New Mexico power company PNM this week publicly criticized the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for the Chamber's stance on new federal regulations aimed reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The rift, first reported by Kate Galbraith in the New York Times, is a result of the Chamber's call for what one official called a "Scopes Monkey Trial" on the science of global warming. PNM spokesman Don Brown sent me a copy of the statement he sent to the Times:

We strongly disagree with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's position on

climate change legislation and particularly reject its recent theatrics

calling for a 'Scopes Monkey Trial' to put the science of climate change

on trial. We believe the science is compelling enough to act sooner

rather than later, and we support comprehensive federal legislation to

meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect customers

against unreasonable cost increases.

PNM chief executive Jeff Sterba has been a national leader among energy industry officials in pushing for greenhouse gas regulations, arguing that the science behind climate change is clear and that his industry needs a clear regulatory path forward on greenhouse gas reductions in order to make its long term investment decisions.

Brown said PNM chief executive Jeff Sterba had recently left the national group's board of director. But Brown said he did not know whether it was a direct result of the dispute over climate change regulation. I'll update you when I get a clearer answer on Sterba's reason for leaving the board.