GUEST COLUMN: Governor should sign bill to support workers, climate goals

With the recent passage of House Bill 458, the Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Stewardship Act, New Mexico has taken a major step toward addressing climate change and creating jobs. We now urge Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to sign it into law.

As the business manager of Boilermakers Local 627, I represent skilled tradespeople who’ve spent decades building and maintaining New Mexico’s energy infrastructure. Our members helped construct the San Juan Generating Station and still service the Four Corners Power Plant. These were good jobs that supported families across the region.

We know that the energy landscape is changing. But change doesn’t have to mean abandonment — it can mean opportunity. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a practical, science-backed solution to reduce emissions. Even if you believe fossil fuels should be phased out immediately, we’ll still need CCS to address legacy emissions and clean up hard-to-decarbonize industries. And if you believe in a balanced transition that still includes oil and gas, CCS is an essential partner.

HB 458 provides the rules and protections to ensure carbon storage is done right. It establishes a long-term stewardship fund so sites are monitored well after operations end, protecting landowners, water and surrounding communities. It’s good policy — fiscally and environmentally responsible.

But it’s also good for jobs. CCS projects require the same skill sets Boilermakers already have — welding, pipefitting, structural steelwork and maintaining high-pressure systems. We’ve already trained for this moment. We’re ready to build the next generation of energy infrastructure.

New Mexico should lead the nation on climate-smart innovation, and HB 458 is the right step. We urge the governor to sign it and show that New Mexico values both the environment and the people who’ve built its energy economy.