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By Accountability, Climate & Energy, People & Health, Water Quality & Land Restoration, Press Releases, Public Lands, Water & Wildlife, Focus Areas

CVNM Issues Statement in Response to EPA Administrator Zeldin Announcement To Rollback Federal Methane Rules

October 8, 2026

Wednesday October 7th 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced deep cuts to national safeguards protecting the public from toxic methane pollution. Methane is a byproduct of the oil and gas industry, and is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide to the climate crisis. Zeldin made the announcement at the annual New Mexico Oil and Gas Association meeting in Santa Fe. The revisions to the federal rule will not impact New Mexico’s state regulations, which are among the strongest in the nation. In response, CVNM Chief Executive Officer Demis Foster issued the following statement: 

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By Endorsements, Campaigns & Elections, Legislature, Press Releases

CVNM Endorses in Three Statewide Races: Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, and State Land Commissioner

August 28, 2026

On Monday, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm former congressman Steve Pearce as director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The vote was 46-43, along partisan lines.  Pearce’s confirmation was one among 48 voted on as a bloc, diluting any sense of how much support he could have garnered on his own. The Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 2 Independents.  

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By People & Health, Water Quality & Land Restoration, Priorities, Press Releases, Public Lands, Water & Wildlife, Focus Areas, Climate & Energy

New Report: The Dangers of Private Equity and Data Centers in New Mexico

August 7, 2026

Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) released a report outlining the impacts of large-scale data center development on water, energy, utility rates, land and wildlife. The report, titled “The Dangers of Private Equity and Data Centers in New Mexico,” also details the harms that a private equity utility ownership model could have on New Mexico ratepayers. The report publication follows a surge of media coverage on the controversial data center proposal Project Juptier, and a public hearing process on the proposed acquisition of Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). 

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By Focus Areas, Legislators, Endorsements, Accountability, Campaigns & Elections, Legislature, Press Releases, Featured Stories, Outcomes

New Mexico Voters Are Ready For A New Vision

June 3, 2026

Yesterday, Secretary Deb Haaland won the democratic primary election for Governor, signaling a clear call for fierce leadership by voters statewide. Haaland successfully won with a 44 point lead over oil and gas backed-candidate Sam Bregman. For the past year, Haaland has run on a community-centered affordability platform, calling for strong leadership to protect our communities at a time of historic harm and upheaval caused by the Trump Administration. Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM), via its political action committees CVNM Action Fund and CVNM Verde Voters Fund, invested a combined total of $119,768 in support of Haaland for Governor including the launch of a website, GreenGov2026.org. 

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By Public Lands, Water & Wildlife, Outcomes, Focus Areas, Accountability, Legislature, Water Quality & Land Restoration, Updates, Press Releases

CVNM statement on Pearce BLM confirmation

May 19, 2026

On Monday, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm former congressman Steve Pearce as director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The vote was 46-43, along partisan lines.  Pearce’s confirmation was one among 48 voted on as a bloc, diluting any sense of how much support he could have garnered on his own. The Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 2 Independents.  

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By Updates, Press Releases, Public Lands, Water & Wildlife, Outcomes, Focus Areas, Accountability, Legislature, Water Quality & Land Restoration

CVNM Issues Statement in Response to Public Lands Rule Rollback and Steve Pearce Confirmation Vote

May 13, 2026

On Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) formally cancelled the 2024 “Public Lands Rule”, which required BLM to consider conservation and development equally in land decisions. The rule, formally known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, provided guidance to ensure that land protection was considered alongside mining, timber, and grazing. It also enabled BLM to issue leases specifically for conservation. This action also dovetailed with a Monday procedural vote in the U.S. Senate to advance former congressman Steve Pearce’s nomination to lead BLM. Pearce has been an outspoken advocate for selling off public lands and investing in polluter projects. In response, CVNM Legislative Director Zoe Barker issued the following statement: 

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By Legislature, People & Health, Updates, Press Releases, Democracy, Outcomes, Focus Areas, Accountability

The Voting Rights Act of 1965: A History

May 7, 2026

Last week, the United States Supreme Court ruled to throw out Louisiana’s new voting maps, citing them as unconstitutional gerrymandering (Louisiana v Callais et al.). This ruling directly conflicts with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was created to remedy voter suppression that resulted in the gross underrepresentation of Black voters. In this edition of Learning Lab, we outline the importance of the Voting Rights Act, what this ruling might mean, and what New Mexico’s leaders can do about it. 

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By Accountability, Climate & Energy, Legislature, People & Health, Water Quality & Land Restoration, Updates, Air, Press Releases, Public Lands, Water & Wildlife, Democracy, Outcomes, Focus Areas

CVNM Press Release – LCV 2025 Scorecard

February 27, 2026

Wednesday, February 26th 2026, Conservation Voters New Mexico released the New Mexico delegation’s scores for the League of Conservation Voters’ 2025 National Environmental Scorecard highlighting our state’s leaders’ work to protect our environment despite an unprecedented year with a record number of attacks on our environment and democracy. Our delegation fought against climate deniers in Congress who repeatedly chose loyalty to the Trump administration and Big Polluters over making life more affordable, safer, and healthier for their own constituents. The result has been higher energy costs for working families, lost jobs and economic opportunities, the selling of tens of millions of acres of public lands and waters to Big Polluters, fewer clean air and water safeguards, and increased pollution.

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By Focus Areas, Accountability, Legislature, People & Health, Updates, Press Releases, Democracy, Outcomes

CVNM Responds to Passage of State Law Criminalizing Military and ICE Interference At Polling Locations

February 18, 2026

Tuesday, February 17th 2026, the New Mexico state legislature passed SB 264 Election Rights and Troops at Elections on a party-line vote of 41-26. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Angel Charley and Joseph Cervantes, and Representatives Katy Duhigg, Heather Bergmans, and Cindy Nava, makes election interference by ICE officials or the federal government through military directive a fourth-degree felony. 

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By Outcomes, Focus Areas, Accountability, Legislature, People & Health, Updates, Press Releases

Driver Privacy and Safety Act (SB 40) Passed by the Senate

February 18, 2026

Tuesday, February 17th 2026, the New Mexico House of Representatives gave final legislative approval to the Driver Privacy and Safety Act (SB 40) by a vote of 42-22, sending the landmark privacy bill to the governor for her signature. This legislation establishes New Mexico’s first statewide regulations for Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) data, ensuring that location information isn’t weaponized against residents for seeking legal healthcare, exercising constitutional rights, or for federal immigration enforcement. 

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