by Elizabeth Shogren The region is poised for more renewable energy and less coal. The West likely will continue greening its electricity supply despite President Donald Trump’s expected executive order today aimed at wiping out much of former President Barack Obama’s consequential actions to rein in climate change. But progress will be slower and spottier [...]
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall vowed to fight President Trump's short-sighted executive order to rip apart U.S. efforts to fight climate change. Udall will be cosponsoring legislation to rescind the executive order, and signed a letter with Western Democratic senators emphasizing the importance of combating climate change and investing in renewable energy jobs. [...]
The rural West may have helped elect Trump, but his vision leaves them behind. by Elizabeth Shogren President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would slash funding for, or even eliminate, many programs that are important to the rural West. Programs that provide clean tap water, allow rural Westerners to travel by air and purchase land for public [...]
Santa Fe, NM: Amidst the Trump Administration’s alarming budget proposals and efforts to cripple government's ability to safeguard public health and the environment, New Mexico’s 53rd legislative session closes with hope that the state’s wildlife, clean air, and water have champions in the Land of Enchantment. WildEarth Guardians particularly applauds the state’s efforts to protect [...]
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by Elisabeth Shogren Public support for rooftop solar has led to more moderate positions. Not long ago, major electric utilities in much of the Southwest seemed bent on chasing rooftop solar companies out of the region. They saw the booming industry as a threat to their profits and sought rate changes that would make solar [...]
BLM Methane Rule is a Win/Win/Win On 3.7.2017, in regard to the BLM Methane Rule, The Santa Fe New Mexican quoted U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., as saying, "the rule should be overturned because it would be too costly to the industry, hurting profits and, in turn, states like New Mexico because of lost royalties [...]
Sen. Benny Shendo Jr., D-Jemez Pueblo, spoke at a Monday news conference at the Capitol in support of a federal methane capture rule. He also introduced Senate Memorial 102, which would require the state to put out a report on how much natural gas is lost into the atmosphere. He said, ‘I want New Mexico [...]
By Kevin Robinson-Avila / Journal Staff Writer Oil pump jacks near the town of Loco Hills, New Mexico. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Efforts by the new Republican Congress to roll back Obama-era regulations on methane emissions in the oil and gas industry is emerging as one of the first major battles over [...]
A bipartisan group couldn’t get what they wanted from the old EPA. by Elizabeth Shogren Just a few days in office, the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency hosted an early Sunday morning breakfast for 11 Western governors. Scott Pruitt told them face-to-face what he’s said repeatedly since he was nominated: Under his leadership, [...]