In June one single person in the Senate blocked passage of the Renewable Energy Standards bill that would have mandated a 15% renewable energy requirement by the year 2022. A modest and achievable target. According to a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a 20 percent by 2020 Renewable Energy Standard (RES) would bring New Mexico: $2.21 billion in new capital investment, $390 million in consumer energy bill savings by 2030, and 2,860 new jobs. It is strange then that New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici is leading the way to block that bill.

Sen. Domenici betrayed an agreement with his energy committee colleague, Jeff Bingaman, introduced a “poison pill” amendment, threatened a filibuster, and single-handedly orchestrated the effective shutdown of legislative operations on the floor of the Senate. Mr. Domenici succeeded in keeping the RES provision out of the Senate’s energy bill. But the RES was passed by the House of Representatives on August 4 and will be forwarded this fall to a House-Senate Conference for consolidation in a new energy bill.

Domenici’s argument is that some states are not able to produce renewable energy, and thus rules requiring its production would unfairly penalize some states. This on its face is absurd, as every single state in the union has either sun, wind, wave, geothermal, tidal, small scale hydro, or other renewable energy resources. His argument seems strange considering that his own state of New Mexico has abundant solar resources. He seems to be fighting against the interests of his own citizens.

Domenici has proposed a “clean energy” alternative that would allow states to include power generated from sources like nuclear or coal-to-liquid. In fact he has a history of proposing a series of big carbon friendly legislation.

Sen. Domenici’s Top Contributing Industries (career): 1. $611,147 Oil & Gas

2. $419,673 Electric Utilities Top Individual Contributors Since 2001 (electric utilities in italics): 1. $25,600 Southern Co.

2. $24,850 Intel Corp.

3. $24,000 FirstEnergy Corp.

4. $23,915 PNM Resources

Senate Democrats aren’t buying it. They’re bolstered by the hearty support of the public at large, and environmental groups. They think they can have a 60 vote strong filibuster proof renewable energy standard ready sometime this year.

Feel like letting Domenici know that you don’t want him to further block renewable energy standards? Click here to send a message to Domenici, and let him know that he is holding back vital progress towards moving towards a green energy future.

Numbers to Call:

Washington Office (202) 224-6621

Albuquerque Office (505) 346-6791

Santa Fe Office (505) 988-6511

Las Cruces Office (505) 526-5475

Roswell Office (505) 623-6170