NMIPL IN THE NEWS

A Petition Calling for Strong Methane Rules in Oil and Gas

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Interfaith Power & Light

New Mexico & El Paso Region

PO Box 27162,  Albuquerque, New Mexico  87125   

info@nm-ipl.org   www.nm-ipl.org

Dear President Biden,

We are running out of time to act on climate and protect public health. Thankfully, cutting methane pollution from oil and gas operations is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways we can slow the rate of climate change now, and keep our air clean and safe to breathe.

We were encouraged to learn that EPA has submitted a rule to the Office of Management and Budget to address methane and other harmful air pollution from new and existing oil and gas operations. We need your administration to publish the draft rule as soon as possible to protect our communities and climate.

Families are counting on a strong and comprehensive methane rule to address the gaps in last year’s proposed rule, including:

  • Requiring regular inspections at high-polluting small wells with leak-prone equipment and eliminating pollution from routine flaring, both of which are outsized sources of methane emissions;
  • Committing to community monitoring programs and working to incorporate data generated by community groups; and
  • Including a requirement to use equipment that does not emit pollution at well sites such as pneumatics.

Please ensure that strong methane rules are proposed as soon as possible to protect public health and climate, there is no time to waste.

Name   (please print clearly)                         e-mail                                                         City/town

To receive a hard copy of the petition, send a note to carlos@nm-ipl.org

Completed petitions will go to Sister Joan Brown, osf, joan@nm-ipl.org

PO Box 27162
Albuquerque, NM 87125-7162
USA

First Annual All Electric Car Show in Los Ranchos

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Join the National Drive Electric Week for an opportunity to inspect a variety of all-electric vehicles and visit with their owners about EVs in general and their own EV in particular.

September 25 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Hartnett Park
6718 Rio Grande Blvd
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107

Local dealers and vendors of EV related products will also be represented. Enter the raffle to win a Clipper Creek, HCS-40P, Level 2 charging station. Follow on Twitter: #LR_evshow

Private EV Owners: Complete a Participant  Application. Two parking spaces will be allotted for each vehicle. FREE.
Dealers: Complete a Participant  Application. Two parking spaces will be allotted for each vehicle. $100. donation requested per vehicle
Other vendors: Complete a Participant Application. One 10′ space will be allotted per vendor. $100. donation requested per space.

Register to attend

Podcast: Earth’s Twin Crises: Biodiversity Loss + Climate Change

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Today is the release date for the third episode of Jubilee for the Earth: Biodiversity and Our Sacred Story.

You can watch the episode here, called “Earth’s Twin Crises: Biodiversity Loss + Climate Change.”

About the Episode

In an article for the Australian Academy of Sciences, Professor Ary Hoffman writes: “even small changes in average temperatures can have a significant effect upon ecosystems. … The interconnected nature of ecosystems means that the loss of species [because of climate change] can have knock-on effects upon a range of ecosystem functions.”

Every day, scientists are learning more and more about how climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, and about how biodiversity loss worsens climate change. Their work has made it clear that we need to solve both crises together.

For example, the United Nations observes that conserving or restoring habitats can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while adopting climate-smart ways of farming can significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution. This shows us how caring for the planet’s biodiversity is a great way to care for the planet’s climate.

Recognizing that we have to address both crises together also allows us to get at an even deeper truth: that climate change and biodiversity loss are not separate problems, but actually two consequences of one deeper problem. The problem is our over-extractive economy that prioritizes growth-at-any-cost over the common good of all creatures. Even though the climate and biodiversity crises are existential threats to a healthy planet, we must also address their root cause. Because if we don’t, then even if we do manage to solve our planet’s twin crises, our over-extractive economy will simply keep creating new ones into the future.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Jubilee for the Earth.

In Solidarity,

St. Columban Mission for Justice, Peace and Ecology

P.S. The fourth episode of Jubilee for the Earth will be released on September 22, called “Saqueando Nuestra Tierra: La Pérdida de Biodiversidad + Sobreexplotación.” It will be in Spanish. 

Carlsbad Current Argus. Sep. 3, 2020 New Mexico finalizes oil and gas wastewater regulations, lawmakers hear testimony (Rev. Nick King Quoted)

Las Cruces Sun-News,  Aug. 19, 2020, Report on solving climate crisis brings hope (Co-authored by Michael Sells, Clara Sims and Edith Yanez)

Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug. 15, 2020 Vote your values this November  (Commentary by Larry Rasmussen and Tabitha Arnold)