New Mexico to Implement First-in-the-Nation Rules to Reduce GW Pollutants from Multiple Sectors

Environmental Resource Center ^ | 11/8/10

[EBH]

The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) adopted by a vote of four to three the most comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reduction regulations in the nation. The rules, proposed by the New Mexico Environment Department, will reduce global warming pollutants through a regional cap on GHG emissions.

“Addressing climate change immediately is the right thing to do—I am pleased that the EIB adopted the program I have worked so hard to develop,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “I call on the federal government to build on New Mexico’s program and the WCI to implement a national cap-and-trade system.”

“I applaud the board’s leadership and its willingness to take a stand for New Mexico’s future,” said New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry. “This is a great opportunity to promote the state’s clean energy economy by reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions.”

The program, which is scheduled to start in 2012, will affect about 63 large industrial sources in New Mexico. Those sources include electric generators and the largest emission sources in the oil and gas sector. Each source would have to reduce its emissions by 2% per year until 2020 or acquire emissions credits from other participants. The program will not be triggered unless at least 100 million on tons of emissions are included regionally, which ensures that New Mexico will not implement a trading program alone. The program would have to be more than four times larger than New Mexico’s annual emissions of approximately 24 million tons.

The program is designed to contain costs to industry and consumers through several mechanisms, including the free allocation of pollution allowances to regulated sources; trading of allowances to allow the market to find the lowest-cost emission reductions; a generous offset program which allows sectors that are not under the cap to implement low-cost reduction measures; and a delay in turning in allowances until 2015. Economic analyses show a modest net benefit to the New Mexico economy as a result of reducing GHG emissions and promoting clean energy jobs.

“We have worked very hard to propose a rule that both contains costs for industry and consumers while simultaneously maintaining the environmental integrity of the program,” said New Mexico Environment Department Deputy Secretary Sarah Cottrell.

[CedarDave]

Yes it is. Lot’s of the “entitled” class there, too. Of course the libs shutting down logging, mining and oil drilling in the area has eliminated the opportunity for many jobs to pull them out of welfare and food stamps. But they don’t see the connection or don’t want to recognize the cause and effect because they are comfortable with their situation and their monthly checks.

[BlessingsofLiberty]

This will be short lived. Richardson is a thug and a criminal. This board is illegitimate.

Governor Martinez will deal with this travesty.