The New Mexico Clean Transportation Fuel Program has been approved.*

So many feels are wrapped up in those few simple words.

Above all is satisfaction that the LCFC played a leading role in getting to this place. We organized the advocacy campaign, shepherded broad industry engagement, and built diverse in-state alliances.

There’s admiration for the NM Environmental Department’s Climate Change Bureau. They championed the policy, took the calls and meetings, and worked day and night to design, build, staff up and defend the program against an aggressive timeline.

Respect is there too, for the leadership of Governor Lujan-Grisham in making the bill a priority and pulling out all the stops to support it. She also forged an unexpected but winning coalition that included both oil companies and environmental groups in the second-largest oil and gas state in the U.S.

Finally, there is gratitude. Gratitude for Adelante Consulting which partnered with us to lead the advocacy campaign; for Jessie Hunt and Carroll Strategies who crafted and delivered the winning communications; and for LCFC members and other industry allies who showed up in support for 4 years (!) before getting across the finish line in 2024.

So yeah, I’m a bit sentimental on this one. The process and wait were worth it. It was a pleasure and a privilege to work with so many great people in the non-West Coast state that could.

* A searchable version of the full (wonky) regulation is here. Guidance is still to come, reportedly just in time for the rapidly-approaching program kick off on April 1, 2026.