Energy
N.M. environmentalists saw big gains in ‘08
A sampling of New Mexico environmental leaders cites a wide range of what they consider the biggest issues for the year that was. They include Tax Increment Development Districts, the proposed Desert Rock power plant, river otters, the destruction wrought by all-terrain vehicles in national forests and a new law allowing concealed weapons in national parks. But mostly they wanted to talk politics. Like everyone else, environmentalists were consumed by the 2008 elections and the sea change coming to the Legislature, Congress and the White House.
TODAY’S BLOG ROUNDUP: Power, money, nukes and water — Happy Kwanzaa!
There are 15 to 20 people who’ve told Diane Denish they’re interested in the lieutenant governor job if/when Richardson is confirmed as Secretary of Commerce and Denish moves into the governor’s office, Kate Nash writes on her Green Chile Chatter blog. Nash lists some of the names we’ve all been tossing around then points at [...]
Nine reasons not to trust Ken Salazar
I am deeply troubled by many of the president-elect’s choices for his Cabinet. We’ve got an anti-family-farm, pro-Monsanto guy going to Agriculture, an inexperienced Republican hack going to Transportation and now Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar to Interior. These are not the changes we need.
Choice of Vilsack risks agribusiness as usual
Although the executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers says former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack is “a middle-of-the-road pick,” food activists are wary of Obama’s Agriculture Secretary pick because of his support for big agribusiness, genetically modified crops and ethanol subsidies. For some perspective on the future of the Department of Agriculture in an Obama administration and what some New Mexicans are looking for in Vilsack, NMI contacted called Santa Fean Mark Winne, the author of Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty.
Scientists heartened by potential appointees
President-elect Barack Obama has said he will take a different approach to health, environment and energy agencies.
TODAY’S BLOG ROUNDUP: Trash, thrash, transit & the pungent smell of gas
Many of you may regularly check in on what John Fleck is saying on his blog at The Albuquerque Journal, for good reason. But did you know he also has a personal blog? Fleck has a real talent for making you really think … without saying much at all. For instance, today he asks a [...]
The future of solar energy, by Sandia Labs researcher Cliff Ho
According to the Albuquerque Journal, a Sandia Labs researcher has won a video contest put on by Discover magazine.
Belen lands a big solar plant — and up to 600 new jobs
Expect a sunny future for the town of Belen — literally. Gov. Bill Richardson and officials from two California-based companies announced Tuesday that the small town south of Albuquerque will be home to a proposed $800 million solar plant. Salaries will range from $39,000 for production-line workers to $100,000 for managers, according to a state official.
ABQ law firm likes to walk — while working
Tucked into a nondescript office building in Northeast Albuquerque, a small law firm is the proud new early adopter of the walking workstation. “We’re on the cutting edge for a lot of reasons, but this is one of them,” Nell Graham Sale, one of the firm’s partners, recently told the Independent.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES: Al Unser Jr. is alleged victim of extortion by suspected head of prostitution ring
Prosecutors say two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was a victim of alleged extortion by the suspected head of an Albuquerque prostitution ring.
Meanwhile, the state’s top court has struck down a voter-approved constitutional amendment that would have required the Albuquerque school board to expand to nine members from seven.
Proposed rules for oil and gas [...]