Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · 4d

NM's first community solar project went online in Valencia County last week. The 35 Megawatt project near Belen will offset the energy usage of 2,000 Homes and benefit lower income electric utility customers. www.abqjournal.com/business/art...
www.kob.com/new-mexico/f...

2

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · 8d

The planet’s heating up — and so is the deadline. ⏰ Last day to tell @EPA: no more delays on the 2024 methane rule.

Delay threatens health, wastes resources, and takes us backwards on #CutMethane.

📢 Comment now: sc.org/methane

#ProtectOurKids #CleanAir #ClimateCrisis

Defend Environmental Protections to Cut Methane

Methane is responsible for at least 25% of the warming we experience. Fortunately, last year, the EPA passed protections to cut methane pollution. But the Trump admin is dragging their feet. Demand ...

sc.org

3 9

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · 16d

Still a long way to go to meet our goals & industry commitments but this is good progress!

It's sad to see Texan’s air unprotected by their state & our communities exposed to pollution that doesn't respect borders

Thankfully NM takes the safety and the climate's needs of our communities seriously.

2

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · 16d

Env & community groups working yrs to help the state make nation- leading methane & smog rules against all odds while some operators sued to stop them. Now thanks to leadership of the gov & her agencies in enforcing the rules, we see real pollution reductions.

act.sierraclub.org/events/detai...

NMClimateCorps: Comment for the Climate

Comment for the Climate (Trump's Gutting of the Climate Endangerment Finding, Roadless Rule, and EPA Methane Rule Delay)!Comment periods are ending for the gutting of the Climate Endangerment Finding,...

act.sierraclub.org

1 2

Reposted by Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) @sweep2001.bsky.social · Aug 21

Calling all NM local+tribal governments:
The Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) program has $15 million to fund #energyefficiency projects in underserved communities that reduce energy use, lower utility bills, and cut pollution. Apply by 9/25. emnrd.nm.gov/ecmd/ceed

5 5

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Aug 21

We're moving offices. One of the movers saw this picture and said, "That's beautiful, too bad it's bone dry. People are riding their dune buggies on that." Water is scarce because of climate change. And now Trump is stopping climate action. Watch Americans speak out: usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1612886000

2

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Aug 11

Check out our Chapter Director, @camillafeibelman.bsky.social, on New Mexico in Focus on the Trump gutting of greenhouse regulations and protections. www.newmexicopbs.org/productions/...

Housing Gaps and Pollution in NM After Fed Shifts - New Mexico In Focus

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we zero-in on two pressing issues facing our state: a housing crisis and threats to our air, water and soil. Late last month, President Donald Trump’s Environmental ...

www.newmexicopbs.org

4 5

Reposted by Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter

Western Environmental Law Center @westernlaw.org · Aug 8

The bottom line is: If you make a mess, you should clean it up. This rule change will give #NMPol the necessary tools to reduce O&G well abandonment costs ($100M so far in NM and counting) falling on the public.

Here's an op-ed on this topic from Camilla Feibelman of @sierrariogrande.bsky.social:

Abandon wells should do no harm

Right now, hundreds of these wells are already abandoned, and thousands more are dangerously close.

www.santafenewmexican.com

1 1 6

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Aug 5

🚨 What’s an abandoned well?

It’s an oil or gas well that’s been abandoned by the company that drilled it — and now leaks methane, threatens our water, and puts the public at risk.

Learn what they are and why it matters: westernlaw.org/keepnmenchan...

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jul 28

💸 Oil corporations walk away. New Mexicans are stuck with the bill. The average cost to plug a well is $163,000. Some corporations only post $105 in bonds.

See what abandoned wells really mean for our communities:
👉 westernlaw.org/keepnmenchan...

New Mexico Bonding Reform - Western Environmental Law Center

westernlaw.org

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jul 24

🚨 What’s an abandoned well?

It’s an oil or gas well that’s been abandoned by the company that drilled it — and now leaks methane, threatens our water, and puts the public at risk.

Learn what they are and why it matters: westernlaw.org/keepnmenchan...

New Mexico Bonding Reform - Western Environmental Law Center

westernlaw.org

2 3

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jul 3

Today, @RioGrandeSierra is thanking @GovMLG & @TorrezforNM for continuing to fight for Clean Cars and Trucks and healthier air for New Mexicans to breathe.
It’s time to charge forward on life-saving clean transportation policies, not back down.

sc.org/402AAqt

Thank Gov. Lujan Grisham and AG Torrez for fighting for Clean Cars and Trucks!

Send your message today!

sc.org

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jul 2

Thank you Senator Ben Ray Luján for your efforts to save the Methane Emissions Reduction Program and protect New Mexican from this toxic air pollution that costs our state tax dollars thru the methane polluter fee. #CutMethane

www.congress.gov/amendment/11...

www.congress.gov

3 6

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jul 2

“It is pretty disheartening to see,” Antoinette Reyes told Source NM. “By blocking off that section, which is already steep and difficult terrain as is, it forces people to go into more dangerous portions of the border to cross.”

sourcenm.com/2025/07/02/a...

Advocates: Mount Cristo Rey wall will worsen migrant deaths, erosion, habitat loss • Source New Mexico

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection proposal for a wall on Mt. Cristo Rey in Sunland Park threatens the area, local conservation groups say.

sourcenm.com

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jul 1

Time & time again, companies make empty promises to #CutMethane. Instead of holding them accountable to meet reasonable, industry-set targets, the Senate just gave them a get out of jail free card by delaying the methane polluter fee by 10 years.

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jul 1

Time & time again, companies make empty promises to #CutMethane. Instead of holding them accountable to meet reasonable, industry-set targets, the Senate just gave them a get out of jail free card by delaying the methane polluter fee by 10 years.

