Democracy for New Mexico

Rep. Wirth’s Efficient Energy Buildings Legislation Unanimously Passes House

From the Democratic Leadership of the NM House:
Santa Fe, NM – The House passed legislation introduced by Rep. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) that would provide tax credits to residential and commercial construction businesses that build energy efficient and sustainable buildings. The tax credits in this bill would complement, extend, and expand the federal tax credits that encourage energy efficient building. It is a comprehensive effort to move New Mexico toward energy independence and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. HB 534a, Sustainable Building Tax Credit, passed the House with a vote of 62-0. The bill goes next to the Senate Finance Committee.

Rep. Wirth said, “With almost half of greenhouse gases coming from buildings, it makes sense to work hand in hand with contractors and homeowners to encourage ‘green’ buildings as a critical step to reduce global warming.” 

HB 534a allows a new credit under both the Income Tax Act and the Corporate Income and Franchise Act for the construction or renovation of a building. The new income tax credit must follow guidelines established by the US Green Building Council, Homebuilders of NM, or the Environmental Protection Agency for manufactured housing. The guidelines would have different levels of compliance with the tax credit scaled accordingly.

Under the bill, an owner of a ‘green’ building being constructed or renovated would apply to the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to validate the tax credit. EMNRD would issue a certificate that could be transferred through sale, exchange or other means to another taxpayer. The taxpayer holding the certificate could claim the credit against tax liability over four years in 25 percent increments if the credit amount exceeded $25,000. If the credit value is less than $25,000, the taxpayer could claim all of it in the taxable year the certificate was issued. If the credit exceeds liability in either case, the taxpayer could carry the credit forward for up to seven years.

The credit could be used for the construction or renovation of either commercial or residential buildings. EMNRD could only issue an aggregate of $10 million in credits per year, $5 million for commercial buildings and $5 million for residential buildings.

NM Rep. Begaye Declares Tax Subsidy for Desert Rock Power Plant Dead

Credit: HK Dixon/Jan.7.2007 (Click image for larger version.)

Dooda! That's what the NM House Energy and Natural Resources Committee said this past Wednesday with its vote to once again table HB 178. The bill would grant Sithe Global Power $85 million in tax breaks for its filthy, coal-fired Desert Rock power plant planned for the Farmington area, on Navajo land. Dooda means 'no' in the Dine language, and as used in the name one of the citizen groups -- Dooda Desert Rock Committee -- that has been working long and hard against both the power plant and this giveaway of our taxpayer dollars to the company aiming to build it.

Here's a detailed report of what happened from Friday's Gallup Independent.

The Senate version of the bill, SB 431, is still alive and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. However, without significant amendment to place more stringent environmental controls on the power plant, it would have little chance of passage in the House if it made it through the Senate. As the Gallup Independent article reports:

"It's not going anywhere," said Rep. Ray Begaye, D-Shiprock. "This is dead."

... A similar bill in the Senate might have a better chance there, Begaye said, but wouldn't make it through the House without some amendments the Senate would never accept.

"This has got zero chance of getting through this session," Begaye said.

Still, given that things can change abruptly and unexpectedly in the last two weeks of the legislative session, activists are urging those opposed to the tax giveaway to contact members of the Senate Finance and remain vigliant.

According to a press release from Conservation Voters New Mexico, which has also been fighting the bill, the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee (HENRC) voted 7-6 along party lines with 7 Democrats voting to table the bill. The Legislators serving on the HENRC committee who voted to table include Chairman James Roger Madalena (D-Jemez Pueblo), Rep. Jim Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), Rep. Miguel Garcia (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), Rep. Antonio Lujan (D-Las Cruces), Rep. Joni Gutierrez (D-Mesilla), and Rep. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces).

“I especially wish to commend Chairman Madalena and Rep. Gutierrez for taking a courageous and visionary stand for protecting New Mexico’s air, land, water and public health,” stated Sandy Buffett, Executive Director of Conservation Voters New Mexico. 

The plant, if built, would emit 10 million tons annually of greenhouse gas emissions and would contribute hundreds of pounds of mercury annually to a region already considered a mercury hotspot.

Some basic facts about Desert Rock:

• Total carbon dioxide emissions in the state will increase 16%, with 10 million tons emitted annually from this plant;
• The greenhouse gas emissions from this plant will cancel out the Governor’s numerical targets for curbing global warming;
• On February 5, 2007, hundreds of citizens of New Mexico, including over 50 Navajo activists and elders, gathered at the New Mexico State Legislature to protest the proposed Desert Rock power plant;
• Sithe seeks to build the plant to export electricity to Nevada and Arizona. However, the plant would not meet California’s new clean energy import standard, precluding the plant from being able to sell to the largest power market in the west.

