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(New Mexico News Connection) New Mexico is taking a page from Colorado's Office of Just Transition to support communities affected by climate change.

The office aims to support workers and communities negatively affected as the country transitions away from traditional energy sources. At the University of New Mexico, the Just Transition Grand Challenge team is developing its own policies to ensure the transition to a low-carbon economy is equitable.

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Gabe Pacyniak, professor of law at the University of New Mexico and co-convener of the Grand Challenge team, said opportunities must be created for all people; Hispanic, Native, and Black communities, as well as those living and working in the oil and gas fields.

"What can we do to help fossil fuel communities transition as those fossil fuel economies move away from that source of economic production," Pacyniak explained.

Leaning into the state's 2019 Energy Transition Act, Pacyniak said the team wants to help communities who might not have adequate staff or resources to seek money available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.

The university will host Grand Challenges Day Nov. 12 on the Albuquerque campus.

Pacyniak pointed out an obvious energy transition for a new, low-carbon economy in a sunny state like New Mexico is the installation of more solar. He noted he pays about $8 a month for energy after installing solar panels but knows it is not possible for everyone.

"Lots of people don't have their owns roofs. They live in multifamily housing," Pacyniak pointed out. "One aspect of a just transition is thinking about, 'How can we make sure that the same kind of benefit from this transition is available to people who live in multifamily housing?'"

He added New Mexico communities most affected by energy transition are concerned about the loss of property taxes, which pay for things like school districts, libraries and fire departments.