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jun 29

Yes! People power for the win!

MB @mblaber.bsky.social · Jun 29

Lee pulled his public-lands selloff from the budget bill!!! Way to go, people! 1.2 million acres of public lands saved because of you!
#budgetbill #notforsale

MB @mblaber.bsky.social · Jun 28

The Senate parliamentarian has ruled Lee’s latest lands-selloff bill in order :(
We can still stop it. At least one R senator has requested an amendment vote to strip it.
— Text “not for sale” to 69866 or go to sc.org/NotForSale or call (855) 980-5638
— Share & tag your senators!
@schiff.senate.gov

3

Reposted by Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter

MB @mblaber.bsky.social · Jun 28

The Senate parliamentarian has ruled Lee’s latest lands-selloff bill in order :(
We can still stop it. At least one R senator has requested an amendment vote to strip it.
— Text “not for sale” to 69866 or go to sc.org/NotForSale or call (855) 980-5638
— Share & tag your senators!
@schiff.senate.gov

Call Your Senators to Protect Public Lands

sc.org

6 10

Reposted by Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter

Aaron Weiss @aweiss.bsky.social · Jun 24

HUGE: Senate Parliamentarian says that Mike Lee's public land sell-off violates the Byrd rule, requires 60 votes in the Senate. A bunch of other terrible anti-environment provisions do too.

This isn't over, but this is a huge win.

www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb...

Provisions Subject to a 60-Vote Byrd Rule Point of Order

Energy and Natural Resources

NEPA compliance. These provisions deem offshore oil and gas projects as automatically compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act, nullifying these projects' environmental review processes. (Subsection

102(b)(4) and Subsection 102(b)(5))

Offshore oil and gas leasing. This subsection

requires leases to be issued to successful bidders within 90 days after the lease sale.

(Subsection 102(b)(6))

Ambler Road. This section requires the

Secretary of the Interior to permit construction of Ambler Road, a controversial mining road in Alaska. (Section 201)

Mandatory public land sales. This section mandates the unprecedented sale of millions of acres of public land, including from both Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands. (Section 301)

Renewable energy fees. This subsection removes the Secretary of the Interior's discretion to reduce fees for solar and wind projects on Bureau of Land Management land. (Subsection 303(e))

Geothermal leasing and royalties. These sections require the Secretary of the Interior to hold yearly geothermal lease sales and purport to change how geothermal royalties are calculated. (Section 305 and Section 306)

Natural gas exports and imports. This section creates a pay-to-play regime for natural gas exports, allowing natural gas exporters to pay a fee to have their project be deemed "in the public interest," which is a requirement for approval. (Section 401)

120 1.9K 7.3K

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jun 12

Thx AG Raul Torrez ‪@nmdoj.bsky.social for joining ten other AGs to sue the Trump Administration for its illegal attacks on life-saving clean air @govmlg.bsky.social standards. We need to do everything we can to cut deadly tailpipe pollution in our neighborhoods oag.ca.gov/news/press-r...

California Will Not Waver in Defending Itself from Federal Overreach: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration for Attack on California’s Clean Vehicles Program

LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and the California Air Resources Board today led a coalition of 10 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against ...

oag.ca.gov

2

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jun 12

Since 2015, groups have protested quarterly lease sales and delivered more than 2 million public comments to the Bureau of Land Management calling for an end to new oil and and gas leasing on public lands in New Mexico.
#NotForSale #handsoff

wildearthguardians.org/press-releas...

80+ Groups Demand BLM Halt Trump-Era Public Lands Giveaway

Coalition of Frontline, Tribal, Scientific, and Local Leaders Oppose January 2026 Oil and Gas Lease Sale in New Mexico and Oklahoma

wildearthguardians.org

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · Jun 10

Every day we delay strong federal methane standards, is another day that the oil and gas industry’s pollution is poisoning the air that people breathe.

Our leaders in #NewMexico must continue to maintain, enforce, and update our strong safeguards against methane pollution.

#CutMethane

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · May 30

Thank you, Senator Heinrich, for calling out the administration's reckless proposal to transfer the management of national parks to state and local authorities with no plan to provide additional resources for states to accomplish conservation objectives. shorturl.at/tRejc
#DefendPublicLands

Heinrich pushes Interior for list of national parks that could be sent to states under Trump plan • Source New Mexico

Burgum testified that the agency is not seeking to get rid of any of the nation’s 64 “crown jewels", but that some of more than 400 other NPS sites could be managed by state or local authorities

shorturl.at

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · May 29

Thank you Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for joining 10 other governors in launching the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition to expand Americans’ access to newer and cleaner vehicles!!

Read More: usclimatealliance.org/press-releas...

U.S. Climate Alliance Governors Launch Affordable Clean Cars Coalition to Expand Americans’ Access to Newer and Cleaner Vehicles | U.S. Climate Alliance

Today, the U.S. Climate Alliance announced the launch of the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition by 11 of its member governors to sustain America’s transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, support ...

usclimatealliance.org

1

Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter @sierrariogrande.bsky.social · May 29

Thx! @govmlg.bsky.social for supporting New Mexican's right to clean air and affordable transportation through @usclimate.bsky.social and the new Affordable Clean Cars Coalition. We will stand with our state elected leadership to protect our air, our climate and our communities!

Affordable Clean Car Coalition forms in response to U.S. Senate vote

Governors of states that have implemented clean vehicle programs, such as New Mexico’s Advanced Clean Cars rule, are banding together following a U.S. Senate vote this week. The Senate voted 51-44 …

nm.news

1 2