Sierra Club David Rosales Marty Chavez Eric Griego Martin Heinrich

Friday, April 15, 2011

PNM's Continued Fossil Fuel Investments Drive Large Electricity Rate Increases

“PNM is currently seeking to raise its rates well over $100 million per year -- the largest increase in New Mexico history. At the same time, PNM is not doing nearly enough to mitigate this and future proposed rate increases driven by its continued investment in old, dirty fossil-fuel power plants,” Don Hancock, Chairman of the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE), said Friday.

CCAE released a statement explaining that PNM proposes a rate increase of a total of $156 million/year by 2013, a 20% jump in bills for customers. PNM had already raised electricity rates by 25% in the past few years due to investments in fossil fuel infrastructure. Thus, PNM rates will have increased 50 percent (1.25 x 1.20 = 1.50) in just a few years. The rate payers of New Mexico would be better served by a more much aggressive implementation of energy efficiency and clean renewable energy, says CCAE.

PNM’s proposed rate increase includes fossil-fuel based cost increases of $105 million (with $85 million implemented between now and January 2012, plus another $20 million in January 2013), according to the group. Thus, electricity rates will have increased by 41% from fossil fuel investments alone. And this does not include hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars already spent on those plants and charged to PNM customers.

However, by 2013, PNM’s planned investment in energy efficiency is only $27 million and renewable energy only $24 million, an almost trivial amount in relation to PNM’s $1 billion cost of service. This under-investment in new technology will continue to cause rate payer problems for the foreseeable future unless corrected by a more aggressive plan by the Company in energy efficiency and clean energy.

“Investments in energy efficiency save rate payers money,” Tom Singer of Natural Resources Defense Council said. “It is well known in the utility industry that investments in energy efficiency are at least 50% cheaper than building new energy sources, such as power plants and transmission lines. We encourage PNM and the Public Regulation Commission to adopt more aggressive energy-efficiency measures to stop this upward spiral of rate increases.”

David Van Winkle of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club said, “PNM should seriously reassess its future plans to continue to invest in aging fossil fuel plants that are getting more and more expensive to operate. More aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency will save rate payers millions of dollars. More clean energy investments will grow jobs in New Mexico and address the spiral of inflation caused by investments in aging fossil fuel plants.”

CCAE is comprised of the following organizations: A Center Advancing Sustainable Architecture (CASA), Environment New Mexico, Natural Resources Defense Council, New Mexico PIRG, Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, Southwest Energy Alliance, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, Southwest Research and Information Center, and Western Resource Advocates. CCAE uses strategic advocacy, scientific analysis, and grassroots organizing to advance clean energy policy and programs.

April 15, 2011 at 12:44 PM in Climate, Energy, Environment, Green Economy | |

Friday, April 01, 2011

Guest Blog: Mobilizing to Save Civilization

6a00d834519ed469e20147e36b1518970b-800wi This is a guest blog by Stuart Heady, a freelance writer and political activist who lives in Albuquerque..

PBS ran a two-hour special structured around Lester Brown as he did a tour of lectures and visits to heads of state around the world. Entitled "Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization," the video is available without charge on PBS online.

Brown founded the Worldwatch Institute, a global think tank that looks at trends from food security to carbon emissions. It is nearly fifty years since he started a tomato farm that was very successful, graduated from college and visited farms in India.

At seventy six, you'd think he could retire in comfort. But the program opens as he flies from Washington, D.C. to Beijing, where he met with the country's leaders and gave a public talk. On the way there, from 35,000 feet, he observed cracks in the polar ice indicating the status of melting. He connects that with the glacial melting in the Himalayan plateau, which distributes water though much of Asia. Billions will be affected as rivers like the Bramaputra, the Indus, the Ganges and the Mekong begin to have a reduced water supply.

This is a wake up call for the citizens of New Mexico, as well as anywhere else on the planet.

