More details from the SEA

- Solar Supporters -

NMSEA ACTION ALERT !!!

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Or contact us with questions & comments. We value your input!

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The Martinez Administration is planning to roll back the NM Energy Efficiency Building Code which was approved (after a lengthy and very open process) in 2010, which had a very high level of public support, and which is scheduled to go into effect this July.

Please consider the info below, and take a moment before the end of this week to mail or fax your opinion to the NM Construction Industries Commission.

Points to keep in mind:

1) the average $13 per month savings being quoted in the media is net – ie after including the costs associated with meeting the new code. A major argument from the Martinez faction is that the cost of meeting the code will be greater than the $13/mo saved – a gross & deliberate distortion of the facts.

2) the new code included specific provisions dealing with classic NM architectural innovations and practices. It doesn’t include everything that we would have liked, but it’s a whole lot better than the alternative.

3) the Martinez administration’s rollback strategy has been to “clean house” at the Construction Industries Commission and then ram this change thru before “the public” has time to react. Public hearings are required by statute, so they were scheduled immediately after the Memorial Day weekend – ie to make it as hard as possible for the “opposition” to get organized. This is clearly an inside hatchet job, as opposed to the long and very public process of creating the new energy code specifications in the first place.

4) the Albuquerque Journal published their own editorial on 5/22 supporting this rollback – and using the same misleading arguments ie that costs weren’t considered the first time around, and that the new rules will kill jobs.

5) The Albuquerque Journal has accepted an op-ed by NMSEA VP Gary Vaughn opposing the rollback, which will be published in their “green building” focus section on Tuesday May 31. If any of you want to submit op-ed pieces, better do so ASAP. The bad news is that such a late publishing date will make it difficult for readers to register their opinions with the CIC before “the deadline”.

6) The CIC is required to tally “official” public comments – ie comments that follow their specific rules. That means statements made at the public hearings, and written statements made by mail or by FAX. Emails and any communication with individual commissioners can be ignored at will. So it’s important to mail or FAX your opinion to the CIC at the “official” address or FAX number listed below. And note that comments must be received by 5PM on June 2 – otherwise they’ll simply be ignored. There’s no real need to justify your opinion – all that they will be tallying is Yea or Nay for rolling back the code. The final tally is not legally binding – but it’s the only form of leverage that we have.

7) if you can make the formal hearings, or encourage others to do so, please do that. A big pro-efficiency turn out will make the news and add to the pressure to stop the rollback.

there’s only one week left to “act” – and that includes the long holiday weekend.

9) the bottom line is that the current efficiency code – set to go into effect in July – will have a bigger beneficial effect on NM’s future energy use than any other recent energy related initiative – including our hoped-for “dream” revision of passive solar adobe building codes and incentives, the consequences of PNM’s temporarily delayed PV grid-tied interconnect rider, and the combined effect of our last 11 Solar Fiestas.

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES DIVISION

of the
Regulation and Licensing Department

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

Public hearings on the proposed changes to the following CID Rules: NMAC 14.7.6 2009 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code;NMAC 14.8.2 2009 New Mexico Plumbing Code; NMAC 14.9.2 2009 New Mexico Mechanical Code; and,NMAC 14.10.4 2008 New Mexico Electrical Code, will be held as follows:

* June 2, 2011, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: FARMINGTON – McGee Park Convention Center, #41 Road 5568, Bloomfield Hwy
* June 2, 2011, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: ROSWELL, NM – City Council Chambers, 421 N. Richardson
* June 2, 2011, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: LAS CRUCES, NM – Las Cruces Administrative Offices, 505 South Main Street, Suite 249, Conference Room A
* June 2, 2011, 9:00 pm – 12:00 pm: ALBUQUERQUE, NM – CID Conference Room: 5200 Oakland Avenue, NE

Copies of the proposed rules are currently available on the Construction Industries Division’s website: www.rld.state.nm.us/cid and at the CID office in Santa Fe. You are invited to attend and express your opinion on these proposed rules changes. If you cannot attend the meeting, you may send your written comments to the Construction Industries Division, 2550 Cerrillos Road, P.O. Box 25101, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504, Attention: Public Comments. FAX (505) 476-4685.

All comments must be received no later than 5 pm, on June 2, 2011.
If you require special accommodations to attend the hearing, please notify the Division by phone, email or fax, of such needs no later than May 27, 2011. Telephone: 505-476-4686. Email: www.rld@state.nm.us/cid Fax No. 505-476-4685

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NEW MEXICO SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION
1009 Bradbury Dr. SE, # 35, Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-246-0400, 888-886-6765, Fax: 505-246-2251
info@nmsea.org www.nmsea.org

Sonoma County has a very successful program in place that does just this and so far this year has created 800 construction jobs (an 8.4% increase) while neighboring counties continued to lose construction jobs. Beginning Dec. 15, bills can be pre-filed for the New Mexico state legislative session that begins in January. We suggest that a bill be introduced, sponsored by the City, to expand the terms of the Renewable Energy Finance Districts to include major energy efficient retrofits of existing homes that produce trackable energy savings. We encourage the city and county to immediately investigate how this would be implemented so the program could be ready to go as soon as a bill were passed.

http://www.sonomacountyenergy.org/energy-improvements.php

Long Island has a very similar program in place but with a limit of $12,000 per house funded as a “benefit assessment” through their solid waste fund.
http://www.ligreenhomes.com/page.php?Page=home

There is also the city’s affordable housing trust fund or a bond issue which could help to kick start any one of these programs. Clearly these types of programs would make housing more affordable to operate and the city more affordable to live in. The gross receipts and income taxes to the city and state from the stimulated construction industry would more than pay for any outlay of funds to these programs. The demand should also drive green jobs and green job growth as more installers will be needed.

The existing programs mentioned enable and encourage homeowners to make significant changes to their homes. They have added GREEN construction jobs and jobs in the many peripheral businesses that rely on the construction industry. They are already well-studied and have solid track records that Santa Fe could use to rapidly implement something similar before more jobs are lost. In addition these programs would help us cut energy usage and reduce green house gas emissions. These programs will work towards the climate issues that all of us face and that the administration is working on in Washington. This is a win-win for everyone in our community and on our planet. We hope you will see the logic in these ideas and will seriously consider instituting some of these policies and programs. When you do we would be pleased to offer our knowledge and expertise in support.
Sincerely,
Joe Lewis
Wise Improvements LLC
505 216 7529
admin@wiseimprovements.com

Amanda Evans
Advanced Home Analysts,
505-690-2603
amanda@ahanewmexico.com