This
information courtesy of the Rio
Grande Foundation's "Errors of Enchantment" website article.
The
New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) will hold a public comment
session on March 1st to hear input on a proposal to implement a cap on
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state.
The Board will meet at the State Personnel Office
Auditorium, Willie Ortiz Building, 2600
Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe 87505. The meeting will begin at 10:00 am.
The
New Mexico Environmental
Improvement Board (EIB) will hold a public comment session on March 1st to
hear input on a proposal to implement a cap on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
in the state.
Numerous
groups are in opposition to this proposal because of the severe economic
impacts such a measure would likely have on New Mexico. The proposal calls for a
reduction in statewide Greenhouse Gas emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by the
year 2020 - a more aggressive goal than anything currently under consideration
at the federal level. The cap would apply to such entities as oil and gas
producers, refineries, manufacturers, cement and asphalt plants, power plants,
universities, military bases, mineral processing operations, and numerous
others.
When:
March 1st from 10 am to 5 pm
Where:State Personnel
Office Auditorium, Willie Ortiz Building, 2600
Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe 87505
What:
EIB public comment session on proposed New Mexico Carbon Cap.
The
EIB has not yet set the exact process for the session, but if you plan on
making a comment, you should assume you will be heard on a first-come,
first-served basis, unless you hear otherwise.
Key
concerns that those opposed to the proposal include:
�
This proposal provides no cost mitigation
measures because it requires affected sources to reduce their emissions of
greenhouse gases through the addition of pollution controls that are not
commercially available, fuel switching, reduced operation, or closure.
�
The cap would affect regulated industries,
and their customers, in the state of New Mexico only. It would represent a cost
driver unique to New Mexico, and therefore place the state at an economic
disadvantage with other states. Ultimately, it creates an incentive for
affected industries to leave the state.
�
While exact impacts are not yet known
because no comprehensive economic impact study has been performed, it is clear
that this price driver unique to New Mexico would significantly increase the
cost of doing business in the state.
�
The cap would make no discernable impact on
the amount of manmade greenhouse gasses widely believed to be contributing to
global climate change.
�
The proposed cap on GHG emissions is
applicable to regulated sources in New Mexico and covers only about 32 percent
of anthropogenic GHG emissions in the state.
�
Under current law, the Board has no
authority to regulate air emissions from power plants located on tribal lands.
Such sources represent the single largest emitter source of GHG emissions in
New Mexico and nearly half of all GHG emissions from the electric utility
sector in the state.
The Albuquerque Tea
Party thanks you for your support!