The option to buy solar power from independent energy developers is coming to Santa Fe, and PNM isn’t happy about it. PNM has criticized the system overseeing the new industry, in that it “should be regulated by the state as public utilities.” Currently, third-party contracts are legal, while energy developers are not considered part of the public utility industry. As the state Legislature slashes budgets around New Mexico, Melrose Bombing Range was spared from the cuts, says the Portales News-Tribune. Some officials claim that “the range is a long-term asset and has been the lifeblood of Cannon Air Force Base,” but others worry its funding is not  yet secure.

Onto another tax-cut topic, Sen. Carlos Cisneros tell the Taos News that cuts to eduction would “affect school administrations, not classrooms.” Read on for more explanation of budget woes and possible solutions.

The Farmington Daily Times has a story about the FBI investigation of death of a nun who worked on the Navajo Nation.

And John Fleck has a great piece in today’s Albuquerque Journal about the Very Large Array radio telescope.