Senate Finance Committee Passes Key Community Benefits Fund Initiative

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Clear Horizons New Mexico, a statewide coalition of environmental, social justice, and conservation advocates from 33 organizations and businesses across New Mexico, applauds the Senate Finance Committee for passing the Community Benefit Fund, made up of Senate Bills 48 and 49. Senate Bill 48 passed the Senate Finance Committee on 7-4 do-pass vote, while its companion bill Senate Bill 49 that houses the funding remains in the committee, waiting to be absorbed into the state budget bill, House Bill 2.  The vote was taken late Wednesday, February 19.

The Community Benefit Fund, Senate Bills 48 and 49, would invest $340 million in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change, providing resources for workforce development and retraining, renewable energy and infrastructure projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and other projects that reduce carbon pollution all while building a sustainable economy.

The Clear Horizons New Mexico Coalition is a partnership of New Mexicans across the state from 33 climate, equity, social justice, and conservation organizations and businesses that are raising their voice in unison for climate action in the Land of Enchantment. At Clear Horizons, we celebrate our promise and commitment to keeping New Mexico beautiful and prosperous for everyone, now and in the future.  New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power & Light is one of 33 organizations comprising the Clear Horizons coalition. Other partners are  350 New Mexico, American Lung Association in New Mexico, Center for Civic Policy, Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Creciendo Nuevo Mexico, E2 – Environmental Entrepreneurs, Earthworks, Environmental Defense Fund, GreenLatinos, GRID Alternatives, Healthy Climate New Mexico, Moms Clean Air Force New Mexico chapter, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council),, NM CAFe, NM Climate Investment Center, NM Native Vote, NMVC Action Fund, Positive Energy Solar, ProgressNow New Mexico, Prosperity Works, Renewable Energy Industries Association of NM, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, Sovereign Energy, SWEEP (Southwest Energy Efficiency Project), the Semilla Project, Western Environmental Law Center, Western Leaders Network, and Western Resource Advocates.

IPL-NM-EP Speaks Out Against Congressional Effort to Repeal Methane Safeguard

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The House & Senate introduced companion Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions today that undermine a critical measure to #CutMethane waste and pollution from oil & gas operations. 

Their proposed resolutions target a rule implementing the Methane Emissions Reduction Program’s waste emissions charge which calls polluters to be responsible for excessive pollution. The methane polluter fee aims to cut excessive waste, secure American energy, create jobs and only applies to oil and gas companies that do not meet the industry’s own pollution reduction targets.

“People of faith in New Mexico believe that caring for communities, and our sacred water, air and land is an ethical and moral responsibility. For more than 10 years people of faith and conscience in New Mexico have worked for strong methane safeguards.

This is one simple and effective way to make sure that business is responsible. Sister Joan Brown, osf, Community Advocate, New Mexico and El Paso Interfaith Power and Light.

Senate Conservation Committee Approves Protections for NM Waters

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Photo: Duncan Sill

On Thursday, Jan. 30,  the Senate Conservation Committee voted 6-3 to pass SB 21 and SB 22, a pair of bills that will provide critical protections for New Mexico waters. The bills are also assigned to the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees before they move over to the House and then proceed to a floor vote.

Following rollbacks to federal clean water protections in recent years, up to 95% of New Mexico’s waters have lost protection once provided under the Clean Water Act. Because of these rollbacks and the lack of a state water quality permitting system, American Rivers named all New Mexico rivers atop its list of the most endangered rivers in the country in its 2024 Most Endangered Rivers report.

 

“Valuing water and valuing life are one and the same,” said Rev. Clara Sims, assistant executive director of New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light. “In the absence of federal protections, our state leaders have an urgent and sacred responsibility to protect our precious waterways of New Mexico for the thriving of all our communities of life, human and beyond, for all generations to come.”

The bills that passed committee today would ensure federal clean water protections that had existed in New Mexico for decades are continued at the state level. In addition, they will provide authority to the state to take over permitting from the federal government for the waters that are still federally protected, streamlining the process and bringing oversight into the hands of New Mexicans.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and Rep. Kristina Ortez sponsored SB 22—a bill to establish a state-level permitting system for waters no longer federally protected under the Clean Water Act—and SB 21—a bill to assume state permitting authority for waters currently managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency— to set in place the necessary authority to build a comprehensive state permitting program.

“New Mexico waters have lost critical protections in recent years, threatening our drinking water, the health of our communities, and the future of key industries like agriculture and outdoor recreation,” said Rachel Conn, deputy director of Amigos Bravos. “We’re pleased to see the progression of SB 21 and SB 22 that would reinstate decades of prior protections and establish a system to ensure the wetlands and waterways we need for our way of life don’t become contaminated.”

“Our land-based communities depend on clean water in our streams, headwaters, and wetlands to irrigate our fields and care for our livestock,” said Paula Garcia, executive director of the New Mexico Acequia Association. “A state-based permitting system will help protect our acequias and farms for the future.”

“These bills will form a complete surface water permitting program for the state of New Mexico. These protections are critical to ensure our most precious resource is protected for future generations,” said Tricia Snyder, Rivers and Waters Program director for New Mexico Wild. “We’re grateful this important effort is making forward movement in the legislature.”

“Nuevo Mexico must now step up. Urgent action is required. The legislature must adopt protections and programs to safeguard our waterways from pollution,” said Jared Berenice Estrada with The Semilla Project. “These waterways demand our immediate protection for the sake of future generations.”

“With much of the Mimbres and Gila Watersheds at risk due to loss of recent clean water protections, a state permitting program to protect our waters from pollution is needed,” said Allyson Siwik, executive director of the Gila Resources Information Project.\

“New Mexico’s most precious resources are our streams, lakes, and wetlands. But this scarce resource is under singular attack,” said Tannis Fox, senior attorney with Western Environmental Law Center. “These two bills will establish the necessary framework to protect our waters from pollution, and protect New Mexico’s communities,Tribal waters, acequias, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation economy now and for the future.”

“Valuing water and valuing life are one and the same,” said Rev. Clara Sims, assistant executive director of New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light. “In the absence of federal protections, our state leaders have an urgent and sacred responsibility to protect our precious waterways of New Mexico for the thriving of all our communities of life, human and beyond, for all generations to come.”