Good Evening Fellow Activists:
A few of the bills we’re supporting are coming up in hearings tomorrow! We hope that you’ll take a few minutes tonight or tomorrow morning before 11 a.m. to email and call committee members to ask them to support these bills. The first two below, HB 11 and HB 34, are bills we are focusing on, but the third is also worth supporting.
Sat., Jan. 22, 11 a.m., Rm. 317, House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hear: HB 11 Energy Storage System Tax Credit, HB 34 Solar Market Development Tax Credit Extension, and HB 35 Geothermal Ground-Coupled Heat Pumps.
We don’t have talking points yet for these bills, but HB 11 gives a tax credit of up to $5K on the purchase and installation of an energy storage system. HB 34 gives a tax credit up to $6K for purchase and installation of a solar energy system on a residence, business, or agricultural enterprise. And if the credit exceeds a taxpayer’s tax liability, they can get a direct refund for the credit! Energy expenses can take 20 to 50% of household income many parts of New Mexico. These tax credits, along with federal credits that may pass this year, will put money-saving (and climate-saving) solar systems in reach for low and middle-income homeowners at last! Please call and email committee members below and urge them to support these bills.
Use the following instructions to participate in the committee Zoom, or watch the hearing via Webcast at this link. Join the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85698671738. Or one tap mobile: US: +13462487799,,85698671738# or +16699009128,,85698671738#. Or Telephone: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656. Webinar ID: 856 9867 1738.
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee (HENRC)
Matthew McQueen (D), Chair, 505-986-4423, matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov
Debra M. Sariñana, (D), Vice Chair, 505-986-4436, debbie.sarinana@nmlegis.gov
Brittney Barreras, (D), 505-986-4248, brittneyfornewmexico@gmail.com
Meredith A. Dixon (D), 505-986-4210, meredith.dixon@nmlegis.gov
Miguel P. Garcia, (D), 505-986-4242, miguel.garcia@nmlegis.gov
Pamelya Herndon, (D), 505-986-4432, pamelya.herndon@nmlegis.gov
Rod Montoya (R), 505-986-4757, roddmontoya@gmail.com
Kristina Ortez (D), 505-986-4254, kristina.ortez@nmlegis.gov
Larry R. Scott (R), 505-986-4450, larry.scott@nmlegis.gov
James R.J. Strickler (R), 505-986-4220, jamesstrickler@msn.com
James G. Townsend (R), 505-986-4758, townsend@pvtn.net
Town Hall With Rep. Egolf and Sen. Wirth, Sat. 11 a.m.
If you don’t plan to watch the hearing above, you may want to join a Zoom Town Hall tomorrow at 11 a.m. with House Speaker Brian Egolf and Senate Floor Leader Peter Wirth. Join the Zoom at this link. We don’t know if you’ll be able to comment or ask questions, but if you do, please tell them we want Public Power, a Public Bank, Small Loan Interest Rate of 36%, the Green Amendment, and any of the other bills on our list at this link. If they won’t commit, ask them why!
Thank you for being part of the movement toward social, economic, and environmental justice in our state. As the saying goes, democracy is not a spectator sport!
In Solidarity and Hope,
Roxanne & Paul