We Are Clear Horizons New Mexico

We, the undersigned organizations and businesses, strongly support the suite of bills introduced by Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, which includes the Clear Horizons Act, the Community Benefit Fund, and the New Mexico Innovation in Government Act. These bold legislative measures offer New Mexico a unique opportunity to protect our communities, air and water, our economy and natural resources, our climate and our communities for generations to come.

The urgency of addressing climate change has never been more clear. According to the 2024 Conservation in the West poll, 59% of New Mexicans consider climate change a very or extremely serious issue. This concern is rooted in the real impacts our communities are already facing, from severe wildfires to extended droughts and more extreme weather events. As climate advocates, social justice organizations, and conservation groups, we recognize the need for immediate action—and the Clear Horizons Act, the Community Benefit Fund, and the Innovation in Government Act provide the concrete steps necessary to begin addressing these impacts head-on.

The Clear Horizons Act provides a regulatory framework that aligns state and industry pollution reduction goals, ensuring that New Mexico is on track to meet its greenhouse gas emission targets. By codifying the emission reduction targets outlined in Governor Lujan Grisham’s 2019 Executive Order 2019-003, the Clear Horizons Act will provide the long-term certainty needed for businesses and industries to prioritize sustainability. This framework will pave the way for a cleaner, more innovative economy while ensuring that New Mexico stays ahead in the global transition to clean energy. This bill is a critical step forward in reducing the pollution that contributes to climate change and securing a sustainable future for our state.

The Community Benefit Fund, with its proposed $340 million investment, will directly benefit the communities most affected by climate change. By investing in innovative infrastructure, workforce development, renewable energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and other critical initiatives, this fund will support the communities hardest hit by climate and extractive industry impacts, such as severe wildfires, droughts, and extreme weather. From rural towns recovering from past fires to urban areas striving to transition to clean energy, the Community Benefit Fund will empower everyday New Mexicans to take control of their own future while creating jobs, supporting families, and reducing carbon pollution. This is an essential tool to ensure that all communities, particularly those most vulnerable, are equipped to adapt to the challenges ahead.

The Innovation in Government Act will provide $10 million in funding to state agencies to help implement and enforce these solutions. By strengthening the capacity of state agencies, this bill will ensure that New Mexico has the skilled public servants necessary to guide our state through the clean energy transition. These investments will provide the resources needed to build a workforce that can not only implement state climate policies, but also drive innovative projects that make New Mexico a leader in climate solutions.

Taken together, these three pieces of legislation will provide the regulatory certainty, financial investment, and state capacity needed to build a sustainable, resilient future for New Mexico. The impacts of  climate change are ravaging our state—communities like Ruidoso and Mora have faced unprecedented wildfires, and droughts continue to threaten our water supplies. Workers, children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the extreme heat that defines our summers and even fall.  New Mexico families deserve action that will protect our communities and give us the opportunity to build a sustainable and prosperous future, that’s what these bills offer.

By signing onto these initiatives, we demonstrate our collective commitment to climate action, innovation, and resilience. Together, we can create a cleaner, more resilient New Mexico that leads the nation in climate preparedness and clean energy. We urge you to join us in supporting the Clear Horizons Act, the Community Benefit Fund, and the Innovation in Government Act during the 2025 legislative session.