Democracy for New Mexico

Protect Future Generations from Hazardous Waste, Call Today to Oppose SB 279

From Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety:
The Environmental Covenants Bills, SB 279 and HB 48, would allow for less clean up at Department of Energy, mining and other hazardous waste sites in New Mexico. The bills would allow polluting companies to sell off contaminated lands without making every attempt to clean them up to fully protect human health and the environment.
   
These bills must be stopped to protect future generations! Voice your Opposition! Oppose SB 279!The hearing will be held at 2:30 PM, Tuesday, February 13, at the NM Senate Conservation Committee meeting, Room 311. Please call your state senators and express your opposition:

Senator Griego, Phil A. (D): Chair
District: 39, County(s): L.A.,Mora,Sand,S.M.,S.F. & Taos
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4861
E-mail: senatorgriego@yahoo.com

Taylor, James G. (D): Vice Chair
District: 14, County(s): Bernalillo & Valencia
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4862
E-mail: jamesg.taylor@nmlegis.gov

Sharer, William E. (R): Ranking Member
District: 1, County(s): San Juan
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4381
E-mail: bill@williamsharer.com

Altamirano, Ben D. (D)
District: 28, County(s): Catron, Grant & Socorro
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4733

Harden, Clinton D. (R)
District: 7, County(s): Col,Cur,Hard,Quay,SM,Taos&Union
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4369
E-mail: charden@theosogroup.com

Martinez, Richard C. (D)
District: 5, County(s): L. A., Rio Arriba & Santa Fe
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4389
E-mail: richard.martinez@nmlegis.gov

Payne, William H. (R)
District: 20, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4276
E-mail: william.payne@nmlegis.gov

Pinto, John (D)
District: 3, County(s): McKinley & San Juan
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4835

Ryan, John C. (R)
District: 10, County(s): Bernalillo & Sandoval
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4373
E-mail: johnchrisryan@yahoo.com

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Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety
107 Cienega Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Tel (505) 986-1973, Fax (505) 986-0997
www.nuclearactive.org

Stop NM Taxpayer Subsidies for Proposed Dirty Desert Rock Power Plant

"Woman in Gas Mask" (Credit: Small Axe Organization)

Editor's Note: Activists, including many Navajos, are opposing the construction of a huge, polluting, coal-fired power plant called the Desert Rock Power Plant in the Four Corners region. For more information, check our previous post on this. Now, a bill has been introduced in the NM Legislature to provide a generous tax subsidy to the company that plans to build the plant. Needless to say, there's a serious effort underway to fight this legislation, explained below. Be sure to explore the website mentioned below. It has an abundance of info, resources, photos and videos about the proposed coal-fired plant and the struggle to stop it.

From the Sierra Club, Dine CARE, Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy: The tax subsidy for dirty coal was tabled in the House. But the bill is still alive in the Senate. Please continue to support this effort by:

1. CALLING the Senators below and ask them to OPPOSE SB 431 . 
2. ATTENDING the “No to Desert Rock” Rally on FEBRUARY 5, 2:00-3:00 PM Round House Rotunda (northwest corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail). For more information please go to: https://www.desert-rock-blog.com/blog

Please call, email or write your Senator and ask them to OPPOSE SB 431.

The Senate is currently considering an $85 million subsidy for the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant. No subsidies or tax breaks to build a dirty plant for electricity to other states – NOT our money, not out of New Mexico ’s pocket into Sithe Global’s wallet.

Molly Hogue: Praying and Hoping for Change (Courtesy of Lori Goodman)

If Desert Rock is built, all the clean energy and anti-pollution progress we have made in New Mexico will be wasted. Sithe Global claims their plant would be a “clean” coal plant, but it would NOT meet New Mexico ’s standards for power plants and would severely impact surrounding communities and add millions of pounds of carbon and mercury pollution into New Mexico ’s air and water.