The essence of his message is that the world community is in a pressing need of achieving an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. The current global agreement is for a 20% reduction by 2060. The documentary reviewed the very dramatic urgency with which FDR changed American industrial manufacturing in a matter of months into wartime production, in 1942. This is the kind of effort that is need on greenhouse gases.

On the dire end of the spectrum, Brown talks about the rise of reactionary and destabilizing forces throughout the world, and ponders the problem of food shortages that might very well lead to intensifying internal political strife and to many more failed states. He asks the question, "How many failed states would it take for civilization itself to fail?"

He proposes that we must take the initiative and get ahead of the problem before we find out.

On the positive end, it looks like we could mobilize in such a way that we bring about a future that actually is more liveable and better in a lot of ways through pressing ahead with a green  economy approach. Reducing carbon emissions as the central, overarching goal, investing in renewal energy in various forms and getting away from coal and nuclear and oil energy is the solution.

Food production is implicated. For the first time, he feels that there could be a question as to whether there really is enough food to feed a growing human population beyond a certain point. Thus, another big goal would be to eliminate world poverty and address the economics that really produce conditions that keep people trapped in it. Family planning is working in Bangladesh, apparently, which is giving rise to greater prosperity there.

In New Mexico, there are wind farms and there is an investment in green energy. That is a start and a certain former governor can be thanked for having the vision to see the importance of promoting this.

The oil and gas industries have long been convinced that investing in a long-term campaign to keep the waters muddied about the big picture and the science involved in the various areas linked to global warming is a good strategy. It is for that reason that the US is behind China and other countries in developing alternative technologies.

No longer can the public afford to entertain or tolerate this PR attack on long-term sanity. We all need to adopt the ability to think on a big scale, consider how all the issues are interrelated globally and connect to regional and local ones.

This has to come from informed and responsible citizenship, and we need to ensure that our elected representatives at all levels have their heads on straight. Determination to succeed cannot any longer depend on convincing those for whom there will never be enough evidence.

This is a guest blog by Stuart Heady. If you'd like to submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link at the upper left-hand corner of the page.

April 1, 2011 at 04:14 PM in Climate, Energy, Environment, Green Economy, Guest Blogger, Science | |

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Pew Report: U.S. Slipped to Third in Clean Energy Race Behind China, Germany

The U.S. competitive position in the clean energy sector is deteriorating, as the country slipped to third place in terms of the amount of private investment directed to the G-20 economies, according to a new report released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Until 2008, the U.S. had held the top spot, which is now firmly held by China. Globally, 2010 clean energy finance and investments grew by 30 percent to a record $243 billion.

The United States received $34 billion in equity last year, a 51 percent increase from 2009. However, the gap with China, which attracted a record $54.4 billion, continues to widen. Germany also attracted more money than the U.S. with $41.2 billion, claiming the number two spot, up from third the previous year.

Weak, Uncertain Policies
“The United States’ position as a leading destination for clean energy investment is declining because its policy framework is weak and uncertain,” said Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s Clean Energy Program. “We are at risk of losing even more financing to countries like China, Germany and India, which have adopted strong policies such as renewable energy standards, carbon reduction targets and/or incentives for investment and production. In today’s global economic race, the United States can’t afford to be to be a follower in this sector.”

Not Enough Demand
Michael Liebreich, CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, added, “The United States remains the global leader in clean energy innovation, receiving 75 percent of all venture capital investment in the sector, a total of $6 billion in 2010, but the U.S. has not been creating demand for deployment of clean energy. As a result it is losing out on opportunities to attract investment, create manufacturing capabilities and spur job growth. For example, worldwide, China is now the leading manufacturer of wind turbines and solar panels.”

Behind on Key Clean Energy Indicators
This research shows that the United States is in the middle of the pack on a variety of key clean energy indicators, including asset financing (an important barometer of clean energy deployment, manufacturing and job growth), installed renewable capacity and five-year growth rates. China led the G-20 in this type of financing with $47.3 billion, more than double the U.S. ($21 billion). China also surpassed the United States in installed renewable capacity. In addition, the United States trails leading countries in five-year rates of clean energy capacity additions, investment growth and intensity (a measure of investment dollars compared to gross domestic product).