Desert Rock would be 3rd coal-fired plant polluting Four Corners region

Beyond the tax subsidy issue, opposition against allowing the construction of the plant itself continues. As reported in Colorado's The Durango Herald:

Desert Rock faces determined opposition from local Navajo residents living in the plant's prospective shadow. Busloads of Navajos have trekked twice to Santa Fe to express their dismay about the project, despite the project's support by the official government of the Navajo Nation.

Beyond its eternal quest for taxpayer handouts, Desert Rock faces immediate hurdles in securing the necessary permits. The Environmental Protection Agency is still grappling with the critical technical opposition raised to the draft air quality permit last year, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs keeps delaying release of the project's environmental impact statement. Meanwhile, opposition continues to grow both within the Navajo reservation and in communities throughout the Four Corners.

To stay current on the fight against the power plant or learn more about how you can help, visit:

• Desert-Rock-Blog
• NM Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy
• Conservation Voters New Mexico
• Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
• San Juan Citizens Alliance

Latest on Fight Against Polluting Desert Rock Power Plant Tax Break Bills

DDR's Elouise Brown, Roundhouse rally 2/5/07

The latest call for action was reported at the desert-rock-blog.com on Friday. The blog is an excellent place to stay current on the quickly changing maneuvers some legislators, including some Democrats, are using to try and pass an $85 million tax break for what will be a massively polluting coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico:

DDR CONTINUES TO BATTLE SB 431 & HB 178 AT THE  ROUNDHOUSE !

Dooda Desert Rock (DDR) had such a chaotic but fearless time for the last two days, unfortunately the bill was moved forward in the Senate, but still temporarily stalled in the House.

The NM Senate Conservation passed SB 431 to Finance but, no date is set for that hearing.

HB 178 was momentarily tabled again. The sponsor volunteered a new amendment and Rep. Wirth has his amendments. The Chair of the NM House Energy Committee asked both sides to compose a substitute bill which may be heard on Wednesday, February 28, 2007.

Please continue to write letters to [and call] the following - Need your help:

2/5/07 rally photos

House Energy and Natural Resources Members:

• Rep. James Madalena (D) Chair (SD 65, Jemez Pueblo)
• Rep. Jim Trujillo (D) Vice Chair (SD 45, Santa Fe)
• Rep. Thomas Anderson (R-SD 29, Albuquerque)
• Rep. Paul Bandy (R-SD 3, Aztec)
• Rep. Donald Bratton (R-SD 62, Hobbs)
• Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell (R-SD 58, Roswell)
• Rep. Miguel Garcia (D-SD 14, Albuquerque)
• Rep. Thomas Garcia (D-SD 68, Ocate)
• Rep. William Gray (R-SD 54, Artesia)
• Rep. Joni Gutierrez (D-SD 33, Mesilla)
• Rep. Antonio Lujan (D-SD 35, Las Cruces)
• Rep. Jeff Steinborn (D-SD 37, Las Cruces)
• Rep. James Strickler (R-SD 2, Farmington)
• Rep. Peter Wirth (D-SD 47, Santa Fe)

Senate Finance Committee Members:

• Sen. Tim Jennings (D) Co-Chair  (SD 32, Roswell)
• Sen. John Arthur Smith (D) Co-Chair (SD 35, Deming)
• Sen. Carlos Cisneros (D-SD 6, Questa)
• Sen. Joseph Carraro (R-SD 23, Westside ABQ)
• Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort (R-SD 19, Sandia Park)
• Sen. Pete Campos (D-SD 8, Mora/SF/Torrance)
• Sen. Carroll Leavell (R-SD 41, Eddy)
• Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson (R-SD 37, Dona Ana)
• Sen. Nancy Rodriguez (R-SD 24, Santa Fe)
• Sen. Bernadette Sanchez (D-SD 26, Westside ABQ)

**************
Contact for DDR:
Elouise Brown
President, Dooda Desert Rock
505-947-6159
www.desert-rock-blog.com
thebrownmachine@hotmail.com

Editor's Note: Check our previous posts (links below) for more information and tracking of this issue, including Democratic Rep. Joni Gutierrez and her abrupt about face on the tax break, which resulted in the House bill being revived after it was tabled and effectively stopped. Rep. Gutierrez is being heavily criticized for her defection from environmental principles and she has so far refused to explain why she changed her mind and decided to support this horrendous tax break for a coal-fired, greenhouse gas spewing power plant that will be a major polluter of New Mexico's and the nation's air.

