Lujan Grisham and Legislative Democrats unveil plans to increase price of gas (by 35 cents/gallon) in New Mexico

As if gasoline prices aren’t high enough already, Gov. Lujan Grisham and the Democrats have put forth draft legislation (you can provide comment on it NOW) that would further increase the price of gasoline.

The bill, available here is called the Clean Fuel Standard Act and it failed narrowly in the 2021 session. It is being reintroduced in 2022 and it is one of Lujan Grisham’s top priorities. If adopted, the legislation would lead to a 35 cent/gallon increase in gasoline prices. That’s based on the Environment Department’s statement that bill targets reductions “carbon intensity” of 20% by 2030 and 30% by 2040 from 2018 levels.”

The bill will be considered in the 2022 session no matter what and with a large number of “progressives” willing to blindly support Lujan Grisham it could easily pass, but the Environment Department IS collecting comments on the draft bill. We recommend something along the lines of “NO” or “Hell no” or perhaps something more nuanced as “Ethanol makes our air dirtier.” (feel free to review the EPA study linked).

As the article notes, “making ethanol and using it produces nitrous oxides in the atmosphere. Once there, nitrous oxides plus oxygen plus sunlight becomes ozone — a major pollutant.”

Please submit comments on the draft bill to cleanfuel.standard@state.nm.us by 5 p.m., Friday, December 10, 2021.