Environmental Improvement Board: Martinez’s first big decision?

Last night’s election results certainly represented a shift towards conservatism and the GOP here in New Mexico and nationally. With the election of Susana Martinez as the nation’s first Hispanic female Governor, fiscal restraint and limited government will hopefully be the dominant paradigm for the next four years.

While it was not as prominently reported — and it would seem they announced their decision on Election Day to keep it that way — New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board approved a New Mexico-only carbon cap.

So, Governor-Elect Susana Martinez faces an important early decision as far as what she should do with regard to the EIB’s carbon cap (which she has said she strongly opposes). An executive order rescinding the would be one way to repeal the new regulation which will, if it is not stopped, harm New Mexico’s economy by forcing 63 large industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions – including power plants as well as oil and gas companies – to reduce emissions by 2% per year until 2020.

I hope Martinez takes action upon her inauguration to rescind the carbon cap. It will undoubtedly be an important early decision for the Governor-elect.