Throughout the state this week, public hearings have been held by the Environmental Improvement Board to discuss their cap-and-trade energy tax proposal. Steve Pearce spoke in opposition to the new tax at the hearing in Hobbs. Below are several articles from newspapers throughout the second district documenting the overwhelming public opposition to this government power grab.
Cap and Trade Unpopular Idea
By: Matthew Arco
September 01, 2010--Roswell Daily Record
Opponents of two petitions going before a state board that aim at regulating greenhouse gases, voiced their anger over the proposed adoption, Tuesday, at a public hearing in Artesia.
The State Environmental Improvement Board heard testimony from local homeowners and employees of the energy industry, who labeled the petitions as job killers and warned of a bleak future if they were enacted. The hearing drew a crowd of at least 150 about one hour after it began and disgruntled residents directed their comments to a hearing officer and a court reporter. No EIB members attended the meeting; however, they are required to read the transcripts.
“The recommendations will destroy the economy, not only of this area but consequentially, the economy of the state of New Mexico,” said Lisa Johnston, Artesia’s assistant city clerk, who spoke on behalf of the city’s mayor and councilors.
“Please accept this statement today as a pledge by the city of Artesia to use all our resources to keep these capricious regulations from ever taking effect, so we may try to protect the business partners and taxpayers of the city of Artesia,” she said.
The hearing was one of five held around the state that are giving the public a chance to weigh in on regulations being touted as needed reforms meant to address climate change.
The first would create a cap on greenhouse gas and require certain emitters, including the oil and gas industry, to reduce emissions by 3 percent per year from 2010 levels. The second proposal would create a cap and trade program and target large-scale polluters. Both groups presenting the plans are seeking the approval of the governor-appointed seven-member EIB.
Jim Norton, director of the New Mexico Environment Department, told the Roswell Daily Record, Friday, the hearing that the cap and trade program his agency backs would target only the largest polluters
According to Norton, the NMED has put “a number of mechanisms into the program in order to reduce the cost,” including free pollution allowances that don’t require companies to pay for all of their emissions, and allowing polluters to use offsets, such as planting carbon-catching tree farms, to avoid penalties.
New Energy Economy, an environmental group backing the other petition, asserts the proposed regulations would actually spur job growth by shifting focus in the state to new sources of energy, such as sun and wind.
“A cap on emissions is the necessary trigger for investment in a clean energy economy,” according to the group’s website. “Entrepreneurs are waiting for a clear policy signal from government that investment in research and development are promising for clean technology.”
However, opponents to the rules offer drastically different opinions.
“It’s devastating what these proposals would do to our economy,” said Bob Donnell, executive director of the Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation.
Donnell said the immediate effect of enacting the rules would likely be new businesses balking from coming into the state, and the long-term result in companies moving away where operating costs are cheaper.
“New Mexico would be standing alone in passing these regulations,” he said.
“There will be no jobs here,” said Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell. “It’s going to be ugly.”
“I think we’re in a world of hurt if this thing comes to be,” said Michael Trujillo, a Chaves County commissioner.
Power company representatives promised increased rates for their customers in order to absorb the potential higher costs of doing business, and oil and gas representatives claimed the rules wouldn’t just affect large companies.
“If they were to adopt them it would be one of the most selfish and uncaring acts that Gov. Bill Richardson could leave the state of New Mexico,” said Deborah Seligman, vice president of governmental affairs for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.
Immediately following the hearing, a similar event was held in Carlsbad. Meetings are scheduled for Clovis, Farmington and Hobbs early this month.
Cap and Trade Gets No Support
By: Kimberly Ryan and Levi Hill
September 2, 2010--Hobbs News-Sun
Two proposed cap and trade regulations that would impact only New Mexico received no support Wednesday at a public hearing in Hobbs. The hearing was for the Environmental Improvement Board, which is overseeing two cap and trade proposals — one from the New Mexico Environment Department and one from New Energy Economy, an environmental group. The proposals call for a reduction in greenhouse gases by industry operating in the state of New Mexico. If implemented, they could potentially mean New Mexico would be the only state implementing cap and trade. A hearing officer for the EIB said the hearing was much the same as three others previously held in Carlsbad, Artesia and Santa Fe with almost universal opposition to the regulations.
Leland Gould, a member of the EIB board and a New Mexico oil and gas businessman, said he understands the concern as an owner of an oil and gas company. “This is just what the board needs to hear,” he said.