With underlying data compiled by Pew’s research partner Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race? 2010 Edition examines the key financial, investment and technological trends in relation to the clean energy portion of the world’s leading economies. Known as the Group of Twenty (G-20), these members account for 90 percent of global clean energy finance and investment.

Other key findings from the report include:

  • Worldwide clean energy investment and finance has grown 630 percent since 2004.
  • Regionally, Europe remained the leading recipient, attracting $94.4 billion, led by Germany ($41.2 billion) and Italy ($13.9 billion).
  • Italy ranked fourth, attracting $13.9 billion. It is the first country in the world to achieve grid parity, or cost-competitiveness, for solar energy.

  • The Asia/Oceania region, led by China, continued its sharp rise, attracting $82.8 billion, a 33 percent increase over the previous year.

  • The Americas also saw investment grow 35 percent, but as a region it remains a distant third, attracting $65.8 billion.

  • Investments in small-scale, residential solar in G-20 countries grew by 100 percent to $56.4 billion. Germany accounts for more than half the total, followed by Japan, France, Italy and the United States.

  • Installed generating capacity increased to 388 gigawatts from wind, small-hydro, biomass, solar, geothermal and marine, with China accounting for more than 25 percent of the global total.

Visit www.PewEnvironment.org/CleanEnergy to read the entire report, including country profiles, interactive graphics and video.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance is the world’s leading provider of news, data and analysis on clean energy and carbon market finance and investment.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life.

March 29, 2011 at 10:03 AM in Energy, Environment, Green Economy | |

Saturday, March 19, 2011

NM Green Chamber of Commerce Applauds Legislature's Passage of Clean Energy, Local Business Bills

The New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce today congratulated New Mexico legislators for their continued investment in a clean energy economy and for initiatives supportive of local business and healthy communities.

"In the midst of budget challenges, the Legislature recognized that New Mexico's economic future lies in our world class solar, wind and geothermal resources, as well as continuing to invest in New Mexico's small businesses," said Allan Oliver, CEO of the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce. "Keeping New Mexico's Renewable Energy Portfolio standard strong, offering new means of clean energy investment, and maintaining limits on carbon pollution send a positive signal to our fast-growing renewable energy sector."

The Green Chamber commended the legislature for passing important measures that will support local businesses and agriculture, improve transparency around state incentives, and boost investment in clean energy:

Thinking Local First

SB19 In-State Business Procurement Advantage closes loopholes that gave preferences to out of state companies applying for state business and helps assure that the 5% in-state preference goes to New Mexico businesses. This bill will stimulate New Mexico business and could help create thousands more jobs for New Mexico owned companies.

SB 63 Government Food Purchasing Requirements sets modest targets for state government to purchase food from local producers-2% next year, 5% by 2014, and 10% by 2016. It only makes sense that New Mexico tax dollars should invest back into our local farmers and growers, and help boost our local economies.

Leveling the Playing Field for Small Business

SB 47 Tax Expenditure Budget will give state leaders the right information to determine which tax credits are helping business create jobs and which ones are not.

Building an Entrepreneurial Economy

SB 38 New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange Act will initiate a Health Insurance Exchange Act that will improve competition among health care providers and reduce health care costs for small businesses.

The Green Business Advantage

SB 237 Colleges in Energy Efficiency Bonding Act will enable higher education institutions to lower their costs and improve their energy efficiency through projects that create good-paying clean energy jobs.

Capitalizing on the Clean Energy Economy

SB 266 Energy Conservation Bonds creates qualified energy conservation bonds that may be issued by state and large local governments and gives them access to $20 million dollars with of federal bonds. This new bonding mechanism will help local governments initiate significant renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, which means good paying jobs across New Mexico. Each of these bills has been sent to Governor Martinez for signature.

