Global Warming In the News

Governor Bill Richardson today delivered a speech on climate change at the Pew Climate Center in Washington DC.  The Governor highlighted what New Mexico is doing to combat climate change.  

“New Mexico is now the clean energy state,” said Governor Richardson.  “We have taken large steps not just because it’s the right thing to do for our environment, but because it’s good for our economy.”

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change works with business leaders, scientists, policy makers, and other experts to find a new approach to climate change.

“The debate on global warming is over,” said Governor Richardson.  “States are leading this fight. We need solid allies in this fight—like the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the hundreds of organizations and millions of Americans.  This is a tremendous opportunity to create clean jobs, protect our environment and secure our energy future, if we accept the climate and energy challenge.”

Full text of the speech follows:

Speaking before the Pew Climate Center about climate change, is a bit like giving advice to Curt Schilling about how to throw a good slider. 

While I no longer am a 20 year old prospect, I can still throw a pretty mean fastball (just ask the New Mexico state legislature.)  And while I’m not a scientist or a researcher--- make no mistake--- I understand the urgency of climate change. 

As I stated in my recent book, Leading By Example, the next president has to take this issue seriously and move quickly. 

The world’s ecological health is at stake.  America’s economic strength and competitiveness are at stake.  Our children’s future is at stake.

We need a comprehensive, bold approach to energy, security and climate issues.  And we need to re-engage internationally to bring the world along with us.

As Governor of New Mexico– I’ve tackled climate change head-on. 

·        We’re requiring utilities to produce energy from renewable resources—to generate 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2015 and 20% by 2020.  A nationwide standard can and should be even higher.

·        We are creating the country’s first renewable energy transmission authority—so we can deliver New Mexico’s bountiful wind and solarenergy to other states.

·        We’ve just adopted strong new energy efficiency legislation requiring utilities to achieve a 10% reduction by 2020, and we are encouraging efficiency elsewhere by investing in weatherization and new technologies.

·        We eliminated taxes on hybrid cars, and we are constructing a commuter rail link between AlbuquerqueSanta Fe. and

·        We were the first state to require proposed coal plants to evaluate gasification as a best available technology.  After that, one coal plant proposal was withdrawn two years ago.  And today, I am fighting against conventional coal technology and for carbon control and disposal technology at the Desert Rock plant on the Navajo Nation, outside New Mexico’s permitting jurisdiction. 

New Mexico is now the clean energy state.  We have taken large steps not just because it’s the right thing to do for our environment, but because it’s good for our economy.

·        Our tax credits have helped attract some of the most innovative renewable energy businesses in the world—to New Mexico.

·        Two of the most advanced manufacturers of solar energy technology are now based in New Mexico, and are expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue for our state.

·        We expect Tesla to start building electric cars in New Mexico in the next year or two – cars that will have a range of at least 200 miles and will go from zero to sixty in about four seconds.  In New Mexico, you could run them on wind power, making them zero-carbon.

As a state, we also recognized something that this administration has not.  We cannot win the fight against global warming alone---we need allies.

·        We formed the Western Climate Initiative with seven US states and two Canadian provinces, setting a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020.   This fall the initiative will announce a market-based cap-and-trade program to help achieve that goal.   Inside New Mexico, we are implementing most of the 69 measures recommended by my climate change action group – measures that stretch across our large oil and gas industry, transportation, buildings – everything. 

·        Like other states concerned about climate, we passed the clean cars program to reduce vehicle emissions significantly starting in Model Year 2011.  

·        But, for the first time in history, the EPA rejected a waiver request from California. 

·        I know I speak for every one of the 14 states that passed this measure, when I say—The EPA should grant this waiver immediately.

Folks, the debate on global warming is over.  States are taking on this fight.  The people in this room are fighting this fight. It’s time for the federal government to do its part.  It’s time to remake the United States into THE clean energy nation.

The United States should lead change, not resist it.  We should take bold, significant steps, not cower in fear of the future. 

My strong view is that – despite the efforts of the people in this room and around the country – the Congress and the president are doing far too little, too late.

Why are our fuel economy goals so much lower than Europe’s and Japan’s?

Why does Congress – year after year – shy away from a national renewable energy requirement?

Why can’t we call a halt to building more conventional coal plants that commit us to decades of global warming pollution?

And although I am pleased to see progress on the proposed Lieberman-Warner legislation to cut global warming emissions, why can’t we set higher goals and move faster?

