This week, we saw major victories for climate and environmental justice as key bills advanced through their first committee hearings – thanks to the power of the community members who made their voices heard to advocate for bold action and the legislators who are stepping up to govern with courage on environmental and public health issues.
From protecting young people from the impacts of oil and gas pollution, to expanding access to electric school buses and standing firm against dangerous false solutions, YUCCA is working hard to push transformative legislation through the Roundhouse.
TAKE ACTION TODAY: SUPPORT SB 48 & 49
The Community Benefit Fund, an important proposal introduced by Senator Mimi Stewart, is up for its first hearing in the Senate Conservation Committee tomorrow morning!
S.B. 48 (The Community Benefit Fund) and S.B. 49 (Community Benefit Fund Transfers) are a reflection of our call to establish a just transition fund to support planning and investment in alternatives to our dependence on extractive processes.
These bills would make a critical investment in renewable energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives, and training programs for New Mexico workers while helping to bring our communities the resources they need to prioritize climate resilience, impact mitigation, and infrastructure upgrades.
We need you to take action today to help us pass these vital bills! Send a personalized email to the members of the Senate Conservation Committee (contact information below) urging them to vote YES on S.B. 48 and S.B. 49:
Chair Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics, lstefanics@msn.com
Vice Chair Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, a.sedillolopez@nmlegis.gov
Ranking Member Candy Spence Ezzell, csecows@aol.com
Senator Joseph Cervantes, joseph.cervantes@nmlegis.gov
Senator Angel M. Charley, angel.charley@nmlegis.gov
Senator Carrie Hamblen, carrie.hamblen@nmlegis.gov
Senator Harold Pope, harold.popejr@nmlegis.gov
Senator Larry R. Scott, larry.scott@nmlegis.gov
Senator James G. Townsend, townsend@pvtn.net
HUGE VICTORY: CRITICAL BILL TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM OIL & GAS POLLUTION MOVES FORWARD!
We have some great news out of the Roundhouse this week!
H.B. 35, Children's Health Protection Zones, was passed out of the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee by a 7-4 vote on Wednesday in a huge win for our work to protect young people across New Mexico from the impacts of oil and gas pollution!
This bill would create 1-mile health protection zones surrounding schools, prohibit construction of new oil and gas wells within these zones, and implement additional pollution controls, monitoring, and reporting for operators of oil and gas facilities within the buffer zones.
H.B. 35 will now head to the House Health and Human Services Committee for its next hearing, where we will continue to advocate for the passage of this bill, which would help to protect children from the dangerous impacts of pollution at almost no cost to the state.
We'll keep you updated once H.B. 35 is scheduled to be heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee, but in the meantime, you can help to support this legislation by taking 5 minutes to sign on to our petition and sending a personalized email to committee members to urge them to vote YES on the bill!
THE LOCAL SOLAR ACCESS FUND PASSES ITS FIRST COMMITTEE!
For years, communities across New Mexico have been calling for solutions to rising utility costs, unreliable energy infrastructure, and increasing climate-related disasters.
H.B. 128, the Local Solar Access Fund, would help to address our communities' needs and concerns through a proposed grant fund at the New Mexico Finance Authority, which will issue both planning and implementation grants to Tribes, Counties, Municipalities, School Districts, and Land Grants for solar and storage projects to power public buildings like community centers, libraries, schools, and fire stations, and infrastructure like water, wastewater, and street lighting.
YUCCA is proud to stand in support of this important legislation, and we're excited to report that H.B. 128 passed its first committee this week!
This priority bill would help to break down the barriers that have prevented low-income and rural communities from benefitting from the renewable energy economy, making it easier for our communities to access solar energy while helping to advance a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuel development.
The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee passed H.B. 128 by a 7-4 vote on Tuesday. Next, it will be heard by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee in the coming days. While there's no scheduled hearing date yet, you can help to support this legislation today. Click here to sign up to get involved and make your voice heard with our friends at Public Power New Mexico!
HELP US OPPOSE THE STRATEGIC WATER SUPPLY ACT
The Strategic Water Supply Act poses a grave threat to public health, poisoning our water and threatening our resources.
H.B. 137, The Strategic Water Supply Act, seeks to expand the use of produced water – which is actually toxic waste generated by oil and gas operations – by allowing state agencies to enter into public-private partnerships to research and develop ways to "treat" produced water for potential reuse outside of the oil and gas industry.
This bill is not the common-sense water solution it is currently being framed as – rather, instead of holding oil and gas accountable for its waste problem, it would shift the burden of the industry's toxic waste crisis onto the people of New Mexico, subsidized with millions in taxpayer dollars.
This week, YUCCA leaders made our voices heard at the Roundhouse to oppose this bill and send a clear message: our water is sacred, and our future, health, and well-being are not for sale.
"Instead of forcing oil and gas companies to reduce their use of our scarce water resources, their waste, and take responsibility for the damage they’ve caused, this bill asks the people of New Mexico to bear the risk while industry gets paid," said YUCCA Policy Campaign Manager Ennedith López.
Check out Ennedith's full public comment in the video below!
YUCCA continues to stand in strong opposition to this bill, and we need your help ahead of the bill's next hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee.
You can help to urge the committee to vote no on H.B. 137 by emailing the below committee members to share the reasons you oppose the legislation:
Chair Kristina Ortez, kristina.ortez@nmlegis.gov
Vice Chair Kathleen Cates, Kathleen.Cates@nmlegis.gov
Ranking Member Tanya Mirabal Moya, Tanya.MirabalMoya@nmlegis.gov
Ranking Member Martin Zamora, martin.zamora@nmlegis.gov
Representative Micaela Lara Cadena, micaela.cadena@nmlegis.gov
Representative Susan K. Hererra (Bill Sponsor), susan.herrera@nmlegis.gov
Representative Marian Matthews, marian.matthews@nmlegis.gov
Representative Randall T. Pettigrew, randall.pettigrew@nmlegis.gov
Representative Angelica Rubio, angelica.rubio@nmlegis.gov
QUICK HITS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY JUSTICE BILLS PROGRESS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE!
In addition to the priority bills we've highlighted above, we also saw big wins for environmental and energy justice across the board as many other important bills advanced through their first committee hearings this week!
Check out some of our updates below:
H.B. 32, a bill to help make electric school buses available and affordable to every New Mexico school district, passed the House Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements Committee on Thursday. Next, it will be heard in the House Education Committee. (Click here to view a fact sheet on the bill!)
H.B. 91, which would allow for the creation of additional utility rate structures designed to make energy more affordable for low-income customers, passed the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee on Friday. Next, it will head to the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee.
H.B. 92, which would make a $10 million investment in river, stream, and wetland restoration to support New Mexico's water future, passed the House Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources Committee on Tuesday. Next, it will be heard in the House Appropriations & Finance Committee.
S.B. 23, a bill that would generate billions of additional dollars for our public schools, hospitals, & universities by setting a new royalty rate for “premium” parcels of state land trust leased in the most productive oil and gas area in the broader Permian Basin passed the Senate Conservation Committee on Thursday. Next, it will head to the Senate Finance Committee. (Click here to view a fact sheet on the bill!)
HELP US PASS CRITICAL CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEGISLATION!
If you're eager to stay in the loop with more information about the more than 2 dozen bills that YUCCA is working to push through the Legislature this year, don't forget to sign up to receive our Action Alerts via email!
Each day, you'll receive an email with time-sensitive opportunities to make your voice heard and comprehensive resources to help you advocate effectively for YUCCA's priority legislation - we'd love to have you to join us in taking action to pass meaningful climate and environmental justice legislation this year.
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