Group takes greenhouse gas battle to NM Supreme Court

The New Mexico Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on a legal battle brewing over an effort by an environmental group to establish a cap on greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center has filed a petition with the court, asking it to order a state judge in Lovington to reverse an earlier decision. The judge had granted a preliminary injunction in April that prohibited a state regulatory panel from continuing proceedings on New Energy Economy's petition for the emissions cap. New Mexico's largest utility, four state lawmakers and other groups had sued in January to stop the panel from considering the petition. Petition supporters argue that if allowed to stand, the judge's ruling would cripple state agencies' ability to carry out their appointed responsibilities. AP