Congress considers global warming legislation
At the federal level, on June 20, California Rep. Henry Waxman introduced the Safe Climate Act on the House floor. It would require the U.S. to reduce its global warming pollution 15 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050 through improved energy efficiency, cars that go farther on a gallon of gas, and greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources. Sen. Jeffords of Vermont introduced a similar bill in the Senate called the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act.

Our leaders must take decisive action to avoid the worst effects of global warming. We encourage New Mexico’s Congressional delegation to support the strong global warming bills introduced by Waxman and Jeffords.

Statewide emissions of carbon booming
In June, Environment New Mexico released a new report, called “The Carbon Boom,” which shows that global warming pollution in New Mexico jumped 218 percent between 1960 and 2001—with coal emissions and oil emissions responsible for the largest growth.

Nationwide, emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping from 2.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960 to almost 5.7 billion metric tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent.

In New Mexico, increased coal combustion—primarily to generate electricity— accounted for 68 percent of the state’s increase in carbon dioxide emissions from 1960 to 2001. Over the four decades analyzed, New Mexico added 4,382 megawatts of new coal-burning power plant capacity.

Use of coal power skyrocketing
In a report called “Making Sense of the Coal Rush,” Environment New Mexico found that more than 150 coal-fired power plants are being proposed around the country, the majority of which would use the same old dirty technology they have for decades. Despite the fact that New Mexico already exports nearly half of its energy, two of these are conventional coal-fired power plants planned for New Mexico’s four corners area.

If built, these plants would increase U.S. global warming pollution by 10 percent. And in New Mexico, the two proposed plants would increase state emissions by 36 percent. Ironically, this is happening while a global warming task force appointed by Gov. Richardson is analyzing policy options to reduce New Mexico’s emissions to 75 percent below 2000 levels by 2050.

Environment New Mexico calls for several steps to stem the “coal rush,” such as placing a moratorium on new coal plants. Additionally, we call on New Mexico’s representatives to support the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act in the U.S. Senate and the Safe Climate Act proposed in the House.