"The New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce and its 1100 member businesses strongly support each of these bills," Oliver states. "We urge Governor Martinez to sign these bills that support local businesses, boost transparency around state incentives, and continue investment into energy efficiency and clean energy."

The New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce represents over 1100 businesses dedicated to a triple bottom line that invests in people, conserves our air, water and land, and creates long term profits. The Green Chamber seeks to unleash the creative force of business to bolster local communities and take advantage of new opportunities in a fast-growing clean energy economy. Learn more at www.nmgreenchamber.com.

March 19, 2011 at 04:03 PM in Business, Energy, Environment, Green Economy, NM Legislature 2011 | |

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

HBIC Keeps NM Renewable Energy Standards, Protects Jobs in New Energy Industries

On Sunday afternoon, the NM House Business and Industry Committee (HBIC) effectively tabled House Bill 546, legislation that would have gutted the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS), the state’s rule that directs the percentage of renewable energy that utilities are required to keep in their total energy mix. The vote on the bill, sponsored by Rep. James Strickler (R-Farmington), resulted in a 6-6 tie and the committee chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Rodella (D-Espanola), declared that the bill had failed.

An RPS is established by state governments to quantify what percentage of electrical power generation must come from renewable energy sources rather than conventional, dirty sources. Currently, at least 29 states and the District of Columbia have adopted some form of an RPS. Colorado has set an RPS of 30%, California’s RPS is moving towards 33%, Arizona’s is at 15%, and Texas has adopted a flat generation goal rather than a percentage. New Mexico’s RPS is 20% by the year 2020.

Sunday’s vote demonstrates that -- despite the efforts of special interests -- pro-business legislators understand that protecting our state's clean energy industry creates good-paying jobs and benefits the economy.

“New Mexico’s modest renewable energy standards are creating jobs in new industries and are resulting in cleaner air and water,” said Sandy Buffett, Executive Director of Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM). “It’s good to see our legislators understand that dependence on fossil fuels is not the way to grow our economy.”

March 1, 2011 at 12:48 PM in Energy, Environment, Green Economy, NM Legislature 2011 | |

Monday, October 25, 2010

Heinrich Honored to Receive Support of U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar

Salazar_heinrich
Salazar and Heinrich on Sunday in Santa Fe

Nice boost! Martin Heinrich was joined yesterday by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in support of his reelection to Congress.

"New Mexico is one of the top five states in the country for the new energy frontier," Secretary Salazar said during an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, on Sunday, October 24,2010. "We're doing a tremendous amount of work still on conventional oil and gas, but when you look at the potential for solar, wind and geothermal energy New Mexico ranks near the very top. [Martin] has a huge interest in renewable energy and he's working hard to make sure that the world knows about clean energy jobs and New Mexico."

In September, the U.S. Department of Interior building in Washington, D.C. was renamed the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building at a ceremony attended by Martin, Secretary Salazar, and the rest of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation. Martin introduced the bill in the House of Representatives that provided for this honor for former U.S. Secretary Udall.

October 25, 2010 at 03:24 PM in Energy, Environment, Green Economy, NM-01 Congressional Race 2010, Rep. Martin Heinrich (NM-01) | |

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Endorses Denish-Colón for New Mexico Governor and Lt. Governor

DenishColon

The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club has announced that it has endorsed Lt. Governor for New Mexico Governor and for New Mexico Lieutenant Governor in the general election. The organization released the following statement about its endorsement:

Lt. Governor Diane Denish believes that protecting our environment is crucial to the health and well being of the state’s citizens, and she has supported environmental protection policies throughout her eight years at Lieutenant Governor, such as support of the Bad Actor Bill, support for the protection of the Otero Mesa, and creation of a Green Mortgage Program to help finance affordable and energy efficient housing.

The contrast between her stand on global warming and that of her opponent could not be greater. Denish believes “there is no question that global warming is occurring.” Susana Martinez, on the other hand, is in denial about the grave threat facing our children: She contradicted every major scientific organization by falsely claiming "there is disagreement in the science community concerning the causes of global warming.” [emphasis added]

The Lt. Governor supports “incentives to encourage more use of energy-efficient technologies in building and manufacturing as well as a commitment to increasing the generation of renewable power. New Mexico has a strong role to play in reducing carbon emissions, by investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and in new technologies."