More than 100 people attended the hearing at the Lea County Event Center throughout the day, many opting not to speak, but a large number that included all four area legislators spoke in opposition to the proposed regulations.
“It is unacceptable an appointed board can impact our state in such a negative way,” said Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs. “This is not the time to consider these harsh regulations.” Kernan said she would fight the regulations if they came to pass, saying she would
do “all I can to undo this travesty throughlegislation at the first opportunity.”
“I think these regulations are a great concern to attracting new businesses to New Mexico,” said Rep. Shirley Tyler, R-Lovington. Sen. Carroll Leavell, R-Jal, who is part of a lawsuit filed earlier this year to stop the EIB from holding the hearings, thanked Gould for attending the hearings and criticized other EIB members for not doing the same “I resent an issue of this type coming to our state without the board members traveling throughout our state and hearing the comments in person,” Leavell said. “Something of this magnitude deserves no less.” Leavell, along with the other legislators, expressed disappointment the EIB was moving forward even though the Legislature has not taken action or given approval on cap and trade legislation in New Mexico.
“These regulations have come to the Legislature twice and failed passage by the Legislature, which is elected by the citizens of our state,” Leavell said. “Any initiative of this magnitude should come about only as an action of the Legislature.”
Comments to the EIB hearing officer from citizens attending the event varied greatly in approach, but were unanimous in opposition to the proposed regulations.
“If you pass this cap and trade you are putting New Mexico in a place where they will have to pay higher utility bills and you will lose more jobs that will move out of state. I am definitely against this,” said Shirley Ingerson.
“Schools have lost tremendous amounts of money because of oil and gas reduction,” said Jal School Board President Larry Crites. “No one can tell us what this is going to cost us. I can feel this is going to force us to lay off teachers. Our taxes are high enough and we don’t need more.”
“The government does not have the right to tax the air that God gave us,” said Barbara Whitson. “I hope they read every word that was spoken here today.”
“The Pit Rule nearly killed us,” said James Olliff. “This is a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff green with envy. How can they force regulations on us without going through the Legislature? Something stinks in Denmark. I guarantee you.” “The state has not created the law to support these regulations,” said Robert Socolofsky.
“If this isn’t taxation without representation, I don’t know what is.” Gould said the hearings will continue throughout the state and the EIB will begin full hearings on the NMED proposalon Sept. 20 and should begin on the NEE proposal on October. He said voting on the proposed regulations could happen by November.
Resist Carbon Tax
September 1, 2010--Carlsbad Current-Argus
The cap and trade scheme being proposed by the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board is just another attempt to ram an anti-growth global tax down the throats of the American people. It should be no surprise with a Clinton-Gore political crony like Bill Richardson in the governor's office.
No surprise, because it was Bill Clinton and Al Gore who introduced this scam in 1997 presenting the United Nation's Kyoto Treaty to Congress. They had already rammed NAFTA down America's collective throat, effectively destroying our manufacturing base. Why not completely wreck our economy with a global carbon tax? Kyoto was rejected by Congress mainly because it exempted large countries like China and India because they are classified as "developing" nations. We now see history repeating itself on a smaller scale with this current proposal, as the most populated areas of the state will be exempt from this tax. In 2009 the Democrats tried and failed to get a climate bill passed. So now the globalists are attempting to pass a carbon tax on a state-by-state basis. If the citizens of New Mexico allow this to happen we will find ourselves in a depression. With the economy of the Eddy County so intertwined with the oil and gas industry, it would be economic suicide to enact this tax.
Al Gore has made quite a living through the perpetration of the big lie of global warming. There was a time when any sixth grader could tell you the CO2 was what plants use to create oxygen. More carbon dioxide equals more oxygen. Now they teach kids that CO2 is poison and that polar bears are drowning when they are actually able to swim 200 miles or more at a stretch. We must realize that there are a handful of people set to make billions of dollars from the trading of carbon credits, and one of those people is Al Gore. Last year the New York Times reported that Gore's investment company, General Investment Management, is the largest shareholder of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), where the carbon credits will be traded. President Obama also has ties to this scam. Before he became president, Obama sat on the board of a charity which gave over $1 million in grants to form the CCX. We must resist this attempt to further de-industrialize our country, and we must fight the new world order at any cost.
