Latest news with #CommunityBenefitFund
Irish Independent
02-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Offaly TD appointed to three Oireachtas committees this week
Deputy Clendennen will join the committees on Climate, Environment and Energy, Enterprise, Tourism and Employment as well as the committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery. These appointments follow as the deputy was recently appointed as Fine Gael's assistant party whip, with a role to ensure TDs attend Dáil votes. The deputy said he will focus on protecting the viability of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and delivering large scale strategic capital projects in a 'timely and efficiently manner'. He will also look at maximising the effectiveness of Just Transition and the Community Benefit Fund for most affected counties. Speaking after his appointment, Deputy Clendennen said there is 'a lot of work to be undertaken' and that his key priorities will be of interest to many people and sectors in Offaly. 'The Oireachtas Committees to which I have been appointed are areas where I feel I can be a strong voice for Offaly and make a valuable contribution,' Deputy Clendennan said. 'It is an honour to be part of any Oireachtas committee and with that honour comes important obligations; to scrutinise draft legislation and the work of ministers and government departments, as well as to advise on policy issues and to engage with stakeholders. 'New ideas which can better serve us are often teased out or identified at committee hearings. They form an important part of our democracy,' he added. 'I am looking forward to the work of these committees commencing and to deciding on priorities areas, so that we can embark on our work plan with focus and determination. 'I take these appointments very seriously and endeavour to serve on these committees with commitment and integrity,' Deputy Clendennen said.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amid federal pushback, Gov. Lujan Grisham enacts climate change funding bill
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has through April 11 to sign or veto remaining legislation. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM) Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 48, the Community Benefit Fund, which contains $210 million for communities to use for a series of projects to mitigate climate change impacts. These include: train workers in the oil and gas industry for other jobs; reduce oil and gas emissions; improve the electric grid; develop renewable energy projects; modify public buildings to be more energy efficient; reduce the impacts of climate change on human health, agriculture and the environment; purchase electric vehicles and develop charging infrastructure. In a written statement Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, executive director of the Western Environmental Law Center, called the law 'a step in the right direction.' 'With the federal government abandoning its responsibilities to the states, there is so much work to be done,' Schlenker-Goodrich said in the statement. 'The Community Benefits Fund provides hope that New Mexicans can step into the void and get it done.' Lujan Grisham signed the bill as the federal government makes moves to clamp down on state climate change work via an executive order signed earlier this week. Experts, however, say Trump's order violates the constitutional principles and would be unlikely to survive a court challenge. Lujan Grisham, in her capacity as co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, issued a joint statement with Co-Chair New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in response to Trump's order that said: 'The federal government cannot unilaterally strip states' independent constitutional authority. We are a nation of states — and laws — and we will not be deterred. We will keep advancing solutions to the climate crisis that safeguard Americans' fundamental right to clean air and water, create good-paying jobs, grow the clean energy economy, and make our future healthier and safer.' The governor on Thursday also signed Senate Bill 23, which raises oil and gas royalty rates on prime tracts of state lands in the Permian Basin from 20% to 25%. The change is expected to generate $50 million to $75 million in revenue for the state's land grant permanent fund which primarily pays out to schools, universities and hospitals. The last time the Legislature last updated royalty rates was in the 1970s. All told, Lujan Grisham signed an additional 22 bills into law Thursday, leaving 38 pieces of legislation in the balance, with one day left to act. Outstanding bills include House Bill 2, which contains the $10.8 billion dollar budget for the state government, and the list of capital outlay projects, which may see line-item vetos, striking a certain project or item and leaving the rest of the bill intact. So far, the governor has signed 157 bills into law — about 80% of the bills sent up to her desk — and vetoed two pieces of legislation. Lujan Grisham has until the end of Friday, April 11 to sign or veto legislation. Any unsigned bill after the deadline passes fails to become law, a power called the 'pocket veto.' A full list of the bills signed: House Bill 156: Increase Educational Salaries House Bill 157: New School Licenses House Bill 195: School Nurse Salary Tiers & Minimums House Bill 487: Protection Of Hispanic Education Senate Bill 11: Anti-Distraction Policy in Schools* Senate Bill 133: Educational Retirees Returning to Work Senate Bill 343: Teacher Salary Rates Changes Senate Bill 345: Teacher & Instructional Support Licensure House Bill 91: Public Utility Rate Structures House Bill 291: Recycling & State's Circular Economy Senate Bill 9: Pipeline Safety Act Violations Civil Penalty Senate Bill 23: Oil & Gas Royalty Rate Changes Senate Bill 42: Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Program* Senate Bill 45: County Health Care Assistance Fund Use Senate Bill 78: Certified Nurse Anesthetist Role House Bill 352: Close & Relocate Certain Magistrate Courts House Bill 493: Public Finance Accountability Act Senate Bill 31: Zero-Interest Natural Disaster Loans (includes a line-item veto that was unavailable as of publication) Senate Bill 36: Sensitive Personal Information Nondisclosure Senate Bill 47: Santa Cruz De La Canada Land Grant Senate Bill 48: Community Benefit Fund Senate Bill 124: Superintendent Of Insurance Subpoenas * Lujan Grisham's messages on SB11 and SB42 had not yet been published as of press time.
