On Dec. 28th, 2006 Governor Bill Richardson signed an Executive Order 2006-69 (pdf) defining the state's emissions reduction strategy to address global warming. This action follows on the final report released by New Mexico's Climate Change Advisory Group in October.

Some of the key provisions are:

• Creating a market-based greenhouse gas emissions registry and reduction program
• Advancing carbon capture and sequestration technology
• Promoting the use of manure from the dairy industry in power generation
• Developing an education and outreach program on green buildings for those private sector builders
• Creating new procurement rules that ensure state government offices have energy efficient appliances
• Mandating that state vehicles use mainly clean, renewable fuels
• Proposes a one-time tax credit of up to 40 percent for the purchase, construction or retrofitting of alternative fuel filling stations.

NEW MEXICO CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION

WHEREAS, the federal government has failed to take sufficient action to address global climate change through initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 2004-019 declared the State of New Mexico to be the "Clean Energy State" and established the Clean Energy Development Council;

WHEREAS, the State of New Mexico is committed to joining regionally and nationally with other states in assuming a leadership role in addressing the risks of climate change;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 05-033 set greenhouse gas reduction targets for the State of New Mexico at 2000 levels by the year 2012, 10 percent (10%) below 2000 levels by the year 2020, and 75 percent (75%) below 2000 levels by the year 2050;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 05-033 established the Climate Change Action Council, and the New Mexico Climate Change Advisory Group which has met over the past year and a half to deliberate on New Mexico's potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions to meet these emission reduction targets;

WHEREAS, the New Mexico Climate Change Advisory Group has forwarded sixty-nine (69) recommendations covering the sectors of energy supply; residential, commercial and industrial energy use; agriculture and forestry; and transportation and land use to the Climate Change Action Council and the Governor of the State of New Mexico;

WHEREAS, the New Mexico Climate Change Advisory Group included in its recommendations the development of a registry for reporting greenhouse gas emissions that will ensure that businesses in New Mexico may enjoy any benefits, credits, or "baseline protections" that may be available under national programs and plans;

WHEREAS, the impact of implementing these recommendations is expected to result in net savings of $2 billion to our state's economy while reducing the equivalent of 267 million metric tons of carbon dioxide through the year 2020;

WHEREAS, this reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would go beyond the reduction goals set forth for the state in Executive Order 05-033;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 05-056 directed all cabinet-level departments, boards, and commissions involved in environmental quality and public health matters to implement Environmental Justice programs and policies, and established an Environmental Justice Task Force;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 06-01 directed all Executive Branch state agencies to adopt the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system for certain new construction and renovation projects, as well as established the Public Schools Clean Energy Task Force.

WHEREAS, the State of New Mexico, in implementing these progressive recommendations, will continue its national leadership role in addressing the immediate risk of climate change to the world's economy, environment and human health and join other states and countries by acting immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring a robust state economy and high-wage job creation; and

WHEREAS, the reduction of greenhouse gases and increases in energy efficiency will save New Mexicans millions of dollars while significantly improving our state air quality and protecting our state's valued scenic vistas.