NM Groups Glad Methane-Waste Rule is Safe, for Now
Albuquerque, NM - Last week, with three Republicans siding with Democrats, the U.S. Senate narrowly halted a bid to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's natural-gas waste rule. But that doesn't mean the rule's fate has been decided. Comments from Mona Blaber (BLAY-ber), communications coordinator, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter ...
Huge victory: Senate majority refuses to revoke climate-saving methane rule
For immediate release: May 10, 2017 Contact: Mona Blaber, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter communications,
505-660-5905, monablaber@gmail.com Today, every Senate Democrat and three Republicans voted down a procedural vote that would have paved the way for revoking a Bureau of Land Management rule to prevent leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. In response, the Sierra Club released the following statements: From Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune: “Today is a ...
505-660-5905, monablaber@gmail.com Today, every Senate Democrat and three Republicans voted down a procedural vote that would have paved the way for revoking a Bureau of Land Management rule to prevent leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. In response, the Sierra Club released the following statements: From Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune: “Today is a ...
Sierra Club statement on PNM early coal exit
For immediate release: April 21, 2017
In response to PNM’s proposal to eliminate coal from its energy portfolio by 2031, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Director Camilla Feibelman released the following statement: “PNM’s announcement that early retirement of San Juan and Four Corners coal plants will save customers money is a clear demonstration that coal is no longer economically sustainable. Across the nation, utilities are planning early retirements for coal plants, including San Juan, Four Corners and Navajo Generating ...
In response to PNM’s proposal to eliminate coal from its energy portfolio by 2031, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Director Camilla Feibelman released the following statement: “PNM’s announcement that early retirement of San Juan and Four Corners coal plants will save customers money is a clear demonstration that coal is no longer economically sustainable. Across the nation, utilities are planning early retirements for coal plants, including San Juan, Four Corners and Navajo Generating ...
Trapping, killing contests still legal in New Mexico
By Mary Katherine Ray,
Rio Grande Chapter Wildlife Chair Bills to prohibit trapping on public land, end killing contests, reform the Game Commission and more did not pass the New Mexico Legislature in a session distracted by other issues and still dominated by political divides. Here is the rundown for the successes, the incremental progress, the feedback and the disappointments. Senate Bill 268 Senate Bill 268 to end coyote-killing contests, sponsored by Sens. Jeff Steinborn (D) and Mark Moores ...
Rio Grande Chapter Wildlife Chair Bills to prohibit trapping on public land, end killing contests, reform the Game Commission and more did not pass the New Mexico Legislature in a session distracted by other issues and still dominated by political divides. Here is the rundown for the successes, the incremental progress, the feedback and the disappointments. Senate Bill 268 Senate Bill 268 to end coyote-killing contests, sponsored by Sens. Jeff Steinborn (D) and Mark Moores ...
Seeking student Water Sentinels
By Eric Patterson Water Sentinels — Rios de Taos has been awarded a grant to encourage student participation in water-monitoring activities and the general environmental activities of Sierra Club. We will continue to work with Taos High School students — the Tiger Salamanders — and will be contacting other high schools to initiate more student environmental programs. Our long-term goal is to have more student environmental organizations and more young Sierra Club members. If you know of any New Mexico ...
El Paso solar customers targeted for higher rates
By Robert Moss,
Eco El Paso board member In February 2017, El Paso Electric (EPE) yet again filed to increase rates in its Texas service region. It was only in August that the company completely withdrew its proposed fees on solar in Texas. But following a couple of highly profitable quarters, it is again seeking a rate increase. Their residential customers and the citizens’ advocates for living sustainably, Eco El Paso, are weary of fighting but believe we must ...
Eco El Paso board member In February 2017, El Paso Electric (EPE) yet again filed to increase rates in its Texas service region. It was only in August that the company completely withdrew its proposed fees on solar in Texas. But following a couple of highly profitable quarters, it is again seeking a rate increase. Their residential customers and the citizens’ advocates for living sustainably, Eco El Paso, are weary of fighting but believe we must ...
Sierra Club intervenes in PNM rate case
By Mona Blaber,
Chapter communications coordinator Late last year, PNM filed a case seeking to increase electricity rates by an average of about 14% — right on the heels of another rate increase approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission in August. PNM’s application included requests for spending on large capital projects at the San Juan and Four Corners coal plants. These coal plants are becoming increasingly uncompetitive compared to other available sources of generation, such as wind and ...
Chapter communications coordinator Late last year, PNM filed a case seeking to increase electricity rates by an average of about 14% — right on the heels of another rate increase approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission in August. PNM’s application included requests for spending on large capital projects at the San Juan and Four Corners coal plants. These coal plants are becoming increasingly uncompetitive compared to other available sources of generation, such as wind and ...
EPA protects us; let’s protect it
By Denise Fort,
Chapter Energy chair President Donald Trump’s budget represents an unprecedented attack on the agencies that protect our environment, and, perhaps more ominously, on science. We need to communicate to everyone — the media, elected officials, civic groups, friends in other states — the reasons a strong EPA is important to our health and the planet. The facts: the proposed budget would slash spending at EPA by more than 30%. It would also slash spending at science-based ...
Chapter Energy chair President Donald Trump’s budget represents an unprecedented attack on the agencies that protect our environment, and, perhaps more ominously, on science. We need to communicate to everyone — the media, elected officials, civic groups, friends in other states — the reasons a strong EPA is important to our health and the planet. The facts: the proposed budget would slash spending at EPA by more than 30%. It would also slash spending at science-based ...
Hope for slashing methane waste
By Camilla Feibelman,
Chapter director Common-sense, climate-protecting methane rules have been targeted as the next victim of an obscure tool that President Trump and congressional Republicans have used to revoke stream protections and other air and water safeguards. But the Sierra Club and our allies are building bipartisan opposition to this effort to appease the oil and gas industry at tragic cost. You may already know that methane is a colorless, odorless substance that is also the main component of ...
Chapter director Common-sense, climate-protecting methane rules have been targeted as the next victim of an obscure tool that President Trump and congressional Republicans have used to revoke stream protections and other air and water safeguards. But the Sierra Club and our allies are building bipartisan opposition to this effort to appease the oil and gas industry at tragic cost. You may already know that methane is a colorless, odorless substance that is also the main component of ...
Volunteerism, membership skyrocket
By Mona Blaber,
Chapter communications coordinator The election of President Donald Trump, his anti-environment Cabinet appointees and a Congress insistent on unraveling climate, water, wildlife and lands protections have been frightening, but they have unleashed a powerful citizen determination. Membership in the Rio Grande Chapter (New Mexico and El Paso) has increased from 8,000 people to more than 9,000 just since the elections. More importantly, member engagement has surged, as have inquiries from those who want to know how to ...
Chapter communications coordinator The election of President Donald Trump, his anti-environment Cabinet appointees and a Congress insistent on unraveling climate, water, wildlife and lands protections have been frightening, but they have unleashed a powerful citizen determination. Membership in the Rio Grande Chapter (New Mexico and El Paso) has increased from 8,000 people to more than 9,000 just since the elections. More importantly, member engagement has surged, as have inquiries from those who want to know how to ...
