The New Mexico legislature has not as of yet passed Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) legislation. In 2021 state lawmakers considered passing a law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but negotiations stopped midstream.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated in a Monday, December 20 press release that she wants New Mexico lawmakers to pass LCFS during their upcoming 30-day session. The forthcoming session starts on January 18, 2022. Gov. Lujan Grisham has the authority to name the non-budgetary measures that the legislature will consider, and she plans to make LCFS one of them.
EPA Announces New Rule
The issue of LCFS for New Mexico was brought to the forefront after the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) announced (PDF) a new rule mandating lower greenhouse gas emissions for “light-duty vehicles for 2023 and later model years”. The concept is to make “standards more stringent”. By increasing the number of miles per gallon required, the amount of fuel used is decreased. The result is the emission of less greenhouse gas.
In the press release Governor Lujan Grisham states, “I applaud the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration and U.S. EPA Administrator Regan in crafting strong federal rules to reduce air pollution from cars and trucks….At the same time, these federal rules will save New Mexicans money at the pump as cars become more fuel efficient. This is exactly why New Mexico must pass a clean fuel standard in the upcoming legislative session. Together, the EPA and my administration are taking bold action for our economy and our climate.”
Minority Leader Townsend Disagrees with the Governor
New Mexico House Minority Leader Jim Townsend (Artesia) was quick to respond to the governor’s comments. He said, especially taking into account rural areas, “Lujan Grisham’s administration is defined by selling out New Mexicans to the highest bidder.” Rep. Townsend goes on to say that “now when gas prices are finally plateauing” Gov. Lujan Grisham wants to increase “the price of fuel at the pump. New Mexico is a mostly rural state, and her reckless plans to take New Mexicans’ hard-earned money … is very disingenuous to the people.”
Whether folks agree or disagree with Rep. Townsend, the fact is that some areas of New Mexico are experiencing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Weather across the globe has been more erratic and extreme, and that has been felt in New Mexico with dryer summers and warmer winters. Air pollution also seems to be on the rise in the area.
Recent Research Affects Lea County
Recent research shows that air pollution caused by methane is on the rise in the Permian Basin, and Lea County is not untouched by the problem. In a December 21 article published in the Carlsbad Current Argus, oil and gas writer Adrian Hedden states, “The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) last week released the results of an aerial survey of 900 oil and gas sites in the Permian Basin, which spans southeast New Mexico and West Texas, finding ‘significant plumes’ of methane coming from 40 percent of the sites.” Hedden goes on to say that the report found that about 14 percent of the emissions came from “malfunctioning flares”.
Thirty percent of the “surveyed pipelines were releasing methane into the air and about half of all midstream facilities studied also had emissions,” he writes.
What Will Happen in 2022?
At its legislative session early this year, the New Mexico Senate passed LCFS legislation that was later blocked by the state’s House of Representatives. Republicans for the most part were in opposition. The New Mexico law was similar to LCFS adopted by California and Oregon. Only time will tell how legislators will weigh in on LCFS in 2022.
James Kenney, New Mexico Environment Department Cabinet Secretary applauded the EPA’s recent action and redoubled New Mexico’s commitment to reducing the emission of greenhouse gasses. He is hopeful that LCFS will be adopted by the state’s legislature. He said, “we’re making significant strides toward meeting our ambitious climate goals.”
Photo by Jonathon Gallegos // Unsplash