BBC News
16-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Crowhurst solar farm plan aims to boost wildlife and reduce bills
An East Sussex village could soon have a solar farm that would generate clean energy and help residents reduce their bills, according to for a solar farm in Crowhurst would create enough energy to power over 2,500 homes a year, with surrounding land transformed into a nature Sussex Coast (ESC), which is managing the project, said 80% of the 335 homes in the village relied on oil ESC spokesperson said: "Crowhurst residents have been pioneering sustainable futures for many years and we want to support this dynamic local group by creating the kind of nature reserve and solar park that could be a model for every rural town or village to follow." Plans for the 12 hectare farm, submitted to Rother District Council (RDC), also aim to foster biodiversity by increasing the number of wild habitats including a kilometre of new hedgerows and wildflower meadows, developers say. A recent study found that essential insulation for 200 homes alone would cost around £750,000, while installing air-source heat pumps across the village would require £3.4 million, according to said the solar farm would be owned and controlled by a not-for-profit community energy co-operative and any profits generated would go into a Community Benefit Fund for the spokesperson added: "The kind of investment needed to make these beautiful Sussex cottages warm, dry, healthy and cheap to heat is huge but a discreet solar project like this can fund it."The project will also provide safe wildlife habitats, jobs for local people and clean and secure energy for homes, the railways and local businesses." Many public commenters praised the project on the RDC website, adding it was "very necessary if the UK is to move progressively towards a greener future".But others raised concerns about the visual effect on the landscape as well as access issues and the fact the project was "too big and too close to residential properties".
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$340 million climate measure clears committee
The Senate Conservation Committee voted Saturday to recommend spending $340 million on both statewide and local sustainable energy projects. Those investments would come through a new 'Community Benefit Fund,' proposed by Senate Bill 48, with Senate Bill 49 proposing the $340 million in one-time allotments to be used between fiscal years 2026 and 2028. Both bills are being sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque; both passed committee Saturday on 5-3 party-line votes. Proposed investments include $40 million for economic development not involving fossil fuels, prioritizing industries like aerospace, biosciences, agriculture and advanced manufacturing. The bill also proposes a $100 million grant fund for large-scale electrical grid improvements and a $20 million grant for local energy projects, including weatherization. The bill also includes two provisions around transportation — $60 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure for school districts and to cover the cost difference between diesel and electric buses — and $50 million to fund projects to reduce combustion engine vehicle usage, including improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. 'Biking to reduce carbon footprint seems like a no brainer, but without safe passage to do so, driving is the only option,' said Lou Small, a student at Albuquerque Academy. 'School buses are the perfect candidate for electrification because they run the same route every single day and they charge in the middle of the day.' Jonathan Juárez with Youth United for Climate Change Action, or YUCCA, spoke in support of the bill, calling it a 'just transition for New Mexico." The proposal also includes $25 million for training programs in nonextractive industries unrelated to oil, gas, and mining. ' I am a part of an oil and gas family who needs me to bring in a second income,' said Nancy Ramirez, one of the many members of advocacy group Somos Un Pueblo Unido at Saturday's hearing. 'We advocate and are in full support of the workforce development efforts in this bill for emerging energy industries,' she continued, adding a request rural communities not be overlooked in the energy transition. In opposition to the bill, and the workforce redevelopment in particular, was Jim Winchester, executive director of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico. Winchester called it 'problematic' to make the workforce investment 'at a time when oil and gas are our state's top employer with very good, high-paying jobs. 'We encourage this committee to let the market dictate energy choices,' he added. Bill Lee, president and CEO of Gallup-McKinley Chamber of Commerce, also spoke against the bill, citing the fund's 'likely upending' of the state's general fund, which he said could violate the state constitution's commitment to a balanced budget. Republicans who opposed the bill echoed concerns about its impact on the state's oil and gas industry. 'Do you consider it to be at all ironic that the entire $350 million is dependent on the successful petroleum industry?' asked Sen. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs. ' We have plenty of other areas of the state where we get revenues,' Stewart replied. 'What I find ironic is oil and gas standing up and saying, 'We don't want to help our communities with any money.' " Scott described a scenario. 'A Hispanic oil and gas production worker walks into the kitchen, picks up his hard hat, sits down at the kitchen table, pours himself a cup of coffee, says to his wife, 'Honey, I lost my job today — because we're coming into full compliance with the Paris Climate Accords,' " Scott said. ' There's nothing in these bills that stops us from moving forward with oil and gas,' Stewart replied. 'We just want it to be a little cleaner. Apparently so do those companies,' she said, citing companies' compliance with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's emissions reduction targets.
