Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico - Climate Action and Sustainability
Envisioning New Mexico as a leader in climate action and sustainability, the Coalition of Sustainable Communities aims to unite voices for resilient, healthy, and prosperous communities. Established through collaboration, the coalition focuses on starting, vision, mission, governance, membership, accomplishments, goals, and more while emphasizing the importance of local governments aligning for climate action. With current membership including five local governments and recognition from various entities, the coalition stands as a non-profit organization fostering sustainable practices and advocating for a better future.
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Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico We envision New Mexico as a leader in climate action and sustainability. Our Coalition will speak in a united voice to ensure resilient, healthy, and prosperous communities. A Coalition of Collaboration Beth Beloff, Executive Director Ken Hughes, Director Operations and Development April 2022 1
Presentation Points How Coalition Started Coalition s Vision, Mission and Members Our Commitment Governance Roles Reasons to Join Accomplishments Legislative Community Solar Webinars and Roundtables 2023 Goals Member Accomplishments Dues Structure 2
How Coalition Started Sustainable Santa Fe Commission 25-year Sustainability and Carbon Neutral Plan 10 key strategies emerged Key one: need for uniting and aligning local governments around climate action in order to achieve their local climate action goals Mayor Webber just elected Asked Beloff to start this coalition of local governments in 2019 3
Coalition Vision and Mission Inspiration Sustainable Santa Fe 25-Year Plan: top ten strategies included development of a structure to align climate action & sustainability interests of local governments throughout New Mexico Vision We envision New Mexico as a leader in climate action and sustainability. Our Coalition will speak in a united voice to ensure resilient, healthy, and prosperous communities Mission We are committed to developing common understanding, aligning our interests, and working together to amplify our voices in order to create resilient, equitable, and sustainable communities now and for the future 4
Current Members Five local governments from across New Mexico Committed to developing common understanding, aligning our interests, and working together to amplify our voices Represent over 40% of the state s population Ex Officio: State Land Office, Environment Dept., State Procurement Office 5
What We Are A non-profit with fiscal sponsorship by Santa Fe Community Foundation Membership organization with annual dues based on population Part of the national Urban Sustainability Directors Network Recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as an Observer Organization Allied with multiple environmental groups in New Mexico 6
Our Commitment Leading in reducing carbon emissions as well as adapting to climate change Promoting sustainability solutions Advocating for legislation, regulations, and administrative actions to allow for energy choice, resource conservation, equity, and greater climate action Collaborating and Networking in identifying climate and sustainability issues Developing Solutions through coordinated governmental action, leveraging collective resources, and sharing best practices 7
Governance Roles Guided by Executive Committee, Steering Committee, Working Groups, and Executive Director and other Coalition staff Executive Committee comprised of Chair, Vice Chairs, up to five additional members and the Executive Director; finalizes policy platform and Coalition s annual work plan. Meets once a year at Annual Meeting Steering Committee comprised of all Coalition Members, each with one vote, and quarterly recommends priorities, activities, and policies to the Executive Committee Executive Director and Staff carry out day-to-day activities and policy work established by the Executive Committee. Executive Director oversees membership expansion, convenes and leads Steering Committee meetings and Executive Committee meetings in the absence of the Chair, Vice Chair, or designees Working Groups formed by the Executive Committee and led by Coalition Staff to further develop policies, strategies, white papers relevant to Coalition s policy platform and other strategic areas of focus 8
Reasons to Join At Local and State Levels: While many organizations work on climate and sustainability, no ongoing organization focuses local governments on shared sustainability challenges One Voice: Local governments speaking in a united voice is more effective than single voices. Current membership represents 40%+ of New Mexico s population Cost Effective: Sharing resources for policy development, advocacy and lobbying is more cost-effective Collaborative Solutions Development:Developing a roadmap for local governments in the energy transition can best be done collaboratively Shared Local Best Practices: Member s can share Resolutions, work and best practices that support the Coalition s policy platform Effectiveness: The Coalition has developed a reputation for getting things done, especially in the legislative arena Guide Members in meeting their legislative and sustainability priorities 9
