The New Mexico Construction Industries Commission repealed New Mexico's energy-efficiency code for construction in 2011, on the suggestion of Governor Susana Martinez’ Small Business Task Force. But a report in the Albuquerque Business First says an appeals court has struck down that regulatory change (“ Court overturns building code repeal,” by Matthew Reichbach). Douglas Meiklejohn, a counsel for the New Mexico Environmental Law Center suing to reinstate the rule, said, ““This is another example of this administration trying to undo regulations designed to protect the environment and consumers without following applicable law. It is well- established that agencies must provide the reasoning for their decisions, but the Commission’s only effort to do so came more than a month after the Commission made its decision.” The court remanded the case back to the state Commission “for reconsideration, a new vote, and a statement of reasons for the vote, preferably in written form.”
