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New Mexico has yet to adopt setback rules governing oil and gas wells near schools and other educational institutions. (Courtesy Becca Grady)

Thursday, April 25, 2024

NM officials press for setbacks amid pushback from oil and gas industry

New Mexico members of the group Elected Officials to Protect America are renewing their call for rules regulating how close fossil fuel companies can …

The Land of Enchantment has plenty of sunshine and some of the best solar incentives in the U.S. (Kristina Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Personal energy electrification plans offered at NM Earth Day event

Saving New Mexico residents money as they adapt to climate change is the goal behind an Earth Day event in Albuquerque Sunday. The Rio Grande …

More than 90% of available land in the Greater Chaco region, former home of Ancestral Puebloan civilizations, is dotted with oil and gas wells, according to WildEarth Guardians. (WildEarthGuardians.org)

Orphaned wells: Environmental, visual pollution for SW Indian Country

Tribal communities, including those in New Mexico, can now apply for grant funding and direct assistance to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells …

In 2014, an instrument aboard the International Space Station spotted the largest methane cloud ever measured above New Mexico's San Juan Basin. (NASA.gov)

Environmental nonprofit launches satellite to detect methane leaks

The first satellite launched by a nonprofit organization is now circling the globe, getting ready to deliver data on methane pollution from oil and …

In New Mexico, three-quarters of new survey respondents said they do not want protections rolled back on national monuments. (National Park Service)

Poll: Voters in NM, other Western states consistently support conservation

A new poll showed New Mexico voters expressed a deep affection for lands, water and wildlife and want policies offering greater protections. The 14…

Almost all of New Mexico's 2,000 school buses run on diesel fuel. (Thomas/AdobeStock)

Advocates for electric school buses want NM to follow Colorado's lead

Studies show the health of New Mexico children who ride school buses could improve if the buses were electric instead of diesel, and efforts are …

A bill before the New Mexico Legislature would halt approval of new drilling permits within a mile of school facilities starting in July. (Photo courtesy of Consumer Watchdog)

A trio of NM bills could rein in lucrative oil, gas industry

A trio of bills to curb oil and gas pollution is under consideration by New Mexico lawmakers. New Mexico is the country's second-largest oil …

Hydrogen use is expected to grow sixfold from today's levels to meet 10% of total energy consumption by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency. (malp/Adobe Stock)

Navajo Nation hydrogen project raises red flags in New Mexico

Hydrogen power is touted as a game-changer in curbing climate change. But in New Mexico, those who feel exploited by the fossil fuel industry have …

Latinos account for 47% of agricultural field workers and 46% of construction laborers in the U.S. and face extreme summer heat threats due to climate change. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Report: How climate change threatens Latinos' health and heritage

As climate change makes extreme weather events more common globally, Latinos often face the most significant effects to their health, safety…

New Mexico's largest energy company has expanded its fleet of electric vehicles. (Courtesy: Public News Service-New Mexico)

NM's new rules for clean cars, trucks include EV purchase incentives

New Mexico's air quality is not the worst in the nation but it could be better, and the recent adoption of new standards for clean cars and trucks …

As the second sunniest state in the United States, New Mexico is poised to capitalize on federal climate law incentives. (FainaGurevich/Adobe Stock)

NM rural electric co-op making headway on renewable energy

Latino and Hispanic workers make up about 18-percent of the U.S, clean-energy workforce, and a New Mexico company wants to make sure their work …

New Mexico's planned electric vehicle infrastructure would allow motorists to charge a vehicle in 30 to 45 minutes for about $20. (AdobeStock/serperm73)

NM Seeks Public Input on Zero-Emission Vehicle Standards

New Mexico wants more residents to drive electric vehicles, and is hosting a series of meetings to explain its advanced clean cars and trucks rules…

Oil and gas wells, roads, pipelines and other infrastructure near the Chaco Culture National Historical Park have destroyed some cultural sites and transformed others into industrial parks. (MarkKaletka/Flicker/Creative Commons)