"The urgency of addressing climate change touches many areas of our lives, including transportation, proper weatherization of our homes and how we plan our cities," Denish continued. "New Mexico can create bold incentives to encourage renewable power generation and transmission, green-building retrofits and other programs to attract sustainable high-wage and low-emission industries. The Gulf drilling disaster should be a wake-up call to the Congress that we must develop cleaner energy sources as quickly as we are able to do so – not only for environmental reasons, but also for our nation’s economic security.”

Denish is a strong supporter of programs and incentives that encourage the development and deployment of clean energy such as public building retrofits. She has worked the school superintendents association to get the Energy Smart program started for retrofitting public schools to save both energy and money.

Denish believes we must recommit ourselves to preserving our state's wild places. ”New Mexico has vast and wild spaces that deserve strong protections so they can be enjoyed now and for generations to follow. I am committed to preserving our state's rare gems. One such place is the Gila River flowing through Southwestern New Mexico. It is one of the last wild and un-dammed rivers in the nation and as governor I pledge to keep it that way.”

Reduce, reuse, recycle is a good guide for state policy, she believes. “I would like to see recycling in more municipalities and would welcome assistance in devising state policies to bring this about. I also would like to see the state support recycling through its purchasing policies and to assist schools and universities in also moving to use of recycled materials.”

On green building practices, Denish said, “I support updating building codes to consider more use of energy-efficient technologies while also creating a menu of incentives to encourage builders to use more efficient building techniques and materials over time.”

On the biggest emitters of carbon emissions, Denish opposes construction of Desert Rock and would support conversion of existing coal-fired power plants to run on natural gas.

Denish connects growth and water as few officials do. “New Mexicans demand that water is being used wisely, especially as our population grows and we encounter periods of drought," Denish said. "Too often we have allowed growth to occur without adequate water, then bailed out developers after the fact. Our population and development will continue to grow, but our water supply is constant and limited by natural forces.”

"The agricultural sector needs state and federal support to transition to conservation of agricultural water. Water banks can provide incentives for conservation," Denish continued.

She supports the banning of leg hold traps and other unsportsmanlike hunting and trapping on public lands. And she will continue her support for protection of Otero Mesa.

The Sierra Club is the nation's oldest and largest environmental volunteer organization, established in 1892, and with over 7,500 politically active members in New Mexico, the endorsement of the Rio Grande Chapter is widely sought by candidates for elected positions across the state. As the Chapter finalizes its endorsements for the general election they are posted on its new web site.

Photo by Stephen Jones.

September 30, 2010 at 09:20 AM in 2010 NM Governor's Race, 2010 NM Lt. Governor Race, Brian Colon, Climate, Diane Denish, Energy, Environment, Green Economy | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Get This: Steve Pearce Promotes Renewable Energy, Bio-Fuel Development -- In Argentina!

Images-1 On Monday, clueless Steve Pearce (Trying To Fool Voters Again, NM-02) posted an article on his website highlighting the development of the algae-based biofuels industry -- in Argentina. While Pearce is busy promoting green energy in Argentina, there is a growing algae-based biofuels industry right developing under his nose right here in southern New Mexico that he apparently doesn’t know exists. 

How would Pearce know? He's made it a tradition to avoid traveling the 2nd District and meeting constituents ever since he first got elected to Congress in November 2002. He's shown absolutely no interest in finding ways to help develop renewable energy jobs here in New Mexico. In fact, he's shown little interest in proposing anything concrete to help to attract and develop jobs for New Mexicans, period. Of any kind.

PearceCR1 I wonder why Pearce is taking such an interest in what happens in Argentina. Is some big campaign donor of his hooked into business deals in South America? Does he think it's more important to lower the unemployment rate in a foreign nation than right here at home? Is he a secret agent working for business interests in Argentina? We'll probably never know.

