New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board recently approved greenhouse gas emissions reporting rules that will require industry in New Mexico -? including power plants, oil and gas refineries, and cement plants -? to report greenhouse gas emissions. The rules will go into effect January 1, 2008.

“This is one of the most comprehensive mandatory greenhouse gas reporting programs in the nation,” Governor Richardson said. “I have committed our state to aggressive actions to curb the emissions that lead to global climate change, and a strong greenhouse gas reporting program is essential to that effort.”

The rule requires industries that report emissions of other air pollutants, such as SO2, NOx, and particulates, to include greenhouse gas emissions in their emissions reports. The largest industrial facilities must begin reporting greenhouse gases annually for the year 2008. Industrial facilities that are smaller in size are required to report greenhouse gas emissions as early as the year 2009. The rules allow a phasing in of the greenhouse gases being reported, starting with carbon dioxide, followed by methane, and finally nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.