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HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4
57
TH 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
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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;
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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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