Rio Grande Chapter

August 31 - The New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission (PRC) released its Final Order in the PNM Renewable Plan case. In summary, the PRC directive approved 46 MW of Solar electric power to be installed in the next three years.

By Rebecca Sobel
Executive director, Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE)

August 30 - Every hour, the sun radiates more energy onto earth than the entire human population uses in one year. That's a lot of solar potential. In New Mexico, we're lucky to have bragging rights to world-class solar resources, ranking second in the nation after Arizona, with potential to provide 1,000 times more energy than Public Service Company of New Mexico's (PNM) current demand.

Learn how to reduce your Carbon footprint and volunteer to train others to do the same. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is offering an 11 week course on Climate Change and Sustainability. The dates are from September 22 - December 8, 2010 and the class will be held in Albuquerque, NM.

Course participants are provided 30 hours of training, and in turn they "pay back" the program through volunteer service.

web site for general description of New Mexico Climate Masters

August 4 - The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club and 7 other advocacy groups have sent a letter to Governor Richardson and Secretary of NM Environmental Department (NMED) Ron Curry supporting NMED's Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) for the San Juan Generating Station. This proposed plan would upgrade PNM's San Juan Generating Station with cost-effective controls for nitrogen oxide emissions and other pollutants and also lead to greater sulfur dioxide reductions, presents a tremendous opportunity to protect New Mexico’s enchanted landscapes, safeguard public health and welfare, promote economic prosperity, and keep New Mexico in control of its clean air legacy.

Santa Fe – August 6 - Speaking through 13 of New Mexico’s most representative advocacy groups, New Mexicans are asking Governor Richardson to support strong, Federal regulation of Coal Combustion Waste (CCW). New Mexico ranks 10th in the nation for CCW production with an amazing 6.8 million tons dumped from coal fired electric power generation in San Juan and McKinley Counties annually.

August 5 - U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that a bill he introduced with Senator Tom Udall to transfer management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the National Park Service has cleared its first hurdle. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed it.

The Chapter has been strongly supporting the effort by Caldera Action to transfer management of the Valles Caldera from the Valles Caldera Trust to the National Park Service, which has the experience and resources to better manage the Preserve. We are delighted to announce that on May 27, Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall introduced legislation to transfer the management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the National Park Service.

Full Savings for Commercial Buildings Still in Question

Albuquerque, NM – July 30. Today, the New Mexico Construction Industries Commission (CIC) acted to save consumers money by adopting the 2009 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code (2009 NMECC) for new home construction. The new residential code will achieve 20 percent increase in energy efficiency on new homes beginning in 2011 via sound building science and technically proven measures. The codes will take effect on January 1, 2011 with a six month phase-in period to provide time for a statewide code training process to be completed.