SANTA FE – June 11th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would roll back two critical standards for power plant pollution. The standards – for existing coal and new gas-fired power plants – regulate mercury, other toxic air pollution, and carbon emissions. The proposed changes would go into effect later this year.
[Washington, D.C.] – With a looming committee vote set for 1:00 AM ET Wednesday (May 21) to move the Republican-led reconciliation bill to the House floor, Conservation Voters New Mexico Chief Operating Officer Molly Taylor released the following statement: “The reconciliation bill is extreme, and out of step with the needs of New Mexico families. It proposes to threaten and gut programs that directly benefit our rural communities, including clean energy investments, public lands, and emergency response. These very same programs are also popular across party lines and are fundamental for a diversified and stable economy.
At the start of each month, we send out an e-news digest that includes issue updates, action alerts, upcoming events, and ways to get involved in our work. You can find a record of all our past Digests here.
On April 8th, President Trump issued an unprecedented executive order declaring “all State [sic] and local laws” dealing with “‘climate change’ or involving ‘environmental, social, and governance’ initiatives, ‘environmental justice,’ carbon or ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions, and funds to collect carbon penalties or carbon taxes.” It instructs the US Attorney General to report back to the President within 60 days detailing actions taken under the EO and any additional Presidential or legislative action necessary to halt enforcement of any offending laws.
On March 12, Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced he was gutting 31 EPA rules. In doing so, he reframed the purpose of the EPA saying the agency’s mission is to “lower the cost of buying a car, heating a home and running a business.” There was no mention of environmental protection in the Environmental Protection Agency’s new mission.
In the coming days the House floor will be voting to pass SB 21 – Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act! As you probably know, in 2023, the Supreme Court released a devastating ruling that eliminated federal safeguards for our waterways by gutting the Clean Water Act. SB 21 would put water quality management in local, New Mexican hands responsive to our waters’ unique conditions and needs.
In the short amount of time since the Strategic Water Supply initiative has been announced, there has already been ample confusion between the Supply and the already-existing Strategic Water Reserve.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, November 6, 2024 New Mexico Sends Pro-Climate, Pro-Democracy Leaders to State Legislature State Bucks National Trends, Sends Climate Champs Back…
We have a landmark chance to get strong water quality protections for headwater streams on the Jemez, the Rio Hondo and in the Upper Rio Grande. Last month, the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) held a hearing on designating the Upper Pecos watershed as an Outstanding Natural Resource Water (ONRW), the most protective water quality designation under the Clean Water Act. There was near-unanimous public comment in support of that designation, including from Conservation Voters, and we expect the WQCC will approve the designation at a future meeting.
At the start of each month, we send out an e-news digest that includes issue updates, action alerts, upcoming events, and ways to get involved in our work. You can find a record of all our past Digests here.