Tips: Please call AND write. If the Senator does not have an email or you would prefer to send a hand written letter, please fax the letter to 505-986-4280 or mail it to New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

Senator: Shannon Robinson, Chair
Corporations & Transportation Committee
District: 17, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4856
E-mail: shannon.robinson@nmlegis.gov

Senator: Ben D. Altamirano, Sponsor of HB 431
District: 28, County(s): Catron, Grant & Socorro
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4733

Senator John Arthur Smith, Vice Chair
Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy
District: 35, County(s): Hidalgo, Luna & Sierra
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4363
E-mail: john.smith@nmlegis.gov

Senator James G. Taylor
District: 14, County(s):Bernalillo & Valencia
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4862
E-mail: jamesg.taylor@nmlegis.gov

Senator Cisco McSorley (Chair of Judiciary)
Distict: 16, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4485
E-mail: cisco.mcsorley@nmlegis.gov

Senator Bernadette M. Sanchez, Vice Chair
District: 26, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4267

Senator Diane Snyder
District: 15, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4375
E-mail: hdsnyder@spinn

Senator Mark Boitano
District: 18, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4366
E-mail: boitanom@aol.com

Senator Dianna J. Duran
District: 40, County(s): Dona Ana & Otero
Capitol Office Phone: 585-9896
E-mail: dianna.duran@nmlegis.gov

Senator Phil A. Griego
District: 39, County(s) L.A. ,Mora,Sand,S.M.,S.F. & Taos
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4861
E-mail: senatorgriego@yahoo.com

Senator Stuart Ingle
District: 27, County(s): Chaves, Curry, De B & Roosevelt
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4702

Senator Cynthia Nava
District: 31, County(s): Dona Ana
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4834
E-mail: cynthia.nava@nmlegis.gov

Senator David Ulibarri
District 30, County(s): Cibola, Socorro & Valencia
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4260

Helpful Links:

Desert Rock Blog:
https://www.desert-rock-blog.com/blog

NM Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy:
https://www.nmccae.org/Legislature_07/index.htm

Sierra Club, Rio Grande Chapter:
https://riogrande.sierraclub.org/campaigns/desert_rock_power_plant/desertrock_power_plant.htm

Listen to NM Sen. Dede Feldman's Messages About Her 'Green' Bills

Sen. Dede Feldman (R) at Opening Day of Legislature
(Photo from Feldman blog)

From NM Senator Dede Feldman (D-13-Bernalillo):
Listen to Dede Feldman's short audio description of Senate Bills 542 (Energy-Efficient Appliance Tax Credit) and 543 (Sustainable Building Tax Credits) here (mp3). And here's more information (mp3) about Senate Bill 542, in which Senator Feldman tells consumers how to take advantage of the savings if SB 542 is passed.

You can express your support by contacting members of the Senate Corporations Committee at 1-505-986-4300 and asking for their extension, or by emailing them directly by clicking their email links below:

Sen. Shannon Robinson
Sen. Gerry Ortiz y Pino
Sen. Diane Snyder
Sen. Mark Boitano
Sen. Dianna Duran
Sen. Phil Griego
Sen. Stuart Ingle
Sen. Cynthia Nava
Sen. David Ulibarri

Here are links to the actual text of each of the two bills:
SB 542 (ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCE TAX CREDIT)
SB 543 (SUSTAINABLE BUILDING TAX CREDITS)

Editor's Note: You can visit Senator Feldman's blog at https://senatorfeldman.typepad.com/.

