Fossil fuel, automobile, and other interests opposed to a bill that would establish climate pollution reduction goals for New Mexico, the Clear Horizons Act (SB 18), widely share lobbying firms with local governments who face rising climate mitigation costs, according to data from lobbying accountability group F Minus.
Among those testifying against SB 18 at a Feb. 7 hearing of the Senate Tax, Business & Transportation Committee was the President of the New Mexico Automobile Dealers Association, which shares the Weaks Firm with ExxonMobil and Santa Fe County, whose Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan aligns with the Clear Horizon Act’s goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
Brent Moore of Moore Law, PC testified against the Act on behalf of the New Mexico Realtors Association. Moore also lobbies for Blue Cross and Blue Shield New Mexico and America’s Health Insurance Plans, whose customers face increasing health risks from extreme temperatures and air pollution. Moore also lobbies for fossil fuel clients Kinder Morgan, TXO Partners, and Basin Properties.
Xcel energy opposes the Act and shares Thompson Consulting with the City of Albuquerque and the Nature Conservancy.
The New Mexico Oil & Gas Association opposes the Act and shares a lobbyist with two local government entities, the New Mexico Municipal League and the Mid-Region Council of Governments.
“Many of the opponents of the Clear Horizons Act identify themselves as representatives of mainstream businesses interests, like car dealers and real estate agents. But take a close look at these lobbyists’ client lists and you see they’re also associated with big fossil fuel companies who don’t want to be held accountable for their emissions,” said James Browning, Executive Director of F Minus. “This bill is Exhibit A in New Mexico’s lobbyist disclosure crisis. Lobbyists should be required to disclose the numbers of the bills on which they’re lobbying, and people should be empowered to hold lobbyists accountable for double-dipping and working for fossil fuel clients while also working for victims of the climate crisis.”