Climate Coalition Petitions for Adoption of Clean Car Standard in 2021
A broad coalition of New Mexican citizen groups filed a petition with the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board today, asking the board to update its Advanced Clean Car Standards by the end of 2021. Updating and enforcing these rules is a critical step in resolving the climate crisis and protecting public health. The standards would limit air pollution from vehicle tailpipes and require auto manufacturers to deliver an increasing number of zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs) for sale in the region. The coalition filed a similar petition with the state Environmental Improvement Board in June ...
50 New Mexicans to Testifying in EPA Methane Listening Session
On June 21, the Environmental Protection Agency will host the first of three listening sessions to engage the public as they begin to craft new rules to tackle methane and associated pollution from new and existing oil and gas operations ...
Drilling pause brings hope in NM

By Miya King-Flaherty, Our Wild New Mexico organizer

Advocates are awaiting a federal report on oil and gas leasing this summer that could set New Mexico on a path for a safer climate, more stable economy and healthier communities.

Almost immediately after assuming office in January, the Biden administration issued an order to temporarily suspend new oil and gas leasing and drilling on public lands. The pause does not affect existing leases or drilling permits, and revenue from royalties will keep flowing into the state. 

In New Mexico, oil and gas companies can continue their current development, and in addition to current leases and permits, operators have stockpiled more than 6,000 unused drilling permits — a sign that fundamental reforms ...

NM Environment Department proposes improved methane safeguards

Today, the New Mexico Environment Department proposed new rules to limit emissions from oil and gas operations in the state by requiring companies to detect and repair leaks as well as control other pollution sources. The new rules aim to elevate New Mexico’s position for clean air regulations on the oil and gas industry among major-producing states from worst to first. Today’s rules combine with companion rules from the state’s Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) limiting industry venting and flaring of methane targeting that goal.

“The Environment Department responded to our call and the call from many community and environmental groups around the state to tighten gaping loopholes in its original draft rule ...

President Biden Boosts New Mexico’s Clean Car Efforts

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 26, 2021

President Biden Boosts New Mexico’s Clean Car Efforts

New Rule Would Reaffirm New Mexico’s Authority to Set Stronger Vehicle Emission Standards, Helping to Protect the Climate, Improve Public Health, and Save Drivers Money

[SANTA FE, NM] — Today, the Biden Administration proposed to restore state authority to adopt stronger vehicle tailpipe pollution standards. The move will help Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham fulfill a pledge to adopt Clean Cars policy in New Mexico in 2021, and boost state efforts to address climate change and clean up the air. It also offers one potential path to reach 100 percent zero emission vehicles by 2035, as Governor Lujan Grisham called for in a letter to ...

130+ Groups Urge Biden to Act on Methane
In a letter to the Biden administration, 134 environmental, public health, and advocacy organizations are urging President Biden to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use the full power of sections 111(b) and 111(d) of the Clean Air Act to reduce methane air pollution from new and existing sources of oil and gas development by 65% by 2025 ...
PNM cites ETA in proposing 100% solar and storage to replace nuclear
After announcing it would drop one of its leases in the Palo Verde Nuclear plant last year, this month PNM proposed replacing the energy with 100% solar and battery. In support of its proposal, PNM cited the Energy Transition Act’s requirements and the Public Regulation Commission’s decision last year to choose a 100% solar/storage proposal rather than PNM’s favored gas-inclusive replacement scenario for San Juan Generating Station coal. The replacement proposal will need to be approved by the commission ...
Greater Chaco Coalition Responds to DOI Virtual Forum on Federal Oil and Gas Leasing 
In response to The Department of the Interior virtual public forum the Greater Chaco Coalition, a collaborative effort between over 200 Indigenous community leaders and groups, environmental justice advocates, and environmental groups representing thousands of New Mexicans and millions of Americans issued a public statement that the oil and gas leasing program must be fundamentally reformed ...