New Mexico Rejects GHG Emissions Reduction Law

Across the country, 13 states have statutory requirements to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with many of these located on the West Coast and in the Northeast. These emission reduction laws have been used to justify numerous programs that impact the availability and price of propane, including cap-and-invest programs, clean heat standards, zero-emission space and water heating standards, excise taxes on carbon emissions, and the elimination of vehicles and building equipment powered by combustion. 

Last week, New Mexico’s effort to become the 14^th state with a statutory requirement to reduce GHG emissions came to an end. Senate Bill 18, called the New Horizons Act, sought to codify in state law an emissions reduction schedule that ultimately would have required net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. However, the New Mexico State Senate, on a strong bipartisan basis, rejected the measure on the chamber floor. Further evidence that New Mexicans, just like all Americans, are squarely focused right now on energy costs and affordability.

Tom Clark, Executive Director of the New Mexico Propane Gas Association, applauded the bill’s demise in the legislature. “New Mexicans have seen the damage when bad energy policy becomes reality,” said Clark. “Higher costs, imported power, and no true emissions reductions. This bill’s failure sends a clear message: Don’t force unrealistic and unaffordable mandates on our state.”

According to the 2024 sales report, New Mexico is the 39^th largest state propane market in the country, with 79 million gallons sold. In addition, the Land of Enchanement is the second largest producer of crude oil in the country, behind only Texas. For more information, contact NPGA’s Senior Director of State Advocacy & Affairs, Jacob Peterson.