Protection of NM's Greater Chaco Region Faces New Threats

A previous agreement to protect New Mexico's Greater Chaco Canyon region from oil and gas development is back on the table, forcing supporters to…

Federal data show nearly 4,000 of the oil and gas drilling permits issued by the Biden administration are on public lands overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's New Mexico office. (Photo courtesy WildEarthGuardians)

NM Advocates: Climate Crisis Demands End to Feds' Fossil-Fuel Leasing

The Bureau of Land Management has auctioned off another 10,000 acres of New Mexico public lands to the oil and gas industry, despite a local rally …

The American Geosciences Institute says the enormous size of the oil and gas industry results in huge volumes of oil and produced water, which lead to thousands of spills every year. (Photo courtesy of WildEarth Guardians)

NM Environmentalists: New Rules, Same Spills at State's Oilfields

Environmentalists and citizens in New Mexico believe the state agency charged with overseeing oil and gas activity is not doing enough to enforce rule…

The Gila National Forest and Wilderness boasts more than 100 bird species including seasonal, year-round and migratory birds. (JuanCarlosGonz�lez/AdobeStock)

NM Supporters of Gila River Protections Make 3rd Pitch in Nation's Capital

A decadelong effort to secure protections for New Mexico's last remaining free-flowing rivers and tributary systems has been introduced in Congress fo…

It is estimated the U.S. has more than 80,000 metric tons of highly radioactive spent fuel currently sitting in storage at 72 commercial nuclear plants across the country. (Destina/Adobe Stock)

Opponents of Proposed NM Nuclear Waste Project Await Legislative Vote

A bill to block a nuclear waste storage facility in southeast New Mexico is being watched closely by opponents of the project. Don Hancock, director …

Wasted natural gas from methane venting, flaring and leaks on public lands would meet the needs of 2.2 million people - or nearly all households in New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (Tom/Adobe Stock)

Ball in EPA's Court for Supplemental Oil and Gas Rules

Citizens, states and environmental groups from New Mexico and across the nation have weighed in on tougher rules to govern pollution from the oil and …

The Colorado River, which once flowed to the sea in Mexico, has been chronically overused, and combined with climate change, the river system now is in crisis as reservoirs dry up. (John/AdobeStock)

Poll: Westerners Remain Strongly Supportive of Conservation Issues

Climate change, pollution, effects from oil and gas drilling and a strong concern for protecting drinking water are just some of the issues New …

Exposure to methane from oil and gas wells is known to cause health problems, including asthma, along with higher rates of leukemia, lymphoma and cancer. (Cavan/Adobe Stock)

Stronger Federal Methane Rules Would Benefit NM Residents, But When?

New Mexico residents have two weeks to submit written comments to the Environmental Protection Agency about its proposal to implement stronger standar…

Exposure to methane gas can displace oxygen supply, resulting in headaches, nausea, nosebleeds and even heart problems. (sammywilliams/Pixabay)

Study: Methane Worse for Climate, Health Than Earlier Estimated

Environmental advocates anticipating new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency to cut methane pollution caused by the oil and gas industry ho…

Methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure in New Mexico are the state's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the University of New Mexico. (umm.edu)

NM Fossil-Fuel Industry Fights Methane, Ozone Rules Compliance

Environmental groups in New Mexico say a lawsuit filed by an advocacy group for the state's fossil-fuel industry suggests it values profit more than p…

Since the 1970s, the number of days deemed

according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control's 2022 Wildfire Preparedness Plan. (BrunoGermany/Pixabay)">

Could Burying Power Save More Homes, Lives from Wildfires?

