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Saturday, January 16, 2010
Wildlife Group Concedes EIB Conflict
By Michael Hartranft
Copyright © 2010 Albuquerque Journal Journal Staff Report
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is officially withdrawing its planned participation in state Environmental Improvement Board hearings on a controversial petition to cap greenhouse gas emissions because board chairman Gregory Green is their chief lobbyist.
Green has been the organization's lead lobbyist in Santa Fe since 2003.
The Wildlife Federation previously filed an appearance in support of the petition filed by the New Energy Economy, but recently withdrew it because of Green's position, conservation director Alan Hamilton told the Journal.
The petition calls for a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below their 1990 levels by 2020. Critics who filed suit this week to stop it say the measure would put the state at a severe economic disadvantage and greatly increase costs for consumers, business and government.
"The New Mexico Wildlife Federation continues to be supportive of both state and federal legislation that would cap greenhouse emissions because we feel this is probably one of the greatest threats our wildlife and wildlife habitat have ever faced," Hamilton said. "But we don't want to be the cause of a conflict of interest in that situation and want Mr. Green to be able to evaluate and judge the situation without there being any undue influence or conflict of interest."
Green, who also is the New Mexico spokesman for the Pew Environment Group, said he works under contract for the Wildlife Federation during the legislative session.
"I was clear with them that if they did intervene, I would have to recuse myself," Green told the Journal on Friday.
Green said he considers himself an environmentalist but said he votes "based on whether I think it is a good thing for the state of New Mexico." He noted that he eventually voted to grant a permit for biomass generation plant in Estancia, overturning an Environment Department decision.
"Following the law, I thought they deserved the permit," he said. "...If I wouldn't have been on (the) board, I probably would have been in the audience protesting the plant."
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