Dear Legislators,

The NAACP Branch of Santa Fe strongly opposes HB 4, the Hydrogen Hub legislation.

A new reason to oppose this bill exists. In recent days, Exxon-Mobil has announced plans to increase oil production by 25% in the Permian Basin. Chevron has announced a 10% increase.

Until the NM Environment Department substantially enforces methane leak regulations in the Permian and in the Four Corners area, NM remains a national “hot spot” for methane. A Hydrogen Hub will compound this environmental hazard with additional methane, CO2 and NOx.

Please focus our state’s resources on expanding solar and wind power ( and, yes, today’s new generation of far safer nuclear technology might deserve a look. )

Respectfully,

Byron Treaster

NAACP Santa Fe Branch

PAC chair