Albuquerque, NM - In conjunction with CVNM Education Fund's opinion editorial "NM needs a strong clean energy plan" being published in the Albuquerque Journal Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, Executive Director Demis Foster released the following statement on New Mexico's implementation of the Clean Power Plan:
"New Mexico is on the frontlines of the impacts of climate change. We are affected by it every day. Now is the time to act to protect the health of our communities by reducing carbon pollution from power plants that threatens our water and our health - now and in future generations.
It is critical that Gov. Martinez and NM Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn implement a strong Clean Power Plan in New Mexico that reflects the conservation values of our people and ensures environmental justice for all New Mexicans. We urge investments in truly renewable and clean energy sources like wind and solar to improve our health, decrease pollution and strengthen our economy. We also urge New Mexico to shift away from its reliance on dirty energy sources, like coal and nuclear.
Carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants disproportionately impacts New Mexico's Latino, Native, low-income and rural populations. Communities in western New Mexico continue to experience negative health effects from legacy uranium mining waste.
The Clean Power Plan encourages states to engage low-income and communities of color in the process of developing state plans, and states can receive incentives if they invest in energy efficiency and clean energy programs that directly benefit low-income neighborhoods. CVNM Education Fund will build on this foundation to ensure that the communities most impacted by carbon pollution have a pivotal role in designing New Mexico's state plan and hold our leaders accountable for representing our people."
CVNMEF and our Latino Outreach Program Juntos: Our Air Our Water will organize around the Clean Power Plan's State Implementation process to demonstrate broad community support for clean energy, clean air and climate justice. Juntos will urge PNM and Gov. Martinez to support more investment in clean energy, energy efficiency, health education, job training programs, and provide incentives for low-income households to participate in clean energy programs, as part of the state's plan.
CVNM Education Fund is a statewide nonprofit engaging the people of New Mexico in our long-standing shared values of protecting our air, land, water and the health of our communities. We do this by mobilizing people to advocate on policy, enhancing the voting process, encouraging people to vote, cultivating conservation leaders and amplifying the voices of those most affected.
Juntos: Our Air, Our Water (Juntos means "together") is a program of Conservation Voters New Mexico Education Fund in partnership with League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. Juntos launched in 2014 to organize Latino families in Albuquerque to protect their air and water from threats of contamination and to advocate for clean energy as a solution. Visit facebook.com/JuntosNM.