1.26.22 Alert

Good Afternoon, Friends and Advocates:

Thursday will be a BIG day at the Roundhouse, with a slew of bills that will impact our environment – some for the better, some for worse. First, one of our most important bills to OPPOSE, the Governor’s Hydrogen Hub:

Thurs., Jan. 27, 8:30 a.m., Rm. 317, House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources (HENRC) is scheduled to hear HB 4 Hydrogen Hub Development Act. This is not a clean energy bill, this is a dirty energy bill, one that would encourage the gas and oil industry to keep drilling, fracking, and polluting. We are not alone in opposition. Sierra Club, New Energy Economy, Western Environmental Law Center, and many other organizations also oppose this bill. Read the talking points at the link embedded in the bill name above and please contact committee members immediately today and before 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. See contact list below.

Word is, ALL the Republicans (4) on HENRC are ready to vote for this bill, which means that if just two of the six Democrats vote for it, it will pass. We really need a big push to urge a NO vote, so please call and email all the Dems., especially Rep. Meredith Dixon who has expressed support for the bill. Consider adding a link to our talking points in your email: https://retakeourdemocracy.org/hb4-hydrogen-hub-development-act/, or copy and paste the text directly into your note.

Also, we hope you’ll consider offering public comments during the hearing. Please click this link to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89262589978. Or One tap mobile: +16699009128, 89262589978# or +12532158782,,89262589978# Or for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799.  Webinar ID: 892 6258 9978. Or you can watch the hearing at nmlegis.gov. by clicking on Webcast in the top menu bar and selecting the committee name.

House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

To send a group email, copy and paste this block: “Brittney Barreras” <BRITTNEYFORNEWMEXICO@GMAIL.COM>, “Meredith A. Dixon” <meredith.dixon@nmlegis.gov>, “Miguel P. Garcia” <miguel.garcia@nmlegis.gov>, “Pamelya Herndon” <pamelya.herndon@nmlegis.gov>, “Matthew McQueen” <matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov>, “Rod Montoya” <roddmontoya@gmail.com>, “Kristina Ortez” <kristina.ortez@nmlegis.gov>, “Debra M. Sariñana” <debbie.sarinana@nmlegis.gov>, “Larry R. Scott” <larry.scott@nmlegis.gov>, “James R.J. Strickler” <jamesstrickler@msn.com>, “James G. Townsend” <townsend@pvtn.net>

Thurs., Jan. 27, 1:30 p.m. (or ½ hr. after floor session ends), Rm 321, Senate Tax, Business & Transportation is scheduled to hear SB 14 Enacting the Clean Fuel Standard Act, SB 21 Electric Vehicle Income Tax Credit, SB 44 Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit Changes, and SB 68 Geothermal Heat Pump Tax Credits. We support all of these bills, but due to limited capacity we’re focusing on SB 21 and SB 44. You’ll find talking points for those two at the links above. Please contact committee members today and tomorrow morning via phone and email. See contact list below.

Also, we hope you’ll consider offering public comments during the hearing. To participate, please go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84895112616. Telephone Access or One Tap Mobile: 1 669 900 9128. You can also watch the hearing at nmlegis.gov. (Click Webcast and find committee name.)

Senate Tax, Business and Transportation

  • Chair: Benny Shendo, Jr. (D). District 22 (Bernalillo, McKinley, Rio Arriba, San Juan and Sandoval). Room 323A, (505) 986-4310. Email: benny.shendo@nmlegis.gov
  • Vice Chair: Carrie Hamblen (D). District 38 (Dona Ana). Room 416G, (505) 986-4266. Email: carrie.hamblen@nmlegis.gov
  • Ranking Member: Gay G. Kernan (R). District 42 (Chaves, Eddy, and Lea). Room 415E, (505) 986-4274. Email: gay.kernan@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Craig W. Brandt (R). District 40 (Sandoval). Room 109B, (505) 986-4385. Email: craig.brandt@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Ron Griggs (R). District 34 (Doña Ana, Eddy and Otero). Room 414A, (505) 986-4391. Email: ron.griggs@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Martin Hickey (D). District 20 (Bernalillo). Room 416D, (505) 986-4513. Email: martin.hickey@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Leo Jaramillo (D). District 5 (Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval ? Santa Fe). Room 416C, (505) 986-4487. Email: leo.jaramillo@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Joshua A. Sanchez (R). District 30 (Cibola, McKinley, Socorro ? Valencia). Room 414B, (505) 986-4375. Email: jas4nm@gmail.com
  • Member: Bill Tallman (D). District 18 (Bernalillo). Room 300C, (505) 986-4373. Email: bill.tallman@nmlegis.gov
  • Member: Peter Wirth (D). District 25 (Santa Fe). Room 119, (505) 986-4727. Email: peter.wirth@nmlegis.gov

To send a group email, copy and paste this block: “Craig W. Brandt” <craig.brandt@nmlegis.gov>, “Ron Griggs” <ron.griggs@nmlegis.gov>, “Carrie Hamblen” <carrie.hamblen@nmlegis.gov>, “Martin Hickey” <martin.hickey@nmlegis.gov>, “Leo Jaramillo” <leo.jaramillo@nmlegis.gov>, “Gay G. Kernan” <gay.kernan@nmlegis.gov>, “Joshua A. Sanchez” <jas4nm@gmail.com>, “Benny Shendo” <benny.shendo@nmlegis.gov>, “Bill Tallman” <bill.tallman@nmlegis.gov>, “Peter Wirth” <peter.wirth@nmlegis.gov>

Now, for a momentary break from all this legislative madness, a photo of our big guy (16lbs.) Quilo the Cat, helping me write this Alert earlier today. (Quilo is short for Tranquilo because he’s so mellow!)

Thank you for the time and energy you put into this work! We can’t do it alone.

In Solidarity and Hope,

Roxanne and Paul