• February 21, 2007
• February 17, 2007
• February 13, 2007
• February 5, 2007
• December 15, 2006

Win, Al, Win; Run, Al, Run

UPDATE: An Inconvenient Truth won best documentary, and Melissa's song for the film also got an Oscar. Think Progress has video of all the Gore moments from Oscar night.
************

I'm pulling for Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth to win the Oscar tonight in the documentary category. The film's director, Davis Guggenheim, has said he'll bring President-In-Exile Al Gore up on stage to say a few words if they win. Melissa Etheridge's song from the movie, I Need to Wake Up (above), is also up for an Oscar in the song category and she'll be performing it tonight at the broadcast. Here's the official website for the 79th Academy Awards, which will be hosted by Ellen DeGeneris this year (6:00 PM Mountain, ABC).

Then there's Jimmy Carter, who endorsed Gore for president today during an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week:

Carter lavished praise on "(his) favorite Democrat) former Vice President Al Gore. "If Al should decide to run -- which I'm afraid he won't -- I would support Al Gore."

"His burning issue now is global warming and preventing it.  He can do infinitely more to accomplish that goal as in the incumbent in the White House, than he can making even movies that get -- you know, that get Oscars."

... Despite public pressure from Carter and others, the former President does not believe Gore will make a second bid for the White House saying, "I don't think he will.  I've put so much pressure on Al to run that he's almost gotten aggravated with me."

Carter told Stephanopoulos that he had not called Gore "lately" adding, "He almost told me, the last time I talked, 'Don't call me anymore.'"

... "I really have not expressed any public approval or endorsement or preference for any of the Democratic candidates except (Gore)."

If you haven't yet read it, do check out Run, Al, Run by Tim Dickinson in a recent Rolling Stone.

And, if you haven't yet seen An Inconvenient Truth, you can get a free DVD of the film at Share the Truth. If you've already seen it, you can also make a donation there to cover the costs for someone else to see it via the free DVD offer.

You can view a video of the entire slide show put together by Gore, upon which the film is based, by visiting Climate Change Action.

Update on Polluting Desert Rock Power Plant Tax Subsidy Bills

From activists against Desert Rock:
This past Sunday, the NM Senate Conservation committee met to consider its version of the Desert Rock bill (SB 431). It was essentially tabled. Yet, the bill is still alive in the House. The House Energy committee was supposed to take the bill up for re-consideration on Monday morning. They have delayed consideration of HB 178 till this Friday, February 23 at 8:30 AM.

Please contact the following Reps and ask them to oppose the bill:

Representative Joni Marie Gutierrez
Las Cruces Area
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4234
Office Phone: 647-5577
Home Phone: 526-5079
E-mail: jonig@zianet.com

Representative Thomas A. Garcia
Taos, Mora, Colfax, Guad
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4242
E-mail: ocate@hotmail.com

The subsidy is being proposed through two bills being considered in the Roundhouse that would reduce Desert Rock’s overall New Mexico tax liability by about 15 percent. Sithe Global Power, the company selected by the Navajo Nation’s Diné Power Authority, to develop, finance, construct and operate the 1,500 megawatt power plant, has already negotiated a reduction of its Navajo Nation tax liability by about two-thirds. The total cost of the facility is estimated at $3 billion, making it the most costly construction project in New Mexico history.

If any money is to be given to corporate interests at all, it should go toward supporting innovative, cutting-edge coal technologies now available, such as coal gasification, that significantly reduce coal- power emissions overall, including mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

The New Mexico Environment Department reports that Desert Rock’s emissions would significantly impact air quality in a region where air quality is already close to exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone, the most common cause of smog. The plant would increase New Mexico’s emissions of mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin, by 13 percent and the region’s sulfur dioxide emissions by 10 percent, according to a state analysis.

The plant would raise statewide greenhouse gas levels by 25 percent, boosting statewide greenhouse gas emissions to about 59 million tons per year. The state predicts its total greenhouse gas emissions would reach nearly 60 million tons per year by 2012 without Richardson's limits. His executive order calls for greenhouse gases in 2012 to be the same as in 2000, or at about 48 million tons per year. The Desert Rock plant expects to emit just under 11 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. Because the state does not have jurisdiction over the facility, the state agencies cannot mandate the type of technology that should be used.

