Lauri Costello: New Mexico Must Act On Climate

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Lauri Costello, a member of our New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light community, recently wrote a great letter to the editor in the Las Cruces Bulletin, published on January 29.

Here is an excerpt:

In this winter season of diminished light, many of us are understandably feeling another type of darkness as a new administration takes over. If history and campaign rhetoric matter, we will likely see significant attempts to reverse climate progress. New Mexico has an unprecedented opportunity to provide bold and just leadership on climate. We must stand firm in our commitment to advocate for the environment that used to sustain us.

As a physician, I know that no lasting health for people or the planet will come without clean air, water, soil and intact ecosystems. It is time to commit to meaningful climate legislation, like the Clear Horizons Act, Community Benefits Fund and Innovation in State Agencies Act. Together, these aim to bring New Mexico into alignment with our climate goals while also supporting a healthy and just economic transition for our many, diverse communities.

Read the full letter in the Las Cruces Bulletin

 

IPL Joins Advocates in Call to Legislature for Climate Action

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On Tuesday, January  28, advocates with Food & Water Watch gathered at the Roundhouse to urge the legislature to stop the entrenchment of factory farms in New Mexico, as these facilities contribute greatly to climate change, use up scarce water supplies, cause water and air pollution, harm the welfare of animals, exploit workers, and push family farms out of business.

In particular, advocates encouraged elected officials to support SB 99, also known as the Methane Emissions Reduction Act (MERA), which aims to fix a loophole in the recently passed Clean Transportation Fuel Standard. Closing this loophole would help prevent factory farms from being lavishly incentivized to profit from their pollution.

New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light, came out in support of this action.

 “In New Mexico, we cherish the abundance of beauty and provision that the land offers to us and we celebrate the unique lifeways of tending the land reflected in every corner of our state. Climate change threatens these lifeways through unpredictable and extreme weather, and, of course, the far-reaching drought conditions that are already here. As people of faith and conscience we want the Clean Transportation Fuel Standards to be implemented with integrity to climate goals and that is why we support the Methane Emissions Reduction Act. If factory farms are incentivized to profit from pollution that adds more heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere, the Clean Fuel Transportation Standard will fall far short of the climate goals for which it was originally passed. It is impossible to name the depth of beauty, dignity, and diversity we are called to celebrate in our state. Let’s pass the Methane Emissions Reduction Act for the flourishing future we have in equal measures the right and the responsibility to protect.”  – Rev. Clara Sims, Assistant Executive Director of NM & EP IPL

In addition to gathering in Santa Fe to urge elected officials to support the bill, throughout the past week New Mexicans from across the state came together to urge elected officials to act through a series of events like a film screening and art build.  Read More

 

Three Important Climate Bills in the New Mexico Legislature

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By Rev. Clara Sims, Assistant Executive Director, IPL New Mexico & El Paso

From the blazing heat of our own New Mexico summer to the winter wildfires burning in California, the earth is speaking with resounding clarity of our need to stop burning fossil fuels.

In that spirit, here are the three major climate bills of this session….

Senator Pro Tem, Mimi Stewart, has introduced three ambitious climate bills that work in tandem to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, equip communities for fossil-fuel free economic innovation and development, and fund state agencies so they can better manage their roles of support and enforcement.

Clear Horizons (SB 4)

Seeks to codify into law the Governor’s 2019 executive order of climate emission reductions targets (an order alligned with the Paris Climate Accords).

This would mean bringing business, transportation and the energy sector into alignment with those targets. The Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) would have responsibility for rule-making and oversight.

Community Benefits Fund (SB 48)

This is a pot of money ($340 million) designated to help communities transition economically to cleaner sources of energy and industry, including helping fund projects that do things like create bike and pedestrian lanes, implement grid modernization, fund electric school buses, and help foster workforce development.  Below is a break down of funding:

  • $40M to EDD (Economic Development Department)
  • $20M to Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) Block Grant Fund
  • $100M to Grid Modernization grant fund
  • $50M to Transportation Project fund
  • $ 5M to State Supplemental Land and Water Conservation fund (outdoor recreation act)
  • $40M to EMNRD (Energy, Minerals, Natural Resources Department)
  • $25M to Workforce Solutions
  • $60M to the Public Schools Facilities Authority

Innovation in State Government Fund (SB 83)

The goal is to better equip our state government and agencies to handle big projects and work with new, upgraded technology. Part of the goal is to help agencies think “outside the box” of their current budgets about ways to help support emissions reductions.

For more information about all three of these bills, you can visit a wesbite created by various climate and frontline community partners. The website can be found HERE.

What can you do to support this legislation?

  1. Get in contact with your local congressional represenatives
  2. Write an LTE about the moral imperative for climate legislation
  3. Show up for public comment at key hearings

To contact your local congressional represenative, you can find their information at “find my legislator.”

If you want to write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) or ammend one that is drafted for you, please be in touch with Clara Sims (clara@nm-ipl.org).

To be kept in the loop about key hearings for public comment, sign up to be on our advocacy list. To be added, please contact our advocacy chair Ruth Striegel (ruthstriegel@gmail.com) and/or our assistant director Clara Sims (clara@nm-ipl.org).

Clear Horizons (SB 4) is being heard in the Senate Conservation Committee tomorrow morning, Tuesday the 28th at 9:00 am. There were only a very limited number of slots for public speakers this time around, but we will need all the community support possible going forward to push this over the finish line in other committies, so please stay tuned. If you want to listen in to the hearing, here is the zoom link. Prayers for a good outcome at tomorrow’s hearing matter and are most welcome!