Senators Leavell and Kernan Support Lower Utility Rates

For Immediate Release Monday, March 01, 2010 Contact: 986-4702


Photo Caption: Lea County Manager Mike Beverly and his wife Karen visited Senators Carroll Leavell (Carlsbad) and Gay Kernan (Hobbs) at the capitol after the County Manager testified at the EIB public hearing today. Senators Leavell and Kernan are in Santa Fe for the Special Session of the State Legislature.

SE NM Senators Still Fearful of Skyrocketing Utility Rates after Receiving Update On Environmental Improvement Board Hearing

Santa Fe- State Senator Carroll Leavell (Hobbs) and State Senator Gay Kernan (Hobbs) are concerned as ever about potential skyrocketing utility rates in Lea County and throughout New Mexico. Today they received an update on testimony presented at an Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) public hearing. The testimony opposes the proposed EIB regulations and limits to emissions from industry including power plants that could send electric rates flying.

Senator Leavell said he hopes today’s testimony by a number of people representing Lea County will have an eye awakening impact on the state’s Environmental Improvement Board’s plan to impose impossible limits to the amount of carbon dioxide, known as green house gas, that can be emitted into the atmosphere.

“No other state has the restrictive limits the Environmental Improvement Board wants to impose here in New Mexico. I have always believed the EIB has overstepped its authority and its proposal regarding green house gas emissions will be very harmful to Lea County industry. All of the testimony presented to me today further confirms my belief,” Senator Leavell said. “I appreciate the Lea County Manager and all others who represented Lea County and its interests for testifying at today’s hearing.”

Both Senators Leavell and Kernan, as well as Representatives Bill Gray and Don Bratten are plaintiffs in a lawsuit to stop the EIB from usurping its authority to create and legislate laws that would cap green house gas emissions to amounts less than what they were 20 years ago.

Senator Kernan said she is hopeful the efforts of so many in protesting the proposed regulations at today’s hearing will have a positive impact on all of the state.

“I want to express my appreciation to the citizens of Lea County and Southeast New Mexico for taking the time to be present at the EIB hearing,” Senator Kernan said. “The testimony and support by private individuals should have a huge impact on all the citizens of New Mexico in recognizing the detrimental impact of the action of this EIB board in regarding green housing emission cap.”

Lea County Manager Mike Beverly and his wife Karen visited Senators Leavell and Kernan at the capitol after the public hearing.

Lea County Manager Beverly told the Senators about his testimony to the board that the cap on green house gas to 25% of 1990 levels would severely affect utility customers because a number of plants would have to close because they would not be able to meet the onerous restrictions.

“There is no current technology to execute the target in a reliable manner. The result will be the most regressive tax possible on the citizens of New Mexico,” Mike Beverly said.

He said this was the first public hearing and that most testimony was opposed to the petition for an executive order to put in place the restrictions. More technical hearings will be held in coming months.

‘If it is not stopped electric rates in Lea County will go through the roof,” Karen Beverly said.

Mike Beverly said those who testified in opposition of the restrictions today included the Lovington School Superintendent, the Lea County Electric Co-op and representatives from Xcel Energy.

Mike Beverly said Congressional representatives are being asked to develop reasonable federal rules and regulations because carbon monoxide emissions respect no state boundaries and limiting them is not a state issue.

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