Our money should not go to subsidize a regional power plant that intends to sell most of its power out of state. Sithe doesn't want to admit it, but it is going to build this plant -- if EPA lets them -- whether or not they get the $85 million tax break from New Mexicans. So giving it to them would truly be a giveaway.

Thanks for considering this critical issue,
Kristin Casper: kristincasper@yahoo.com

Editor's Note: For more background and information on this attempted tax giveaway to what would be a filthy, polluting producer of energy in our state, check our previous post, which includes many useful links.

Fighting Global Warming: Three ABQ City Councilors Propose Green Building Measures

As reported in this Albuquerque Journal article and a city press releasepress release, three Albuquerque city councilors are proposing a bill to encourage the use of green building practices in the city. The legislation (O-07-73), called the Albuquerque High Performance Buildings Ordinance, will be introduced at the next City Council meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2007.

Martin Heinrich, Issac Benton and Michael Cadigan held a news conference recently to explain the plan, which has these three components designed to help move Albuquerque into the forefront of communities trying to deal with global warming:

• Part I of the legislation adopts the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code standards. By adopting the 2006 standards, Albuquerque would be surpassing what is required by the State (which still uses the 2003 code) and holding ourselves to a higher standard of energy conservation.

• Part II creates the “Albuquerque High Performance Buildings Ordinance,” which applies to all new construction and significant alternations of existing buildings.

  • Under this section of the ordinance, projects that are LEED certified will receive Priority Plan Check Processing at the City. This will help encourage and expedite the construction of energy-efficient buildings.

  • Requirements include: higher standard of efficiency for air conditioning and heating systems, building insulation, roof insulation, and hot water heaters; testing for building leakage; Energy Star appliances and low-e windows.

• Part III tackles an air-quality issue by amending the Woodburning Ordinance to include five additional materials – garbage, paints, paint solvents, treated wood, and waste petroleum products – that are prohibited from being burned.

Quotes:

According to Councilor Isaac Benton, a green architect with 30 years of professional experience, “The requirements set forth in this ordinance take care of what I would call the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of efficiency standards that any architect and builder can achieve at relatively low cost. Though the changes being proposed are actually quite simple to make, the impact on our environment will be significant.”

"My sense is that it will not be controversial, except for the lowest end of builders and contractors," he said. On the City Council, "I would be surprised if we have significant opposition. To me, it's mom and apple pie," Benton said.

“We have been working for a number of months to draft legislation that will serve as a national model for addressing the global problem of climate change,” explained Councilor Martin Heinrich. “This ordinance will move Albuquerque into the forefront of green building in the United States and help us get a handle on Albuquerque’s greenhouse gas emissions by mandating higher standards of energy efficiency for all residential and commercial buildings in the city.”

Councilor Michael Cadigan said it will help the city be "a serious player" in dealing with global warming. In addition, he said, "we think this will save money for consumers and businesses in the long term through lower energy bills and an overall reduction in demand for energy, increase demand for energy-saving products and reduce air pollution."

The councilors also said they'll be looking for more ways to tamp down Albuquerque's contributions to global warming, including in the area of transportation.

Click here to read the ordinance and track its progress. All citizens are invited to attend the City Council Meeting at 5:00 PM on February 21, 2007 when the ordinance is scheduled to be discussed. City Council meetings are held at the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center, One Civic Plaza NW. Call 768-3100 for more information on the Council.

To contact your councilor about this legislation, .

Sunday: ABQ Town Hall Meeting on Global Warming (Live and Radio)

From Environment New Mexico:
We're hosting an event this Sunday in Albuquerque where you can learn more about global warming, as well as have an opportunity to ask questions of our expert panel.

WHAT: Community town hall meeting on global warming
WHEN: Sunday, February 18 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM
WHERE: Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Silver and Carlisle)

Expert panelists include former NM Secretary of the Environment and Transportation Judy Espinosa, UNM climatologist David Gutzler, green building architect Howard Kaplan and alternative energy activist Ben Luce. The community town hall meeting will also be broadcast live on KUNM (89.9 FM). The moderator will be KNME "The Line" host Gene Grant. Our journalist panel includes Alibi Managing Editor Christy Chisholm, Albuquerque Journal Science Reporter John Fleck, and KUNM's News Director Steve Shadley. To RSVP, just click here .

Also on February 18 and starting at Noon, Immanuel Presbyterian Church will screen Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."

ACTION ALERT: Dem Rep. Gutierrez Votes to Revive Stalled Dirty Coal Bill

From Conservation Voters New Mexico:
Representative Joni Marie Gutierrez, D-Mesilla, voted Friday morning to revive a $85 million taxpayer subsidy for a massive pulverized coal plant, reversing her vote from a few weeks ago. 

