Anti-diversification bills target Holtec storage site
The 2022 regular session of the New Mexico Legislature is up and running. This year, state legislators will convene in the Roundhouse for 30 days. By law, the main focus for lawmakers is to craft a state budget and, this session, they have plenty to work with, thanks to increased oil and natural gas production, federal pandemic relief funds and a boost in consumer activity.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also encourages legislators to pass important laws that benefit New Mexicans by placing her priorities on the legislative “call,” or agenda. We can all support the governor’s initiatives that emphasize public safety to fight crime statewide, protect businesses and industries from higher taxes, pay raises for educators, eliminating a tax on Social Security, and initiatives to support New Mexico businesses and diversify the state’s economy.
Which is why we are surprised by the governor’s message to the Senate to consider Senate Bill 54 and HB 127. These bills are intended to stop a project that is important to economic development in southeast New Mexico. There is a partnership between the Eddy Lea Energy Alliance and Holtec International on the proposed HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for spent nuclear fuel. The temporary, safe, secure facility is a critical step in the final disposal process, as recommended by a Presidential Blue-Ribbon Commission, which was commissioned by thenPresident Barack Obama.
If passed and signed into law, SB 54 and HB 127 will undo years of careful study and evaluation, including the work of many individuals in Eddy and Lea counties who have demonstrated that our region is well-equipped and has the knowledge to support the nuclear energy industry. SB 54 also has the serious negative unintended consequence of halting certain activities at the WIPP site, and in the national labs in Albuquerque and Los Alamos.
I was one of four individuals to sign a letter to Gov. Lujan Grisham requesting that she not place SB 54 on the legislative agenda as it will harm our local economies. My fellow signers, Eddy County Chairman Steven McCutcheon, Hobbs Mayor Sam Cobb and Lea County Commissioner Jonathan Sena, all stressed support for the proposed ELEA/Holtec facility because of its safety and security. We would not have invited Holtec to southeast New Mexico if we believed otherwise.
We are steadfast in our belief that the project and the oil/gas industry can co-exist in our region. While the oil/ gas industry is very robust today and is responsible for New Mexico’s windfall surplus in the state budget, we want to continue to diversify our economic opportunities. Consolidated storage is a proven safe, secure storage facility that will provide over 350 well-paid jobs, as well as infuse $3 billion in capital investment to our area.
We all share the governor’s vision for diversifying our economy, supporting projects that foster thoughtful economic development in our communities and building a stronger, brighter future for our state. That’s why we strongly urge the governor to reconsider her Senate message, and that state legislators do not pass SB 54 or HB 127.