As Oklahoma legislators grapple with bills about competitive bidding on public utility projects, calls for wind farm moratoriums and eminent domain, New Mexico legislators consider more bills to tighten restrictions on oil and gas and transmission lines. Remember, New Mexico is the nation’s number two oil producing state.
A bill to create state regulations for siting and permitting intrastate transmission lines and solar farms failed to get support in New Mexico’s House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
HB 435 forward failed on a 4-6 vote and the bill was subsequently tabled reported New Mexico Political Report.
The bill was proposed after residents voiced opposition to some controversial solar projects as well as the Western Spirit Transmission Line.
Just as in the Oklahoma legislature where many bills focus on wind and solar farms, New Mexico legislators have about 20 of their 1,182 bills focusing on some aspect of the oil and gas industry. Capital and Main reported the oil and gas bills have met with stiff opposition among some members of the legislature who fought bills calling for more regulations and higher fees.
Environmentalists and those opposed to wider oil and gas exploration in the state urged legislators to take more restrictive actions, but it also comes as the federal government under the Trump administration leaves New Mexio with its biggest environmental partner reported the news website.