“Representative Gutierrez’s motion today single-handedly resuscitated a stalled subsidy for dirty coal,” stated Sandy Buffett, Executive Director of Conservation Voters New Mexico. “The State of New Mexico should not be subsidizing an out-of-state corporation to build a dirty coal plant using old, polluting technology. If taxpayer money is going to be used for energy projects, we should be investing in the best available clean and renewable energy technologies.”

On January 29th, 2007, Rep. Gutierrez voted with the majority to “table” HB 178, the Navajo Nation Electric Facility Tax Credit, a bill sponsored by Representative Thomas Taylor, R- Farmington. The vote to table essentially stopped the bill from moving on the House side of the Legislature. Gutierrez made a motion Friday to bring the bill off the table to be heard next Monday, February 19th. The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the motion 7-6, with five Republicans voting with Gutierrez on her motion [emphasis added].

House Bill 178 / Senate Bill 431 would provide an $85 million taxpayer subsidy to Sithe Global LLC for the construction of a conventional, pulverized coal plant called “Desert Rock” on the Navajo Nation. The plant, if built, would emit 10 million tons annually of greenhouse gas emissions and would contribute hundreds of pounds of mercury annually to a region already considered a mercury hotspot. 

“Sadly, it seems that Representative Gutierrez may have mistakenly concluded that her constituents in her district would not be concerned with this issue,” said Buffett. “But I believe that all New Mexicans want economic development that will create clean, high-wage jobs while protecting our air, land, water and precious taxpayer resources.”

In 2006, Conservation Voters New Mexico Annual Legislative Scorecard revealed Representative Gutierrez’ 100% perfect conservation voting record for the previous two sessions. “It pains me to know that Representative Gutierrez’ conservation score took a big hit today, but then again, so did New Mexico’s environment,” stated Buffett.

Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM), the political voice of New Mexico’s conservation community, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501c4 organization. CVNM’s mission is to make sensible conservation policies a top priority for elected officials, political candidates, and voters across the state.  For more information or to view the 2006 Scorecard, please visit www.CVNM.org.

Some basic facts about Desert Rock:

• Total carbon dioxide emissions in the state will increase 16%, with 10 million tons emitted annually from this plant;
• The greenhouse gas emissions from this plant will cancel out the Governor’s numerical targets for curbing global warming;
• On February 5, 2007, hundreds of citizens of New Mexico, including over 50 Navajo activists and elders, gathered at the New Mexico State Legislature to protest the proposed Desert Rock power plant;
• Sithe has not publicly announced any “Power Purchase Agreements” to be in place. PPAs are typically secured prior to seeking financing for a major power plant.
• Sithe seeks to build the plant to export electricity to Nevada and Arizona. However, the plant would not meet California’s new clean energy import standard, precluding the plant from being able to sell to the largest power market in the west.

Sandy Buffett, Executive Director
Conservation Voters NM (CVNM)
320 Aztec St Ste B, Santa Fe, NM  87501
505.992.8683 (tel); 505.270.5743 (cell)
505.986.0339 (fax); sandy@cvnm.org

CVNM -- Working to Hold Legislators Accountable and to Elect a Pro-Conservation Majority in New Mexico! Please join our efforts at www.CVNM.org

Editor's Note: You can read our previous posts on this issue here and here and here.

What We Can Do:
To express your views to Rep. Guitierrez about her unfortunate reversal on this harmful legislation, click here for contact info.

Please contact members of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee ASAP and urge them to kill HB 178: click for contact info.

You might also consider FAIR Blogcontacting Governor Richardson's office. In his role as Governor and his campaign for president, the Gov. is portraying himself as strong on the environment but this bill, being helped along by a prominent Democratic legislator, would use NM taxpayer funds to help create another powerful producer of greenhouse gases in our state. SOMEONE convinced Rep. Gutierrez to change her mind on this bill. We don't know who it is, but chances are it was one or more prominent Democrats using political pressure.

Surface Owner Protection Act Passes First Committee in NM House

From the NM House Democratic Leadership:
House Bill 827—Surface Owners’ Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Nuñez (D-Hatch), passed out of the NM House Health & Government Affairs Committee on Thursday with a vote of 6 to 0. It will be heard next in the Energy & Natural Resources Committee.

