August 2021 – Rio Grande Chapter

Broad Coalition of New Mexicans Praise Governor’s New Executive Order to Protect 30% of Lands and Waters by 2030

A broad coalition of New Mexico advocates applauded Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for announcing an executive order to protect 30% of the state’s land by 2030. The order—titled “Protecting New Mexico’s Lands, Watersheds, Wildlife, and Natural Heritage”—is a critical step to conserving the state’s treasured landscapes and biodiversity for generations to come, while bolstering our economy, expanding access to the outdoors, and increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing.

Rio Grande Chapter statement on Interior Department lease announcement

The U.S. Interior Department issued a statement on August 16 announcing that it will fight the Louisiana U.S. District Court judge’s injunction on its oil and gas leasing moratorium but comply with the judge’s order to resume federal oil and gas lease sales.

Community secures health, climate concessions on Newman 6

On August 17, the Chaparral Coalition for Community Health and the Environment, the Sierra Club, and Earthworks (the Community Groups) reached an agreement with El Paso Electric (EPE) that will substantially reduce air pollution in El Paso and southern New Mexico. The agreement will temporarily block new fossil fuel power plant construction while pushing EPE toward a clean energy future.

Report analyzes energy equity in Western states’ climate policy

A national report on Wednesday laid out a path for environmental justice in New Mexico that avoids the potential disconnects between energy equity and climate policy.