If Pearce got out more, he'd know that Sapphire Energy has projects in Luna and Dona Ana Counties and the Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management (CEHMM) in Eddy County, which are all algae-based biofuel refineries in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. Both Sapphire and CEHMM are part of a growing industry in New Mexico that is expected to create high paying, stable jobs in the American energy production sector. Click here and here to learn more about how this industry is blossoming in New Mexico.

“This shows how out of touch Congressman Pearce is with southern New Mexico. He is completely unaware of an industry that is creating jobs and fueling the economy right in his own backyard! Here’s an industry that will play a critical role in ending our dangerous dependence of foreign energy sources, and Congressman Pearce is saying we ought to be doing it in Argentina,” said Jessica Borchert, Harry Teague's Press Secretary. “I don’t know what it is about Argentina, but I bet New Mexicans think that Congressman Pearce should be worried a little less about them and a lot more about us.”

September 1, 2010 at 01:47 PM in Energy, Green Economy, NM-02 Congressional Race 2010, Rep. Harry Teague (NM-02), Steve Pearce | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

'The Job's Not Done' Bus Tour Visits Albuquerque and Santa Fe

BGA stop in S Fe - Mayor Coss
Santa Fe Mayor David Coss is a former union member of Communication Workers of America, one of the leading partners in the national BlueGreen Alliance

A bus tour that highlights the potential to create good American jobs by passing comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation in the U.S. Senate stopped in Albuquerque and Santa Fe on Tuesday. At its New Mexico stops, the emphasis of The Job's Not Done tour, a project of The BlueGreen Alliance, was to urge Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman to support action on comprehensive legislation that will create and save millions of American, clean energy jobs, including up to 15,000 in New Mexico. The effort to enact a comprehensive bill has stalled in the Senate.

BGA stop in ABQ - C Trujillo AFT-NM
Christine Trujillo spoke as President of the American Federation of Teachers of New Mexico (AFT-NM),
a member of the national BlueGreen Alliance.

“Nearly 1 out of 10 Americans is still out of work. We need to create and preserve millions of jobs across the country, and we can do that with clean energy,” said Christine Trujillo, President of the American Federation of Teachers – New Mexico, at the Albuquerque stop. “Millions of American families are struggling to make ends meet, but we have a solution at our fingertips, and we can drive to a clean energy future now.”

The Job’s Not Done tour will travel to 17 states -- with more than 30 stops along the way -- and feature clean energy workers, union members and environmentalists urging Senate action on important job-creating clean energy legislation. Workers on The Job’s Not Done Tour worry that China will take the millions of potential jobs that will result from the transition to a clean energy economy.

“Instead of importing clean energy technologies from overseas, we should be developing and manufacturing the technology to harness American energy here at home,” said John Hendry of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 480 at the Santa Fe stop.“We cannot afford to let China take the millions of jobs that could be created in America by transitioning to clean energy.”

“Comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation will put America back on the path to economic success -- revitalizing current industries and creating new ones, establishing the United States as the undisputed leader in clean energy technologies, and creating good American clean energy jobs now,” said Mark Mullholand, a worker in the clean energy economy and a member of USW Local 1915 in Fremont, Ohio. 

The tour continued with stops in Colorado yesterday, and will wrap up on September 3 in Richmond, Virginia. For more information, visit www.bluegreenalliance.org

“This tour is a reminder that millions of people are out of work, and that clean energy is the best way to jumpstart the American economy. We need the Senate to get back to work and get the job done -- for our families, the economy, our environment, and the future,” said Shrayas Jatkar from the Sierra Club and Clean Energy Works.

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean energy economy. Launched by the Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers in 2006, the BlueGreen Alliance now includes the Communications Workers of America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Service Employees International Union, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Utility Workers Union of America, American Federation of Teachers, Amalgamated Transit Union and the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association.

Photos by Jake Horowitz, Environment New Mexico/Clean Energy Works coalition.

