Beyond Coal

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.

New Mexico suffers the polluting effects of Combustion Coal Waste (CCW) from coal fired electrical generation in San Juan County where the toxics bearing ‘fly ash’ has been dumped in unlined strip mines that formerly produced coal. Send an e-mail to the EPA demanding strong controls.

Four Corners Coal Plant Causes Haze in Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde and Other National Parks

Washington, D.C. — Conservation groups have asked federal agencies to require New Mexico's dirtiest coal-fired power plant to take measures to reduce its air pollution, and thereby lessen the amount of haze it causes in national parks and wilderness areas.

“One of the Largest Illegal Open Dumps in the Nation” Dangerously Polluting Water Supplies in Region

(Farmington, NM) - April 8, 2010 - The Sierra Club took action today to stop the disposal of millions of tons of toxic coal combustion waste each year in unlined pits at the San Juan Coal Mine, and to compel the clean up of previously disposed waste that continues to leach toxic pollutants into the surrounding ground and surface water.

Rio Grande Chapter leaders held a conservation meeting on March 31 at the San Juan Community College in Farmington, with about 20 in attendance.

In Nevada, a proposed 750 MW coal plant project has been cancelled.

In Colorado, Gov. Bill Ritter has proposed legislation, the Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act, that will close two coal plants totaling 900MW in Colorado by 2017. Colorado has also increased its renewable energy requirement from 20% to 30% in 2020.

Stewart Udall died on this years Vernal Equinox. A persistent snowstorm blanketed Santa Fe, the final home of our great friend. This is one of the last pieces he published. We are all his grandchildren. Hope springs eternal.

On March 1 (10am) your Sierra Club Chapter testifies before the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) with New Energy Economy and 15 other nonprofits asking EIB to set a cap on carbon, methane, and other green house gas emissions (GHG) for the state. We invite many members to join us. (Willie Ortiz Building - 2600 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe) Also, please send letters and e-mails. Read further for specifics.

Dec 2009 - The Sierra Club today put the San Juan Coal Company on notice for failing to properly dispose of millions of tons of toxic coal ash and scrubber sludge each year. The San Juan Coal Company has dumped more than 40 million tons of coal combustion waste containing pollutants like arsenic, lead, and mercury into massive unlined pits at the San Juan Mine, about 10 miles west of Farmington.