This nation led the world in environmental protection, benefiting ourselves and people across the globe.  Today, we trail the world, hurting ourselves economically and environmentally. 

I believe we should immediately implement a comprehensive program that unites our energy, security, and climate goals and restores American leadership.  The results will make us a happier, healthier, stronger nation.

Our first goal must be to dramatically reduce oil consumption by 2020.

Oil is now at $100 a barrel and our country now consumes about 21 million barrels per day. 

By 2020 with hard work and the cooperation of Congress and the American people, we could reduce our oil dependence by perhaps 50%.  From 1977 to 1985, we reduced oil consumption 17%, with a less vigorous economy, narrower policy ideas, and many fewer technology options than we have today.  What I am asking is for a sustained, intense commitment on a slightly larger scale.  By moving quickly and comprehensively, we will save trillions of dollars in oil imports and oil defense, we will get energy-efficient choices into the marketplace fast, and we will improve our economy. 

First, we need to emphasize low and zero petroleum plug in vehicles, while sharply reducing the carbon emissions from our electric sector.  This is the most important single step we can take to change our future oil consumption.

Our second initiative should be to push fuel economy standards for conventionally fueled vehicles to 50 miles per gallon – like Europe and Japan, not less than Europe and Japan - by 2020. 

Automakers, including Detroit, can meet these standards by using lighter and safer materials, as well as more efficient engines such as ultra-clean diesels.

My third oil saving initiative would be to create a well-to-wheels low-carbon fuel requirement that reduces the aggregate carbon impact of our liquid fuels by 30% by 2020, sharply advancing the most energy-efficient renewable fuels as well as plug-in hybrid technologies. This will include trains, planes, ships, and heavy trucks.

Fourth, we should implement smart growth and transit options that will make communities more energy efficient and livable in coming decades.

Goal number two is to make our electrical sector more efficient and more diverse.

My most aggressive goal is a national renewable portfolio standard of 30% by 2020, and then 50% by 2040.  We must shift demand from dirty electricity at any cost, to clean electricity at the right price. 

America is innovative and capable – we can set serious goals and meet them.  In the next few years, we will be entering a new carbon cap and trade system, while at the same time we will need to address a growing demand for electricity from plug-in cars. We will need to retire inefficient power plants and move to renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass.  A high goal for renewable energy is the only way to force development of the energy storage systems that will make wind and solar energy into a base-load resource for the entire nation.

Goal three is to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020, and 80% by 2040.

New scientific evidence shows that we must move faster than we thought to address global climate change and global warming. 

We should start with a market-based cap and trade system, like the Western Climate Initiative.  By 2040, utilities and industry should be allowed to emit 80% less global warming pollution as they do today, and they should have to buy rights to do so, creating a real market for pollution reduction.

A predictable, economy-wide program allows time for business and utilities to prepare and adjust.

As economists have shown, we can afford to protect the climate. Given the risks of catastrophic climate change, we must afford it.  A small commitment could save incalculable amounts in preventing drought and natural disasters, famine and disease, and destruction of coastal areas.

My fourth goal is to capitalize on our strengths in science and technology.

We should create a national energy innovation trust fund with a one-time funding commitment, a fund that should provide needed research and technology support. 

Through science and technology we have the greatest potential to surprise ourselves with new, unexpected technologies. It’s vital that we invest in our world-leading institutions and programs in science and technology.

My fifth goal is that our states, and our country, should lead this clean energy future—and lead by example

The United States must immediately return to the international negotiating table and support mandatory limits on global warming pollution---keeping atmospheric carbon below 450 parts per million.

Nations like India and China will not change their energy trends until the United States takes the lead. 

The United States must share new, low-carbon technologies with fast-growing nations so they can meet their energy demands while continuing to develop.

To do this we must work with the European Union, the World Bank, and the Asian partnership, agencies of the United Nations and allies around the world to help finance the relatively small incremental cost of “doing it right.”

If we want the whole world to follow—we cannot lead with excuses.  America must lead by example.

As I’ve said, the debate on global warming is over.  States are leading this fight. We need solid allies in this fight—like the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the hundreds of organizations and millions of Americans represented in this room. 

This is a tremendous opportunity to create clean jobs, protect our environment and secure our energy future, if we accept the climate and energy challenge.  It takes resolve, it takes vision, and it takes leadership.  In winning World War II, in putting a man on the moon, in creating the world’s most dynamic economy, we have done it before – and yes, we are about to do it again.

Thank you.