August 19, 2010 at 08:58 AM in Climate, Energy, Environment, Green Economy, Labor | Permalink | Comments (1)

Monday, August 16, 2010

8/16: Public Hearings Before NM EIB Resume on Petition to Cap Greenhouse Emissions

Today, the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) continues public hearings on a petition to set a cap on the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. The petition was filed by New Energy Economy and 16 other organizations representing medical professionals, indigenous groups, rural interests, faith-based groups, clean energy advocates and environmental interests. More than 350 diverse businesses across New Mexico also support the petition to regulate emissions.

On June 7, In a unanimous decision, the New Mexico Supreme Court gave the green light for New Energy Economy’s Petition to cap greenhouse gas pollution to proceed. The ruling overturned a lower court decision to stop the process based on a lawsuit by PNM, Sen. Carroll Leavell (R-Jal), Sen. Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs), state Rep. Donald Bratton (R-Hobbs) and oil and gas industry groups to halt consideration of a cap, arguing that the state doesn't have the authority to issue rules to regulate air quality at this time.

Setting a statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions will spur New Mexico’s clean energy economy, create thousands of new jobs and improve the prosperity, health and welfare of current and future residents, according to supporters. They say New Mexico is poised to be a national leader in renewable energy production and manufacturing, while aggressively addressing the real challenge of climate change.

The hearings begin today, Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at 11:00 AM at the PERA Building located at 33 Plaza La Prensa in Santa Fe with public testimony scheduled for 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Hearings continue through the week, from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM PM, with public testimony heard in the last hour each day.

New Mexicans from a variety of backgrounds have already gone on the record in support of the proposed cap.

“Because rural New Mexico is where much of renewable energy development will occur, enacting a carbon cap in New Mexico would help tremendously to improve the health and welfare of our rural Latino and Native American communities,” said Arturo Sandoval, founder of the Center of Southwest Culture in Albuquerque, in a written statement. “I am sure the rural communities, who have long relied on agriculture, will benefit even more than our larger communities.”

“We see this proposed cap as a way to help protect the rancher’s way of life, our land and our water from industries that have for too long had their way at the expense of everyone else,” said Tweeti Blancett, a rancher from Aztec, N.M. “As ranchers who truly care for the land, if this cap will help bring in more clean energy industries that won’t pollute our ranches, and the jobs to help our rural economies, then we’re all for it.”

“Passing this carbon cap would be a major economic benefit to local, independent businesses, especially for our renewable energy industries,” said Vicki Pozzebon, executive director of the Santa Fe Alliance. “In doing so it would also provide for much greater community prosperity while also improving the health and environment for New Mexico communities.”

“This proposed cap aligns with our business model of building super-efficient, net-zero-energy homes, designed to save consumers money while greatly reducing their carbon footprint,” said Faren Dancer of Sundancer Creations Custom Builders. “As chair of the Santa Fe Green Building Council, I see this proposal as providing businesses the impetus to compete within our rapidly expanding green economy.

Express Yourself
The public can testify on the proposed rules at this week's hearings in Santa Fe, as noted above, as well as at other meetings around the state. Check out the EIB website for more information on the proposed rules, as well as opportunities to weigh in on their merits. You can also register your support for the petition at the New Energy Economy website. Answers to some frequently asked questions about the petition can be found here.

The New Energy Economy coalition consists of the NM Pediatric Society, League of Women Voters NM, Sierra Club – Rio Grande Chapter, Western Resource Advocates, NM Physicians for Social Responsibility New Mexico Conference of Churches, Amigos Bravos, Center Advancing Sustainable Architecture (CASA), Center of Southwest Culture, Inc., Earth Care International, NM Interfaith Power and Light, Santa Fe Alliance, TEWA Women United, Southwest Organizing Project, Drilling Mora County and VAWT Power.

