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FOR
MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrea
Nash
Senior
Vice President of Communications and Special Events
505-764-3725 (office) / 505-610-1400 (cell)
anash@abqchamber.com
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Chamber Opposes New Mexico Cap on Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Cap Would Put the State’s Economic Development
Efforts at a Disadvantage
Albuquerque, NM –The Board of Directors of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce has
approved a position to oppose the New Mexico specific proposal to place
a cap on greenhouse gas emissions currently being considered by the state
Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) through a petition circulated by the New
Energy Economy (NEE).
The petition calls for a reduction in statewide greenhouse
gas emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by the year 2020. The cap would apply to
all New Mexico entities that require an air permit from the New Mexico
Environmental Department, who emit the equivalent of 10,000 metric tons or more
of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. This would include entities such as
small oil and gas producers, large manufacturers such as Intel, cement and
asphalt manufacturers, power plants, universities, military bases, mineral
processing operations, the entire state’s agricultural industry and numerous
others that have air permits.
“The reduction being called for is a more aggressive goal
that anything currently under consideration at the federal level,” commented Pat
Vincent-Collawn, Chair Elect for the Chamber Board of Directors and President
& CEO of PNM. “If implemented, this cap would substantially increase energy
bills in the state, significantly disadvantage New Mexico in its attempt to
attract new businesses to the state, and hamper the continued growth of
businesses already here.”
The cap being proposed does not appear to make any
discernable impact on the amount of manmade greenhouse gasses widely believed
to be contributing to global climate change. In addition, the proposal provides
no cost mitigation measures. It requires affected organizations to reduce their
emissions of greenhouse gasses through the addition of pollution controls that
are not commercially available, switching fuels, reducing operations, or
closing.
“Although the Chamber is not advocating any cap on
greenhouse gas emissions that would be unduly harmful to business, if any caps
are legislated, they should come at a federal level and be applied to all US
businesses equally,” said Terri Cole, President & CEO of the Greater
Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. “This proposal would make New Mexico the only
state in the country with a cap and would put our state’s businesses at a
competitive disadvantage.”
ATTACHED DOCUMENT:
Full board position and
background. This position will also be
available on the Chamber website, www.abqchamber.com
– Business Advocacy – Press Room.
About the Greater Albuquerque
Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
mission is to make our community a place where businesses can grow and prosper
and where people want to raise their families. The Chamber acts as the
voice of business to ensure New Mexicans live in safe neighborhoods, work in
rewarding careers at thriving businesses, their children attend great schools,
and enjoy a high quality of life. More information about the Chamber is accessible online at www.abqchamber.com.
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