NMIPL IN THE NEWS

Testimony on State Methane Rules: Rev. Lynne Hinton

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Members and supporters of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light have prepared testimony for hearings held by the Environmental Improvement Board. The hearings, held the week of Sept. 20-24, are in support of the The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) strong proposal to cut ozone-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane released by the oil and gas industry.

I am Rev. Lynne Hinton and I am the Conference Director of the NM Conference of Churches and I live in Albuquerque.  I am here today because like so many other people of faith, I am concerned about methane pollution in our state. I also come because of the scripture reading known as our lectionary on record for this Sunday. In the gospel reading, Jesus told his followers it would be better for a millstone to be hung around the neck of someone and thrown into the sea than to carry out harm against a child.

Today I come speaking for our children, recognizing that I am a part of a generation causing them harm and remembering that we did not inherit this planet from our ancestors but rather we are borrowing it from our children.

We know that New Mexico has a horrible record regarding methane pollution. There are leaks from oil and gas operators that are releasing tons of methane and we also know that the operators are not being held accountable for the pollution being created. 

I come asking that you now also speak for the children and create and enforce strong methane rules, that we find ways to protect our children by requiring more frequent inspections to find and repair any leaks, that we develop strong requirements for operators to control their pollution and that we find ways to cut all methane pollution from the oil and gas industry in our state.

When the history books bear our stories, note our positions and our values, I hope this board and the people of faith across the state of New Mexico will be found to be on the side of taking care of our earth and our children.

Thank you for allowing me to speak and for your concerns for our beautiful planet for present days and for generations to come.

 

 

Testimony on State Methane Rules: Jack Edwards

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Members and supporters of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light have prepared testimony for hearings held by the Environmental Improvement Board. The hearings, held the week of Sept. 20-24, are in support of the The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) strong proposal to cut ozone-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane released by the oil and gas industry.
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Lake Powell and lake Mead are currently at one third  of their capacity and close to the point where they can no longer produce hydro electric power. Irrigators on the Sacramento river have for the first time been told to stop diverting water. (1) A pall of smoke hangs over the west. Globally world populations are forced to migrate creating political chaos. Are these things connected?
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I am here to encourage the NMEIB to enact stronger rules to prevent fugitive methane releases. The purpose of this is to prevent the increasingly large  buildup of greenhouse gases and the worsening of the global warning.  I think anyone who is able to connect more than two dots can understand this.
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“The latest August 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) identifies methane as one of the worst greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.” (1)
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One of the more  profound effects of methane releases  is what is  called the “Methane Accelerator”.  As the climate warms many new sources of currently sequestered methane are activated including releases from thawing permafrost and marine hydrates from warming oceans.
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So if methane is such a potent contributor to global warming why not eliminate the controllable releases. As they said in the movie “Show me the money.”
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I will leave you with one more closing thought.  Throughout the southwest one of the most frequently found ancestral puebloan structures are granaries built of tightly mortared stone and mud  and built in high and inaccessible cliffs.  What did they know that we seem to be forgetting.  They knew it is vital to protect their seeds for the future.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we New Mexicans, with our rich cultural backgrounds and our special climate vulnerability, could be a leader in controlling fugitive methane emissions.
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1.) Rinaldo Brutoco, The “Methane Accelerator” Climate Change is Moving Past The Tipping Point, the Montecito Journal, September 21, 2021.
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Jack Edwards
(Retired Civil Engineer)
El Rito, N.M.

Join us Online for NM-IPL Annual Meeting

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Acting for Sister Water: A Soul Emergency

Thursday, Nov. 4, 6:30 pm

The climate crisis is a soul crisis and sister water is at the heart of our work. She has wisdom to share and lessons to teach. Our event begins with a Hopi water blessing and reflection with Terry Sloan.

We are pleased to have a wonderful panel

  • Laura Paskus, environmental journalist and author of Precipice, and
  • Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project and author of Replenish: The Virtuous Cycle of Water and Prosperity
  • Moderated by Arcie Chapa at the Center for Regional Studies at UNM.

We will celebrate SEED and SPROUT Awardees who have done important work to address climate this past year. Donations accepted.

More details to come. Hold the date. Invite friends and family, everyone young and old.

Via zoom: Registration to carlos@nm-ipl.org and livestreamed on Facebook. Recording will be available after the event on You Tube.

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)