Citizen's Lobby Day on Surface Owners' Protection Act

Passed along by the Coalition for the Valle Vidal:
COME ONE! COME ALL! NM Surface Owners’ Protection Act Citizen’s Lobby Day and Press Conference

Representative Andy Nuñez (D-Hatch) invites you and yours to Santa Fe for a special press conference and citizen’s lobby day in support of the Surface Owners’ Protection Act, a strong bill that would protect landowners’ facing oil and gas development on their property:

Tuesday, January 30, 2007
11:00 AM – Citizen’s Lobby Orientation (location TBA)
12:30 PM – Press Conference, State Capitol Room 310
Santa Fe, New Mexico

A brief orientation session on the legislative process and the Surface Owners’ Protection Act will take place at 11:00 AM. We are in the process of confirming the location for this session. A press conference in support of the Surface Owners’ Protection Act will take place at 12:30 PM in Room 310 of the Roundhouse. Your attendance at the both the orientation and the press conference is requested. Those travelling to Santa Fe are encouraged to call their State Representatives and Senators and let them know you would like to meet next Tuesday to discuss the need for passage of a strong bill protecting landowners’ facing oil and gas development on their property. For a list of all legislators, visit https://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/

Background
The Surface Owners’ Protection Act, if passed, will for the first time, require companies in New Mexico to: notify landowners 30 days in advance of drilling operations; negotiate a surface use agreement with the landowner; and, adequately compensate the landowner for damages and use of the land. Representative Andy Nuñez (D-Hatch) has led the charge to pass the bill for the past two legislative sessions in Santa Fe. In 2005 the bill made it through the House of Representatives but
the session ended before the bill could be voted on in the Senate. In 2006 the bill was pulled because it was amended heavily in committee and watered down by the oil and gas industry to the point that it lacked key landowner protections. With your support and involvement, Representative Nuñez is hopeful the bill will pass in 2007. (Final bill language should be available on-line very soon). 

For more information, call Gwen at 970-759-4387.

Join Rep. Udall to Celebrate Valle Vidal Victory in Taos

From Coalition for the Valle Vidal:
Congressman Tom Udall will visit Taos on Friday, January 26 to thank northern New Mexicans for helping protect our Valle Vidal. Please join Rep. Udall for an evening of celebrating one of New Mexico’s greatest conservation victories.  Snacks and music provided!

The celebration will be at the Anglada’s Building at 736 Kit Carson Road in Taos from 6:00 – 7:30 P.M. See you there!

Jim O'Donnell, Outreach Coordinator
Coalition for the Valle Vidal
www.vallevidal.org
PO Box 238
Taos, NM 87571
505-758-3874

Free Showing and Discussion: The Great Warming

UPCOMING EVENT/GLOBAL WARMING CONVERSATION
The Great Warming: A Free Showing and Discussion
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007, 6:30 PM
Lobo Theatre (3013 Central Ave, East of UNM, Albuquerque)

Stonehaven Productions, Montreal and Swiss Re, the world’s largest reinsurer, collaborate using scientist Lydia Dotto’s book "Storm Warning—Gambling with the Climate of our Planet" as a basis. Shot on location around the world from the high Canadian Arctic to the Altiplano of Peru to Inner Mongolia to Bangladesh, to downtown New York City, the film explores realistic solutions, technologies and actions to reduce the impact of climate change. The Great Warming also showcases initiatives aimed at reversing the trend toward permanent damage to our planet, as well as scenes documenting the emerging voice of America’s faith community urging action on climate change.

Narrated by Alanis Morissette and Keanu Reeves. Producers hope the film moves people to action. Click for the film's official website with reviews, additional information, photos, videos, suggestions on how you can get involved.

A short discussion and specific suggestions for action in New Mexico will follow the one and one-half hour film screening. All are welcome. Questions? Call 266-6966

Co-hosted by: Partnership for Earth Spirituality, The City on a Hill, Albuquerque Mennonite, Unitarian Universalists of Santa Fe, NM Interfaith Power and Light. The Great Warming has been endorsed by the National Council of Churches, Evangelical Environmental Network and the Coalition on Environment and Jewish Life.

Thursday: Panel Discussion on Gov. Richardson's Climate Change Proposals

From the Sierra Club:
Join members of the NM legislature and state officials in Albuquerque for a panel discussion of proposals the Governor's NM Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG) may present to the upcoming session of the legislature.

The discussion will occur Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Law, Room 2402, 1117 Stanford NE, Albuquerque. Click for flyer (doc).

