commenters advocated for some areas of improvement to the draft rule.  ...

On September 22, 2021, 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.  ...

Many uncertainties surrounding the definition of “Waters of the U.S.” have plagued the regulatory landscape since 2001 and ultimately resulted in the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule.  Also known as the “Dirty Water Rule,” the Trump administration’s rule has impacted New Mexico more than any other state in the nation ...

The state Environment Department, which had committed to adopting the Clean Cars standards in 2020, opposed climate activists' petition, saying they were understaffed but would start a rulemaking in December. Supporters of Sierra Club and other groups submitted nearly 1,000 comments to the EIB, and several volunteers gave oral comments at the July 23 meeting where the board heard our petition. Unfortunately, the EIB rejected the petition ...

The Caja del Rio is part of the vital Western Wildway Priority Wildlife Corridor that runs along the Upper Rio Grande Watershed from Colorado through New Mexico. The plateau and canyons are vital habitat for a diverse range of plants and animals, and the area is recognized by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area ...

Trapping season will be upon us beginning November 1. While we still are celebrating that the New Mexico Legislature passed and the governor signed Roxy’s Law banning traps from public land, it won’t take effect until April 1, 2022 ...