Hearings began Wednesday on an effort to repeal a cap on greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico. The rule was approved by the Environmental Improvement Board in the waning days of former Governor Bill Richardson’s tenure and has yet to take effect.
Now, as the EIB takes up the case again, the situation has changed. Since taking office, Governor Susana Martinez -herself a vocal opponent of the emissions cap- has replaced all seven members of the board with new appointees.
KUNM’s Conservation Beat reporter Sidsel Overgaard recently spoke with Mariel Nanasi Executive Director of New Energy Economy-the organization that authored the measure-and is now trying to save it. Nanasi started by explaining what the rule does and who would be affected.