In November, the CCAG began finalizing a package of proposed legislation and regulatory changes aimed at reducing New Mexico's total greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by the year 2012, 10% below 2000 levels by 2020 and 75% by 2050. This will likely include incentives for carbon dioxide sequestration, funding and regulations for a greenhouse gas registry, innovative clean energy programs and automotive emissions standards.

The panelists will discuss the background of these proposals, how they will work and what they hope to achieve. They will provide an inside perspective on the likelihood of success and the challenges the proposed legislation and regulatory changes face. This is a great opportunity for citizens to talk with state decision-makers before the 2007 legislative session begins.

Speakers invited:

• Sue Wilson Beffort, NM State Senator
• Moe Maestas, NM State Representative
• Cisco McSorley, NM State Senator
• Ben Luce, CCAG member
• Craig O'Hare, NM Governor's Special Assistant for Renewable Energy

The Rio Grande Chapter's Central Group and the UNM School of Law Environmental Law Society are co-sponsoring the event. More information on the CCAG is at https://www.nmclimatechange.us/.

Sarah Lundstrum
Conservation Organizer, Sierra Club
110 2nd St. SW #615
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: 505-243-7767
Fax:  505-243-7771
www.sierraclub.org

Check Out Second Annual Silver City Peak Oil/Climate Change Conference

Understanding the Present, Planning for the Future
January 11-14, 2007
Silco Theater, 311 N. Bullard St., Silver City, NM
Free Admission (Speakers on large screen DVD)

Peak Oil is the point in time when world oil production begins to decline - FOREVER. Each session features a large-screen presentation of  the speaker, with the exception of local speakers.

CONFERENCE DETAILS: The conference begins on Thursday, January 11th, 2007 and runs through  Sunday, January 14th, 2007.

Each session features a large screen DVD presentation by well-known speakers on Peak Oil. All presentations are free and open to the public. All sessions will be held at the Silco Theater, 311 N. Bullard St., Silver  City, NM. Please use alternative transportation  when possible - car pool, bike, bus, or walk. Lunch is on your own. Water and tea  will be provided, but please bring your own cup. For further information call William Joseph at 505-538-5892.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

A special pre-conference presentation by Glenn Landers of the Southwest Environmental Center will be held on Thursday, January 11,  2007 from 7:00-9:00 PM at the Silco Theater. Glenn will present the award-winning  documentary, "A Land Out of Time." This film documents the attempts by gas industries to open up sensitive ecological areas to oil and gas drilling and the ensuing public  backlash. After the documentary, Glenn will give a  presentation on Otera Mesa, which is currently  under assault. Facilitated by John Fridinger, Gila Sustainability  Network

Friday, January 12, 2007
7:00-9:00 PM. David Orr, "Peak Oil, Climate Change and Our Future." David Orr, a pioneer in environmental literacy  and ecological design, author of Earth in Mind and Chair of Environmental Studies at Oberlin College will explore the twin challenges of Peak  Oil and climate change. Facilitated by William Joseph, Grant County Peace Coalition

Saturday, January 13, 2007
10:00-11:30 AM. Richard Heinberg, "Peak Oil, A Proactive Response." Richard Heinberg, a leading educator and international  speaker and author of The Oil Depletion Protocol and Powerdown will explain the immense challenge of global peak oil production and its  economic impacts. Facilitated by Tom Gibbons, Biodiesel Group

11:30 AM-1:00 PM Lunch On Your Own

1:00-2:30 PM. Julian Darley, "Relocalize Now." Julian Darley, author of High Noon for Natural Gas,  director of the Post Carbon Institute, and coauthor of the forthcoming Relocalize Now! will  address global relocalization and how communities can begin to prepare for Peak Oil. Facilitated by Allyson Siwik, GRIP 

3:00-4:30 PM. Mark & Rachel Bighley, "Energy Efficient Housing." This informative presentation by local home builders, Mark & Rachel Bighley of Mark Bighley Construction, will offer practical applications for implementing  energy efficiency in both new and existing homes.

