Clear Horizons Act clears first legislative hurdle after lengthy hearing (New Mexico - mandates reduction of emissions to 2005 levels by 2050)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | February 3, 2026 | Dan Boyd

[CedarDave]

SANTA FE — The highest-profile climate change bill under consideration during this year’s 30-day legislative session passed its first Senate committee hearing Tuesday, but only after weathering a broad blast of opposition from business and industry groups.

After five hours of public testimony and debate, the Senate Conservation Committee voted 5-4 to advance the Clear Horizons Act to its next assigned committee.

The vote on the legislation, Senate Bill 18, broke down largely along party lines, with Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, joining the committee's three Republican members in casting "no" votes. He voiced concern the legislation could lead to a flood of litigation, especially in southern New Mexico.

Other critics, including representatives from New Mexico's dairy, mining and restaurant industries, voiced economic concerns, saying the bill would raise costs and could lead to some businesses being shuttered.

"I don't believe we can regulate our way to utopia, and I don't believe we can tax our way to prosperity," said Sen. Ant Thornton, R-Sandia Park.

However, supporters of the bill expressed a sense of urgency to enshrine greenhouse gas emission limits in state law amid rising temperatures and a recent increase in natural disasters across New Mexico.

Several officials in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration also spoke in favor of the bill, which would codify an executive order issued by the governor in 2019 that directed New Mexico to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030.

Specifically, the Clear Horizons Act would set future deadlines for meeting statewide greenhouse gas emissions — including a 100% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, based on 2005 levels. It would also establish new methane emission limits for the oil and gas industries.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Local News; Science; Weather
KEYWORDS: climatechange; climateguiltsuicide; environmentalwhackos; fantasy; liberallunatics; newmexico

[CedarDave]

Again New Mexico radical environmentalists and the far-left loonies in Santa Fe and the legislature are trying to bring about climate change. In New Mexico that means driving what businesses there are out of the state and sentencing the residents to third-world type dependence on government for their existence. It's Fantasy-land!

[CedarDave]

The anti-gun bill (SB-17, Titled "STOP ILLEGAL GUN TRADE ACT") had its second hearing late this afternoon. I'll post an update when I get one.

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[mitchjackson1972]

By 2050 technology will have improved to the point where emissions will meet these standards so this seems like some “look at me” grandstanding

[AZJeep]

New Mexico has only 2.13 millions of residents.
That’s 0.0256% of Earth human population.
Whatever they do, for the Earth well being, it means nothing!

[IYAS9YAS]

Whatever they do, for the Earth well being, it means nothing!

Especially when nearly half of us do what we can to undo the greenie-weenie bullstuff here.

[Leaning Right]

To which I’d add:

China is by far the world’s biggest polluter. They must find it quite amusing when little dots on the map like New Mexico decide to self-destruct in order to save “Mother Earth”.

[CedarDave]

In New Mexico, perception is truth to the poorly educated minions taught by teachers controlled by progressive teacher’s unions. And Virtue Signaling is celebrated by the radicals in Santa Fe and their left-wing media supporters.

[butlerweave]

If 2005 levels were FAKE ?

[Brian Griffin]

“The State’s primary fund is the Land Grant Permanent Fund, a $33 billion fund created by taxes on oil and gas extraction from public lands, which are substantial in New Mexico. This fund pays 0.75 percent of its total value—about $248 million—to the state’s childcare programs each year.”

https://fiscalpolicy.org/how-new-mexico-will-pay-for-universal-childcare

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

Okay........ Fine!

What inquiring minds really want to know is if these control freaks are really serious or not.

For, if they are really serious about “emissions” will they have the courage and fortitude to ban...... Yes......

Beans!

I believe Ocrazio-Cortex included beans as an existential threat to humanity.

C’mon, Man!

[gibsonguy]

The entire population could vanish and it would zero environmental impact. Idiots.

[desertsolitaire]

Maybe their Governor will veto it in the best interest of the state?

[alternatives?]

Whenever I see an article like this it makes me feel like burning a used tire.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

"New Mexico" is like "New Coke".

[SecondAmendment]

Methinks that New Mexico can easily comply with that law by having every leftist citizen commit suicide ... so right now I am of in favor of it ....

[Tijeras_Slim]

The guv is a flaming commieopportunist.

[PAR35]

including a 100% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, based on 2005

Texas should help them reach this goal by immediately cutting off the sale or transport of fossil fuels from Texas to New Mexico. Let them buy their gasoline from California.

[IYAS9YAS]

The entire population could vanish and it would zero environmental impact. Idiots.

It'd probably get cleaner. These same "save the environment" goober dump their trash on the side of the roads everywhere. They don't bother to pick anything up. The winds here carry it everywhere.

[No name given]

Exactly.

[CptnObvious]

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_cap1_dcu_SNM_a.htm

Shows that New Mexico has just one, 1 operating refinery, the Navajo refinery in Artesia. Producing approximately 100,000 barrels per day, down from 130,000 in 2020.

It has had no "idle" days since 2020, that's six years without seriously required maintenance. Meaning, it's been operating full blast for six years and without the required maintenance will break down and disrupt the entire New Mexican state and states nearby relying on it.

One thread that is getting rather frail and ready to break.

It is that refinery that the Democrats in New Mexico that are in effect are targeting. Just one unscheduled breakdown for a few days would be nasty. Pray that it would be fixable, but postponing the proper maintenance will only make things worse.

Because the infrastructure and viable EVs to sustain Emergency and other essential public offices does not yet exist. Let alone for the general population.

Just one unscheduled breakdown for just a few days will bring in the usual Democratic protest to close it, may be just enough to Doom Loop the state.

The New Mexico economy relying on just in time deliveries has very little or no storage to cover such an event.

DOH!