2021 Accomplishments Community Solar Act passage and active participation with partners in the PRC s rulemaking process Attendance at COP26, Glasgow Climate Change Conference Legislative Priority Resolutions: facilitated/supported the legislative priority resolutions of our members advancing sustainability, climate action, and equity Roundtable and Webinars held throughout the year Green Bank development: working with the City of Santa Fe, to initiate concept development and budget request for a Clean Energy Fund pilot, to be scaled up over time to support lower income residents reduce their energy burdens as well as their carbon footprints 10
Accomplishments and Ongoing Work Develop Legislative Priorities with and for members, utilizing a Legislative Tracking Spreadsheet to update Members daily, and assist Members in developing legislative resolutions Provide a Public Regulation Commission Tracking Tool on electricity-related and rulemaking cases to keep members informed about important potential efforts Convene Roundtables and Workshops around critical challenges and potential solutions Support expansion of Santa Fe s Solarize Campaign and development of a Green Bank/Clean Energy Fund 11
2022: First Quarter in Numbers Number of pieces of legislation on which we weighed in - 21 Number of Legislative Updates - 5 Zooms + 5 Email Summaries Number of times we formally commented to the PRC on CS - 4 Number of meetings covered by PRC working group - 3 Number of Roundtable discussions 4 (Heinrich/Building and Transportation Electrification, COP26, Public Power, Hydrogen Hub) Number of new members we would like this year - 4+ Number of Equity Related Grants participating on - 2 (PRC, Forth Mobility) 12
2022 Legislative Recap The Basics Modest Success Multiple bills defeated/tabled/stalled Other priorities dominated the session Successes - Bills signed into law by the Governor HB37 CEED Block Grant HJR1 Public Assistance Household Svcs, CA, ( anti-donation clause ) HB163 Solar Tax Credit HB2 General Appropriation Act ( the budget ) Funding for new 6 person Climate Bureau in NMED Funding for new 1 to 2 climate staff in EMNRD 13
A Look Ahead to 2023 Session Stringent regulation of Hydrogen Hub facilities Continued focus on Water Conservation and Management Once more bills heard in 2022 session but not passed Clean Fuel Standard A version of Clean Future (Net Zero) Land of Enchantment GO Bond for conservation projects Environmental Rights (Green Amendment) Public Banking 14
Community Solar To expand the low-income opportunities for Community Solar, we have teamed with Prosperity Works, Partnership for Community Action, and GRID Alternatives to strengthen the connection with New Mexico s Community Based Organizations (CBOs) including a contract with the Public Regulation Commission Objective: to enhance the relationships between CBOs and potential Community Solar developers Overall Tasks: Develop strategy for creating CBO network Develop network of qualified Community Based Orgs (CBOs) working with LI households across 3 utility territories Create training materials for CBOs and low income subscribers Provide training webinar and report Potential Outcomes: strengthening/CBO LI networks to mitigate energy burdens through subscriptions to community solar 15
Webinars and Roundtables Clean Car Standards Infrastructure Finance Options Sustainable Purchasing Hydrogen Glasgow Climate Change Conference Building and Vehicle Electrification Public Power 16
Upcoming Webinars/Roundtables Community Energy Efficiency Development Block Grant The Food Cycle s Waste Step Sustainable Water Sustainable Transportation Climate Aligned Codes Climate Aligned Building Components Community Solar Rules 17
2023: Goals Grow Membership (ex. Taos County, Town of Taos, Bernalillio, Silver City) Support Clean Cars NM before Environmental Improvement Board Build on Solarize Santa Fe s success Create successful low-income participation in Community Solar Engage in Public Regulation Commission cases as appropriate/necessary Conduct meaningful webinars and roundtables Support the Anti-Donation Clause Constitutional Amendment Establish a Green Bank/Clean Energy Fund 18
Coalition Members On The Web Albuquerque s Climate Action Plan and information about sustainability Santa Fe s Sustainable Santa Fe 25-Year Plan and information about sustainability Las Cruces Sustainability Office Santa Fe County s Office of Sustainability Los Alamos Resiliency Energy & Sustainability Task Force State Land Office (ex officio) Office of Renewable Energy 19
Coalition Dues Cities ($/year) $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $7,500 $5,000 $2,500 $1,000 Counties ($/year) $16,700 $13,300 $10,000 $6,700 $5,000 $3,300 $1,700 $700 Affiliates ($/year) $8,300 $6,700 $5,000 $3,300 $2,500 $1,700 $800 $300 Population Over 200,000 100,000 - 200000 50,000 - 100,000 25,000 - 50,000 10,000 - 25,000 5,000 - 10,000 2,500 - 5,000 0 - 2,500 The Coalition will allow a local government to join as a non-voting Affiliate Member for a period of 1 year, with dues discounted by 2/3 Any community of less than 5,000 people can join as an Affiliate Member for one year without cost 20
Thank you! 21