Sunday, January 14, 2007
1:00-2:30 PM. Vicki Robins, "Voluntary Simplicity as a Way of Life." Vicki Robins, co-author of Your Money or Your Life and president of the New Road Map Foundation will introduce voluntary simplicity as a viable solution for Peak Oil and climate change as well as a way to lead a more healthy, fulfilling life. Facilitated by Susan Van Auken, Advocate for Simple Living

3:00-4:30 PM. Paul Hawken, "Sustainability as an Infinite Game." Paul Hawken, author of Natural Capitalism and an activist on sustainability and environmentalism, will  present a global vision on how we can incorporate sustainable actions in our lives. Facilitated by Shirley Pevarnik, MLA in Creation Spirituality

Following each presentation there will be an open forum. During these forums, participants will have an opportunity to discuss changes they can make and to create their own Personal Action Plan.

Attend this conference to hear the latest on Peak Oil and climate change. Understand why many proposed alternatives could do more harm than good. Learn about lifestyle solutions based on conservation, curtailment, and community that will lead to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Free Online Video of 'An Inconvenient Truth' Now Available

You can now watch Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth online, for free, courtesy of Climate Change Action. It's broken into nine parts. Another reason why we should ask all or friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, etc. to see it. Now. Also consider this.

Today in Local News

On the radar screen today:

Rep. Ben Lujan (D-Nambe) won the secret vote to retain his role as NM House Speaker over challenger, Rep. Ken Martinez (D-Grants), at yesterday's closed door caucus of House Dems. Martinez will keep his Majority Leader post. Both candidates for Speaker had claimed they would have enough votes to win, and the margin between them was reportedly tight. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-ABQ) was re-elected as whip and Rep. John Heaton (D-Carlsbad) will again serve as caucus chair.

In a 5-4 vote, the Albuquerque City Council rejected the adoption of interim design rules for big box stores, a measure introduced by City Council President Debbie O'Malley. However, her permanent rules for big box development will be sent to the Environmental Planning Commission. Their recommendations to the Council on the proposal will be due in about four months. The decision is a loss for the folks trying to stop the "super" Wal-Mart at Osuna and Vista del Norte, but offers some hope for future improvements in the ugly big boxes springing up all over town. Voting to reject the temporary rules were Sally Mayer, Ken Sanchez, Brad Winter, Craig Loy and Don Harris. Ike Benton, Michael Cadigan and Martin Heinrich voted for approval.

The Council also approved special tax increment development districts for Mesa Del Sol. However, they delayed until January 10th any decision on the percentage of future district tax revenues the developer will be allowed borrow against to pay for infrastructure. For the financing plan to work for developer Forest City Covington, they'll have to get the city to sign off on all the details, then get the approval of Bernalillo County and the legislature. See my earlier post for more on this issue.

Albuquerque's Mayor Chavez announced a $10 million, two year plan to landscape 100 acres of land around the Big I. Five thousand dollars will come from the city's coffers and an equal amount from the state. Chavez bragged that the addition of thousands of trees, shrubs, cactuses and grasses would transform Albuquerque. "It's got a lot of 'wow' factor in it," he said. Wow, wow, wow. The new plantings, to be bid in phases, will eventually enhance the area along I-25 and I-40 from Menaul to Indian School and Edith to Universtiy.

Our current U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, a Republican who lost the Attorney General race in 1998 to Patricia Madrid, announced he'll be leaving his post two years early. It's rumored the FBI and other DC bigwigs are displeased with his handling of the state treasurer scandal and, perhaps, the brewing case related to possible corruption in the construction of the Metro and District courthouses in Albuquerque. Hey, maybe Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff can offer him a job at the sprawling agency that provides refuge for hordes of pompously incompetent operatives like Brownie.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley visited the campsite of about 50 tribal members who are protesting the construction of the coal-fired Desert Rock Power Plant on Navajo land in the Four Corners. See our earlier post for background on this issue.