Environment from New Mexico Independent

NEWS ANALYSIS: 'Clean coal' and those pesky negative externalities

Jennifer Thacher — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:58:47 GMT

In 'econ-o-speak', an externality is an external cost or benefit that is not reflected in the market price. Electricity generation from coal-powered power plants is a perfect example of a negative externality; the cost of generating electricity does not reflect the health and environmental impacts that arise from using coal. Thus, these costs are ignored by producers.

Guv in the hot seat: N.M. role in cap-and-trade plan revealed next week

Joel Gay — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:33:40 GMT

An ambitious plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico and other western states will be unveiled Tuesday, but the proposal could present Gov. Bill Richardson with a politically sensitive decision. One key element of the plan is whether to give away millions of dollars in pollution credits to power plants and other industries or instead auction off the credits and use the revenue for public purposes. In New Mexico, it will be Richardson's call.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Barack Obama visits Española

benito aragon — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:15:20 GMT

The low rider capital of the world is gearing up for a visit from Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama. The 'glass is half full award' goes to the the Secretary of State's office for informing the Albuquerque Journal that the 11,805 notices directing New Mexicans to the wrong voting stations is a "great improvement" over 2006. The Alibi today delves into some of the details concerning the San Juan Chama Drinking Project. And in the race for the U.S. Senate, Democrat Tom Udall is ahead of Republican Steve Pearce by 15 points in a recent Survey USA poll, according to KOB.

Desert Rock fuels debate over just how clean coal should be

Marjorie Childress — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:31:12 GMT

The proposed Desert Rock power plant in New Mexico’s Four Corners region might possibly be the “cleanest” coal-fired power plant built to date in the U.S. But is that good enough?

UNM on path to becoming "energy and water neutral campus"

Denise Tessier — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:00:00 GMT

From encouraging bike riding to putting solar panels back on its Mechanical Engineering Building, the University of New Mexico has tackled energy efficiency campuswide in the past year.

N.M. labs lauded in Business Week

Denise Tessier — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:00:00 GMT

New Mexico's two national laboratories are lauded as "national treasures" in an article in Business Week this month.

Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory are the focus of a piece that has private industry executives praising the labs as essential partners in coming up with new product technology, including "green" technology.

Proctor and Gamble president Thomas J. Lange, for example, tells Business Week the company is trying to "go green" but "natural materials may not be as pure, as strong, or as stable over time" as petro-plastics, and the company needs Sandia's supercomputers and expertise to create eco-friendly materials.

Lehman Brothers and NM SunCal: connection or not?

Marjorie Childress — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:43:16 GMT

SunCal Company has issued a statement saying that it’s New Mexico project just west of Albuquerque isn’t connected to the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy.

According to the New Mexico Business Weekly, a SunCal spokeswoman said the property being developed by the company just west of Albuquerque isn’t one of the SunCal projects invested in by Lehman Brothers.

Frost damages this year's apple harvest

Denise Tessier — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:30:00 GMT

Apple trees in a tiny orchard on the sunny south side of the Sandias are loaded with fruit, but for the first time in decades, another small orchard just a few miles north has none at all, thanks to a May frost. Other fruit farmers around the state are reporting no apples or a smaller crop as well.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES: APS super blasts federal education goals as unrealistic

Joel Gay — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:12:19 GMT

The head of Albuquerque Public Schools says federal No Child Left Behind goals are unrealistic. The state’s top game officer may lose his hunting privileges for two years. A former magistrate judge in Taos has sued a Taos newspaper for libel over an article published in May. And the much-discussed but long-delayed improvement to the road into Chaco Culture National Historical Park looks like it’s still a long way off.

Richardson Signs Pickens Plan Pledge

Matthew Reichbach — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Gov. Bill Richardson has signed the T. Boone Pickens' Energy Independence Pledge, becoming the first Governor to do so.

“Governor Richardson is a former Secretary of Energy,” Pickens said in a statement. “He knows how dangerous the current situation is from a national security standpoint. And as a sitting Governor he also knows the economic risks of spending $700 billion a year importing foreign oil.”

Sister food banks ask for N.M. help

Denise Tessier — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:11:46 GMT

Roadrunner Food Bank has issued an emergency call to New Mexicans to help with money and food donations as calls pour in for help from sister food banks in Texas and Louisiana, some of which have exhausted or nearly depleted all their food stock in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Food is needed for evacuees and those returning to communities after the devastating storm, Roadrunner said in a statement.

A voice against nuclear energy

Marjorie Childress — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:04:39 GMT

In a conversation with the Independent, Arjun Makhijani said the pursuit of nuclear power is an unwise course given the danger it poses to international security, even if it is appealing given the need to bring down carbon dioxide emissions. “Why solve one problem if doing so will aggravate another?” he asked.

Solar fiesta to shine light on energy efficiency

Denise Tessier — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:35:00 GMT

Interested in lowering your energy bills? Or (finally) heating your water -- or your home or business -- with the sun?

This weekend's 2008 Solar Fiesta organizers promise to help consumers "plan your route to increased energy independence" with workshops and demonstrations that range from easy conservation tips to full remodeling and solar installation information, and will have on hand the vendors who can help you transition to increased conservation, efficiency and renewable energy.

'Clean coal' power: Real or imagined?

Marjorie Childress — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT

There is a lot of talk about clean coal, including from Gov. Bill Richardson, as the country tries to find the right energy mix. But can science make coal clean enough?

Investors envision nuclear reactors for Amarillo

Joel Gay — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:08:25 GMT

Eastern New Mexico could have some new nuclear neighbors in the next decade or so if an Amarillo, Texas, land developer's plan comes off as proposed.

A joint venture between Amarillo Power, which is the brainchild of developer George Chapman, and UniStar Nuclear Energy is conducting engineering studies on feasibility of building a two-reactor plant near Amarillo, The Amarillo Globe News reported this week.