Charles D. Landreth
Carlsbad
Cap-and-Trade Proposal Threatens the Economy of New Mexico
By: Senator Carroll Leavell
August 28, 2010--Carlsbad Current-Argus
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has asked the state Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) to adopt a cap-and-trade system for New Mexico. The proposal is on a fast track: The EIB could approve the proposal as soon as the fall. The ramifications of a greenhouse gas emission reduction regulation would impact the oil and gas industry, the mining industry, the electric generating and transmission industry, the dairy industry and every rural business, large or small in the state outside of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo area. The NMED is asking appointed officials (EIB) to do what state legislators would not do. NMED twice failed to persuade the state legislature to grant EIB the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Just this year, all states participating in the Western Climate Initiative have slowed or completely abandoned plans for state-level carbon regulation with the exception of New Mexico and California. An initiative on the ballot this November in California would delay implementing that state's carbon law until the states unemployment rate drops to a specific level. This would leave New Mexico as the only state to implement such a regulation. We do not yet know the full, potential impact on the state's economy. Though the NMED has said the proposal is economically, we DO know that New Mexico energy costs will increase. Under the proposal the state's electric utilities would be forced to reduce production from exiting fossil fuel-fired power plants or pay a price for reductions
achieved by other sources of greenhouse gases. Either way, the price of electricity would rise by an unknown amount. The state's oil and gas production industry, a leading employer and major source of funding for state government, would face a similar choice and similarly unknown costs. These added costs would be unique to New Mexico, creating an economic disadvantage for job growth. These costs would not exist in neighboring states providing a powerful incentive for existing businesses to limit growth or leave the sate.
We requested that the Environmental Improvement Board conduct a meeting in Hobbs in order that the citizens of southeast New Mexico would have the opportunity to express their concerns to the committee. Regrettably, they refused to travel to our area due to the cost of travel. The EIB will take public comment on the new energy Economy and New Mexico Environment Department's Greenhouse Gas proposed rules for the record on Wednesday, September 1, between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Lea County Event Center. A hearing officer will take comments on both proposals and will bring a court reporter so that the full board does not have to travel, but can read the transcripts.
It is time for citizens across the state to express their concerns regarding the proposed regulations that would set us apart from every other state in the union and threaten the New Mexico economy at a time when revenues are continuing to drop. We strongly encourage you to come to the Lea County Event Center on Wednesday, Sept. 1 and let your voice be heard.
Holly President Says Gas Cap Proposal Would Force Closure of Artesia Refinery
Press Release
August 31, 2010--Artesia Daily Press
ARTESIA — A proposal to cap greenhouse gases in New Mexico would cause “devastating harm” to the Navajo Refinery in Artesia, but would have little effect on global greenhouse gas emissions, Dave Lamp, the president of Holly Corporation, the refinery’s parent company, told the Environmental Improvement Board (EIB).
New Energy Economy has petitioned the state EIB to limit greenhouse gas emissions New Mexico companies could emit.
Public hearings already have been held in Roswell Wednesday and Clovis Thursday. Public hearings are scheduled in:
Artesia at the Artesia Recreation Center, 612 N. Eighth St., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31
Carlsbad at the Pecos River Village Conference Center, 711 Muscatel Ave., 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31
Hobbs at the Lea County Event Center, 5101 N. Lovington Highway, 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1
Clovis at the Clovis Civic Center, Enchantment II Ballroom, 801 Schepps Blvd., 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2
Farmington at the Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington, Exhibit Hall 1, from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8
Meetings were held in Roswell Wednesday and in Clovis Thursday on the New Mexico Environment Department’s cap-and-trade regulatory proposal, which is being considered by the EIB in addition to the New Energy Economy proposal.
In written testimony filed with the EIB, Lamp called the New Energy Economy proposal “unprecedented, untested and extremist,” and said it “amounts to a slow death sentence for Holly Corporation in New Mexico.”
Lamp said the proposal would eventually drive the company out of the state.
“The New Energy Economy proposal ought to be called the Increase New Mexico Unemployment Act, because that’s what it would do,” Lamp said. “It amounts to state-imposed economic sanctions on the people of New Mexico, forcing employers to assume higher costs that would make them uncompetitive with other businesses elsewhere in the United States and the world.”
And yet the proposal will do little to decrease global greenhouse gases, Lamp said. … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.
