Villa Guadalupe in Gallup Wins National IPL Award

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Congratulations to Villa Guadalupe  and Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup  for earning a runner-up award in National Interfaith Power & Light’s annual Cool Congregations Challenge contest. Villa Guadalupe, which partnered with nearby Spirit Farm,  received a $500 prize from IPL.  Here is what national IPL said:

Villa Guadalupe won a Sacred Grounds award for their innovative plan to collect 20,000 gallons of rainwater on their roofs to irrigate their own vegetable garden and the nearby Navajo reservation farmers. Their project partner is Spirit Farm, an indigenous-informed educational project of Covenant Pathways and James and Joyce Skeet.

 

Here is a list of all the runner up and honorbable mention awards this year

Here are first-place awards

Among the congregations in New Mexico that have won a first-place or runner-up award in one of the national IPL Cool Congregations in past years are Lybrook Community Ministries in Cuba, Congregation Albert in Albuquerque,  United Church of Santa Fe, Bethany Christian Reform Church in Gallup, Camino de Vida Iglesia Cristiana in Albuquerque, St. John’s United Methodist Church in Albuquerque,

 

 

IPL New Mexico-El Paso Roundhouse Report

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We are called to work for life.

We are called to love creation.

We are grateful for all who worked so hard, and prayed for so many concerns during the legislative session that ended February 15.

While the session is over, our work is not over.

 

Overview of some of the areas and bills IPL followed

(and many of you worked for during the 30-day budget session).

Appropriations and bills related to environment, environmental health and climate that PASSED

HB 2-General Appropriations for 2024 which included $300M for the Conservation Lgacy Fund; $75M for the Match Fund; $10M for Climate Investment Center; $7M for Surface and Ground Water Permitting

Tax package Feeder Bills that included funding for Numerous Tax credit bills for solar, energy storage, clean cars, geothermal and energy storage.

HB 41  -Clean Transportation Fuel Standards

HB 177 NM Match Fund

HB 5  Workforce Development & Apprenticeship Fund

CS/ HB 211/a   Water Project Prioritization

Bills related to environment, health and climate that did not make it through

We all continue to work in these areas throughout the year and into the future for our communities and young ones as we strive to care for our sacred land, water, air and communities.

HB 133 Oil & Gas Act Changes –reform for financial assurances and codifying methane rules in New Mexico

Bills to increase bonding through increased royalties in oil and gas industry on state land

Memorial to study setbacks in oil and gas industry related to human and environmental health

SB 79 Statewide Composting Program

Pollinator protection

HB 104 Statewide Public Health and Climate Program

HJR4 and SJR8 NM Green Amendment

 

Sierra Club Summary of State Legislative Initiatives Related to Climate

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The New Mexico State Legislature completed its regular session at Noon today (February 15).

Here is a Legislative Summary courtesy of Camila Fiebelman, Rio Grande Chapter of Sierra Club.

Here’s some of the good stuff that passed!  

(Click on Bill Number for details)

HB 41

CLEAN TRANSPORTATION FUEL STANDARDS

Ortez/Stewart

HB 91

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES PROJECT FUNDS

Roybal Caballero/Ortiz y Pino

*HB 177

NM MATCH FUND

Dixon/Campos

HB 5

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & APPRENTICESHIP FUND

Garratt/Padilla

SB 169/a

LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND CHANGES

Stewart

CS/ HB 211/a

WATER PROJECT PRIORITIZATION

Herrera

HB 252

ADJUST INCOME TAX BRACKETS (TAX PACKAGE See Feeder Bills Below)

Lente/Shendo

TAX PACKAGE FEEDER BILLS

Tax Credits in the package we support:

SB 315

CREATING THE CLEAN CAR INCOME TAX CREDIT

Tallman

HB 140

CLEAN CAR INCOME TAX CREDIT

Hochman-Vigil

SB 121

SOLAR MARKET DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT CHANGES

Stewart

SB 282

ELECTRICITY GENERATION TAX SUNSET

Wirth

HB 118

ELECTRIC GENERATION TAX SUNSET

Ortez

HB 274

ADVANCED ENERGY EQUIPMENT TAX CREDIT

Serrato

SB 316

CREATING THE ADVANCED ENERGY EQUIPMENT INCOME TAX CREDIT

Shendo

HB 143

ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY IRB ELIGIBILITY

Chandler

SB 232

ENERGY STORAGE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS

Wirth

HB 92

GEOTHERMAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION TAX CREDITS

Roybal Caballero

SB 58

GEOTHERMAL ELECTRICITY TAX CREDIT

Ortiz y Pino

SB 40

GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP TAX

Soules

Tax Credit in the package we oppose:

SB 64

SEVERANCE TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS

Ron Griggs

HB2 – Budget Victories

HB 2

GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2024

Nathan P. Small

$300M for the Conservation Legacy Fund

$75M for the Match Fund

$10M for the Climate Investment Center

$7M for Surface and Ground Water Permitting Programs

Thanks to all of the legislators who work so hard to move complex issues forward in ways that are more complex than any of us can imagine.

Thanks to all of the organizations, leaders, and advocates who make this work possible by sharing your knowledge, expertise and passion for working together to protect our kids, families, communities, air, water, land and climate.

We will continue to weave an abundant future together.

With all our love,

Your Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Lobby Team