New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board Votes in Favor of Affordable Electricity

SANTA FE—Good news! This week the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) voted unanimously to repeal a set of regulations that would have raised the cost of electricity and hurt our state’s economy. All five members of the EIB voted to repeal the rules, which would have created a regional cap-and-trade program for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

One EIB member mentioned during the board's deliberations the impact of public comment, with 98 percent of comments (approx 35,000) opposed to the cap-and-trade rule. KEA thanks the over 18,000 people who signed our petition and wrote letters asking the EIB to repeal the rules.

Here’s a quick recap of the issue:

• In late 2010, the EIB approved state rules requiring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but the regulations were approved without first completing the proper economic analysis of the rules’ effects on New Mexico’s economy.
• When the EIB got new members in 2011, it conducted public hearings about the regulations.
• Keep Electricity Affordable helped more than 18,000 New Mexicans speak up and let the EIB know that, if the regulations weren’t repealed, the economy would suffer.

The next step is a hearing in March when the EIB will review and deliberate on the repeal of an expensive carbon cap rule.

Thanks to the time our advocates took to sign the petition and make public comment at the hearings, we’re celebrating a victory today.

We believe that we don’t have to choose between protecting the environment and supporting the economy if we take a balanced, thoughtful approach to energy. Thank you for helping us keep electricity affordable in New Mexico!