Western states under extreme drought made worse by climate change are a giant tinderbox - and one expert says it's time to minimize possible fire sour…

Three-quarters of Americans have experienced extreme weather events in the past five years, but the Biden administration's efforts to tackle climate change are limited after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in West Virginia v. EPA. (WildEarthGuardians/Flickr)

U.S. Supreme Court Strips EPA's Power to Curb Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency now has fewer tools to fight climate change, after the U.S. Supreme Court stripped the agency of its authority to …

Black, Hispanic and Native American people are up to two times more likely than white people to suffer from chronic disease, according to the health publication WebMD. (Myrriah G�mez/news.unm.edu)

Environmental Advocates: Empowerment Doesn't End With Juneteenth

Juneteenth celebrations this month commemorated freedom, but Black and Brown people are still disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices …

The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative creates revenue for the Picuris Pueblo in northern New Mexico, meeting 100% of daytime energy demand with solar power and reducing energy costs for tribal members. (Photo courtesy Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.)

Equity, Environmental Justice Critical to NM Infrastructure Spending

A new report outlined how state officials can use money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address environmental justice, an …

In New Mexico, a new map indicates 144,377 residents - including 38,749 children - face potential health threats by pollution from the oil and gas industry. (Jimmy Cloutier/Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

New Map Shows More People Live within Oil & Gas "Threat Radius"

A newly created map reveals more Americans are being exposed to health threats from proximity to oil-and-gas production facilities. The map's release …

In New Mexico, where major wildfires continue to burn, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has warned residents to be ready for evacuations all summer because of strong winds, higher temperatures fueled by climate change, and no significant precipitation on the horizon. (Wikipedia)

As New Mexico Wildfires Rage, Neighboring States Warned of High Fire Danger

New Mexico continues to battle the largest wildfires in its history, and other states including Nevada, along with parts of Arizona and Colorado…

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has launched the

NM's Chaco Supporters Rally for Protections from Drilling

At a rally today in Santa Fe, thousands of comments about a proposed withdrawal of new oil and gas drilling leases near New Mexico's Chaco Culture …

If New Mexico adopts clean-car rules, more energy-efficient electric vehicles could be on the roads in 2024 or sooner. (Courtesy newmexico.org)

New Mexico Latest to Consider Adoption of Clean Car Rules

New Mexico may soon join more than a dozen other states in adopting California's clean car standards. The statewide and Albuquerque environmental-…

People of color are 61% more likely than white people to live in a county with a failing grade for at least one pollutant that contributes to poor air quality, according to the American Lung Association. (DavidMark/Pixabay)

Report: NM's ABQ, Eddy County Rank High for Poor Air Quality

A new study found high ozone levels have made the air quality in Albuquerque worse than ever reported. For the past 23 years, the American Lung …

Venting, flaring and leaks waste $275 million worth of natural gas per year in New Mexico, depriving the state of more than $40 million in royalties and tax revenue, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (nasa.gov)

NM's Methane Rules Designed to Reduce Air Pollution, Improve Health

New Mexico is home to some of the worst methane pollution in the country, but new rules aimed at oil and gas operators could be a turning point for …

The San Juan Generating Station is a coal-fired electric power plant located near its coal source, the San Juan Mine, near Waterflow, N.M. (ecoflight.org)

Feud Over NM Coal-Plant Closure Could Cost Customers

This year's planned closure of a New Mexico coal-fired power plant is expected to save money for the state's utility company and its customers…

Some 67% of New Mexicans think oil and gas development on national public lands should be stopped or strictly limited rather than expanded, according to the 2022 Conservation in the West poll. (BLM/Flickr)

Public Lands Face New Threats from Climate Change, Drilling

The use of public lands is back in the spotlight as the war in Ukraine enters its second month and gas prices remain high. The American Petroleum …

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, pointing to higher gas prices and inflation, has called for a special legislative session the first week of April to address the need by state residents for economic relief. (mikes-photography/Pixabay)

Ukraine Wake-Up Call: Renewables Vs. Fossil Fuels

Soaring gas prices since Russia's invasion of Ukraine have laid bare the dilemma of relying on fossil fuels over power from renewables such as wind an…

Sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine invasion haven't targeted the oil trade, but have nonetheless sent the worldwide price of oil to more than $100 a barrel. (Elionas/Pixabay)

Russia/Ukraine War Puts Pressure on Governments for More Wind, Solar

In recent years, New Mexico has tried to move away from its historical role as an oil and gas hub, and the crisis in Ukraine could have major …

Immigrants now account for about one in 10 Black persons in the United States, up from three in 10 in 1980, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. (dimitrisvetsikas1969/Pixabay)

Black History Month Includes Focus on Health, Environmental Justice

Communities of color are using this year's Black History Month to advocate for health and wellness, including calling attention to environmental …

A bill to expand voting rights, championed by New Mexico's governor during the 2022 legislative session, failed after the GOP led a one-man filibuster. (Wikipedia)

Wins, Losses for NM Conservation in 2022 Legislative Session

The postmortem has begun on the New Mexico legislative session which ended last week. Conservation groups concede much is left to be done, but …

NM Environmental Groups Mark MLK Day with Climate Walk

New Mexico climate activists commemorate today's Martin Luther King Jr. Day by walking to the State Capitol in Santa Fe from four directions…

As the climate gets hotter and drier driven by regional and global warming trends, New Mexico is one of several Western states anticipating less-predictable winters, earlier springs and hotter summers. (12019/Pixabay)

Extreme Weather Accelerates Climate-Change Conversation

Record high temperatures, torrential rain, unlikely tornados and devastating wildfires led to record news coverage of climate change in October and …

For more than 2,000 years, Pueblo peoples occupied the Chaco region of the southwestern United States. (NewMexico.org)

Advocates Want Better Protection From Drilling at Greater Chaco

Conservationists are calling on President Joe Biden to make permanent recent steps to protect Chaco Culture National Historical Park from further dest…

New Mexico and Colorado are considered leaders among states trying to curb air pollution from oil fields. (blogs.edf.org)

EPA Concludes Public Hearings on New Methane Rules

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- People who live on the Navajo Nation near the San Juan Basin are closely following work by the Environmental Protection Agency (…

The Four Corners Power Plant, built in 1962, is one of the largest coal-fired generating stations in the U.S. (serc.carleton.edu)

NM Utility Provider Under Fire Over Aging Power-Plant Investments

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Critics of a plan by New Mexico's largest utility company to abandon one of the oldest coal-burning plants in the country say …

New Mexico's Community Solar Act was signed into law earlier this year, after failing during previous legislative sessions. (energy.gov)

NM Governor: 'Build Back Better' is Future for Renewable Energy

SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexico's governor said no state is better prepared to deliver climate change mitigation solutions, but it will need funding …

PNM is New Mexico's largest electric generation, transmission and distribution utility, serving more than 530,000 customers around the state. (Wikipedia)

Proposed Utility Merger Generates Wariness in New Mexico

SANTA FE, N.M. - A decision over a proposed utility merger in New Mexico is expected before year's end, but opponents warn approval could spell …

The iconic New Mexico chili pepper is under threat from climate change as extreme heat and drought result in dwindling water supplies. (Wikipedia)

Climate Week Follows Unprecedented "Code Red" Predictions

SANTA FE, N.M. - A nonpartisan group of mothers and climate scientists is on a nationwide education campaign to engage more people about the effects …

People in states where air quality plummets due to smoke from wildfires are advised to close windows, doors and vents. (folio flare-designer/Pixabay)

Wildfires Make Outside, Inside Air Quality Unhealthy

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Smoke from the massive wildfires, along with the summer heat, is driving millions of Americans indoors. Experts advised people …

New Mexico has been a major producer of oil and natural gas since hydrocarbons were first discovered in the state during the early 1920s. (San Juan Citizens Alliance)

NM Engages With Biden's Energy Secretary on Methane Rules

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- As New Mexico leans into renewable-energy goals, clean-air advocates highlighted both progress and challenges during a recent …

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