August 16, 2010 at 09:53 AM in Climate, Energy, Environment, Events, Green Economy, Regulation | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday, August 13, 2010

Oh Susana: NM and Albuquerque Ranked in Top 10 for Economic Development

Republicans in this state, and especially GOP gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez, like to bash New Mexico by characterizing the state as being "unfriendly" to business. They then blather on about how they will fix that if only New Mexico voters will give them a chance to govern, even though concrete proposals about what they would do are sadly lacking. And as is often the case with GOP accusations in this election year, their claims don't hold water if you look at the facts.

Turns out that the influential site-selection magazine Business Facilities just issued a report called “2010 Business Facilities Magazine Ranking Report,” which features separate rankings for both State and Metro areas. New Mexico and Albuquerque combine to make the Top 10 in nine separate categories. That's right.

It's telling that New Mexico was singled out for praise for efforts in the areas of alternative energy and the film industry, isn't it? Republicans are always complaining about actions taken to nourish job creation in these sectors and, given the info on Martinez's campaign website, she has little interest in and no proposals for nurturing growth in these areas. Susana doesn't even have a section on the environment, renewable energy or the green economy. In contradiction to the facts, Martinez claims that, "Higher taxes and excessive regulations force jobs out of New Mexico." Not according to the rankings released this week.

Site selection is the competitive process companies go through to determine which state or community offers the best place to establish a business. Scoring highly across a broad spectrum of desirable categories demonstrates that New Mexico is doing well in creating a positive business environment and will help to attract new economic development opportunities to state going forward.

Both New Mexico (#8) and Albuquerque (#2) finished in the Top 10 in “Economic Growth Potential’ based on the “most effective overall (economic development) strategy and its successful execution.”

Additionally, New Mexico’s alternative energy sector was highly regarded, garnering three Top 10 rankings, including #2 in Solar Energy Manufacturing, #5 in Alternative Energy, and a #2 finish for Albuquerque in the Alternative Energy Industry category. Citing these successes, the report stated, “New Mexico has convinced us that it is an up-and-coming contender in alternative energy.”

In contrast to Martinez, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish has released a for helping to make New Mexico a mecca in the new green economy. (See our previous posts on this here and here.) In addition, she has pledged to follow while working to ensure that New Mexico becomes "a national and world leader in the production of green energy and the creation of sustainable jobs."

Overall, New Mexico was in the Top 10 in five “State” rankings, including:

  • #2 in Solar Energy Manufacturing Leaders
  • #3 in Workforce Training Leaders
  • #5 in Alternative Energy Industry Leaders
  • #6 in Cost of Labor
  • #8 in Economic Growth Potential

Meanwhile, Albuquerque was singled out for four Top 10 rankings in their “Metro” report, including:

  • #2 in Metro Economic Growth Potential
  • #2 in Alternative Energy Industry Leaders
  • #3 in Motion Picture Industry Growth (behind only New York and Los Angeles)
  • #5 in Quality of Life

Top see the full rankings, please go to www.businessfacilities.com.

August 13, 2010 at 11:13 AM in 2010 NM Governor's Race, Business, Economy, Populism, Energy, Environment, Film, Green Economy, Susana Martinez | Permalink | Comments (2)

8/17: Albuquerque Stop for Labor & Enviros On Tour for Clean Energy & Climate Legislation

From Clean Energy Works - New Mexico:
Comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation will create and preserve millions of good, American jobs. The BlueGreen Alliance is traveling the country to tell the Senate that "The Job’s Not Done!"

Join us on Civic Plaza in downtown Albuquerque along 3rd Street between Tijeras and Marquette on Tuesday, August 17th, at 12:30 PM. Hear from labor leaders and environmentalists, and show your support for good jobs, a clean environment, and a green economy.

For more information, contact Shrayas Jatkar of the Sierra Club/Clean Energy Works coalition at 505-243-7767 or shrayas.jatkar@sierraclub.org. You can find Clean Energy Works - New Mexico on Facebook.

August 13, 2010 at 09:44 AM in Energy, Environment, Events, Green Economy, Labor | Permalink | Comments (0)

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