The bill would protect landowners who don’t also own the mineral rights below their land, which is common in New Mexico. Ranchers, farmers and homeowners have had more frequent complaints about damage and reduced property value in recent years because oil and gas drilling has increased.

Rep. Nuñez, cattlemen, environmentalists, and homeowners have been trying to reach a compromise on bill language with oil and gas industry representatives. However, those efforts reached an impasse in the committee meeting today when amendments to HB 827, supported by oil & gas representatives, were not adopted. Rep. Nuñez considered the amendments detrimental to his bill.

“We’ve been negotiating with representatives of the oil and gas industry for over two years and we already had an agreement on the issues that are being raised again today,” said Rep. Nuñez. “This whole situation reminds me of the negotiations between the United States and North Korea. And we’re the U.S.,” he added.

The Surface Owners’ Protection Act would require the oil and gas industry to notify landowners 30 days prior to any oil and gas operations, to describe the operations, and to propose a surface use and compensation agreement. The landowner then has 20 days to accept, negotiate, or reject the offer. If no agreement is reached between the landowner and company, a bond must be posted before operations begin and the landowner retains the right to bring legal action within six years if land damage occurs.

“The relationship between the oil and gas industry and the landowners is out of balance. Ranchers, farmers and other New Mexicans affected by oil and gas development on their land deserve to be respected and compensated,” said Nuñez.

The oil and gas industry in New Mexico has generated millions of dollars in company profits and tax revenues for the state general fund in many years. Since 2000, more than 2,000 new oil & gas well permits have been issued throughout the state per year.

If HB 827 becomes law, New Mexico will join 10 other states, including Texas, Wyoming, and Montana that have passed laws to protect surface owners. Governor Bill Richardson, the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, New Mexico San Juan Citizens Alliance, the Oil & Gas Accountability Project and other environmental groups all support the Surface Owner Protection Act.

Editor's Note: For more information, see our previous post. Supporters of this bill are urged to contact members of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee to encourage their passage of this important legislation.

ALERT: NM House Bill for Tax Subsidies to Dirty Desert Rock Power Plant Introduced

Editor's Note: A version of this bill was previously introduced on the Senate side. See our earlier post. Now it's being pursued on the House side. I got the following alert via email from activists fighting the bill:

Please Call Today - STOP TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOR THE PROPOSED DIRTY DESERT ROCK POWER PLANT!

Soon, House Energy & Natural Resources Committee will be considering House Bill 178 which proposes an $85 million subsidy for the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant. Please call House Energy and Natural Resource Committee Members and tell them to OPPOSE HB 178.

No subsidies or tax breaks to build a dirty plant for electricity to other states – NOT our money, not out of New Mexico’s pocket into Sithe Global’s wallet.

If Desert Rock is built, all the clean energy and anti-pollution progress we have made in New Mexico will be wasted. Sithe Global claims their plant would be a “clean” coal plant, but it would NOT meet New Mexico’s standards for power plants and would severely impact surrounding communities and add millions of pounds of carbon and mercury pollution into New Mexico’s air and water.

The legislature will be considering real clean energy legislation this session. Encourage your representative and members of the Energy & Natural Resource Committee to vote against dirty coal and for clean energy in 2007.

Please contact the following Energy & Natural Resource Committee Members. If you are in their district, please let them know.

Representative Jim Trujillo, Vice Chair
District 45, Capitol Phone: 986-4255
Email: jimtrujillo@msn.com

Representative James Roger Madalena, Chair
District 65, Capitol Phone: 986-4417
Email: jr_madalena@yahoo.com

Representative Thomas Anderson
District 29, Capitol Phone: 986-4452
Email: kb5ysg@arrl.net

Representative Paul Bandy
District 3, Capitol Phone: 986-4214
Email: paul@bandyranch.com

Representative Donald Bratton
District 62, Capitol Phone: 986-4427
Email: donbratton@valornet.com

Representative Candy Spence Ezzell
District 58, Capitol Phone: 986-4450
Email: csecows@aol.com

Representative Thomas Garcia
District 68, Capitol Phone: 986-4242
Email: ocate@hotmail.com

Representative William Gray
District 54, Capitol Phone: 986-4211
Email: wjgray@pvtnetworks.net

Representative Joni Marie Gutierrez
District 33, Capitol Phone: 986-4234
Email: jonig@zianet.com

Representative Jeff Steinborn
District 37, Capitol Phone: 986-4248
Email: jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov

Representative James R.J. Strickler
District 2, Capitol Phone: 986-4454
Email: jamesstrickler@msn.com

Questions? delschwartz@juno.com