On-site combustion in New Mexico’s buildings was responsible for a whopping 3.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, in 2021 alone. If the state is to meet its economy-wide emissions reductions targets, building decarbonization will be essential; not to mention it’s one of the most direct ways to improve people’s health, safety, and comfort.
The newly released New Mexico Building Decarbonization Roadmap details a plan to eliminate emissions from New Mexico’s residential and small commercial buildings by 2050. The road map is the result of a year-long process involving more than 20 government, utility, business, and nonprofit stakeholders. It lays out a shared vision to create affordable, comfortable, healthy, efficient, and resilient homes for all New Mexicans, prioritizing low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities.
What New Mexico needs to do now to ensure clean, healthy, affordable buildings for its residents
Space and water heating currently account for 90 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico homes. To reduce this impact, New Mexico must ensure that heat pumps, an efficient and clean alternative to gas-powered space and water heaters, are affordable and available to consumers. Further, these upgrades must happen alongside weatherization improvements and efforts to supply homes with clean electricity.
To accelerate these efforts, the road map focuses on six priority actions:
- Develop on-bill financing options to help families pay for new, efficient equipment over time.
- Prioritize in-store rebates so consumers see immediate savings for purchasing clean alternatives.
- Provide free training on building decarbonization technologies to licensed tradespeople.
- Strengthen gas planning at the Public Regulation Commission to minimize public funds being wasted on unnecessary pipelines.
- Explore new rate designs at the Public Regulation Commission to lower the price of consuming clean electricity.
- Modernize the grid and distribution system to ensure reliable energy.
It’s all hands on deck to reach emissions-free buildings by 2050. Elected officials, regulators, utilities, state agencies, and industry all have a role to play in implementing these priority actions. Utilities and state agencies must work to develop on-bill financing options and in-store rebates to make the transition to emissions-free buildings affordable. Further, the Public Regulation Commision, legislature, and state agencies must collaborate to prepare New Mexico’s electrical grid for future electrification.
In the past few years, leaders from New Mexico have made great strides in making clean, healthy homes accessible to families all across America. Now is the time to build on those national successes and multiply them at home in New Mexico. This road map serves as a foundation to build policies and programs that will deliver healthy, clean, and efficient buildings for all New Mexicans.
