HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Meredith A. Dixon and Andrea Romero

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY TO STUDY THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF DIRECT AIR CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATUTORY AND RULE CHANGES TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIRECT AIR CAPTURE INDUSTRY IN THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is associated with hotter temperatures, sea level rise, more severe storms, loss of species, crop failures, health risks and increased drought and wildfires; and

     WHEREAS, the removal of carbon dioxide directly from the air is an important part of the effort to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and eventually transition to net-negative greenhouse gas emissions; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of energy has initiated the regional direct air capture hubs program to develop four direct air capture hubs that will demonstrate direct air capture technology at a commercial scale and have the potential to capture at least one million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually from the atmosphere and permanently store the carbon dioxide in a geologic formation or convert it into new products; and

     WHEREAS, in 2024, Oklahoma opened the largest direct air capture facility in the United States, which is capable of extracting five thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide per year; and

     WHEREAS, a direct air capture facility is being constructed in Texas that would have the capability of extracting one million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has favorable conditions for the development of direct air capture technology, including geologic suitability for carbon storage, resources for low-carbon sources of heat and electricity and optimal climate and atmospheric conditions for direct air capture system operation; and

     WHEREAS, direct air capture operations and technology could provide economic benefits to the state by creating jobs in construction, manufacturing and other sectors and increasing tax revenue and investment in emerging technology;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico institute of mining and technology be requested to:

          A. study the benefits and costs of sequestering carbon dioxide emissions through direct air capture technology in the state; and

          B. make recommendations for statutory and rule changes to facilitate the development of the direct air capture industry in the state, address the climate crisis and create jobs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico institute of mining and technology report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim committee dealing with issues concerning natural resources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the New Mexico institute of mining and technology.

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