Senator Martin Heinrich says he wants to see Edward Snowden returned to the U-S to face charges related to his release of National Security Administration information. Heinrich telling KSFR many of the items Snowden released were un-necessary to the debate on protection of civil liberties. *****041414-Heinrich-4 :20***** The Democrat, commenting while in Santa Fe Friday, says while he’s optimistic about recent federal action on civil protections, Congressional action is needed on the subject due to Presidential administration variability on the issue.
Senator Heinrich and his New Mexico Democratic colleague, Senator Tom Udall were on the losing end in the Senate last week on approval of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Senator Udall noting that some 50-years after the approval of the equal pay act, women still earn only 77 cents on the dollar compared to men, while African-American women make only 64-cents and Hispanic women only 54-cents on the dollar compared to men. *****041414-Udall-2 :24***** The Paycheck Fairness Act died six votes short of advancing to House. It had no Republican support.
Several Santa Fe interests have intervened in a New Mexico Public Regulation Commission case that will determine the power sources used by the state’s largest utility—Public Service Company of New Mexico. One of those interests is New Energy Economy, which last week began a billboard advertising campaign to support its desire of greater reliance on renewable energy sources. Its Executive Director MarielNanasi says PNM’s proposed power plan relies too heavily on coal and nuclear power. Nanasi is critical of coal’s water needs. *****041414-Nanasi-2 :25***** Nanasi says that replacement is solar—and wind—energy. She says the Santa Fe nonprofit’s billboard depicting four happy kids in front of a local solar facility, with billowing coal smokestacks in the background, with the message—quote-- “PNM: Don’t Let Coal Hold Us Back.” You’ll see it on I-25 near Algodones.
Two federal agencies are seeking public comments on a plan to build a 360-mile-long transmission line from New Mexico to southern Arizona. The Bureau of Land Management and the Western Area Power Administration have released a draft report covering the potential environmental effects of the Southline Transmission Line Project. Project developers say the new line would improve reliability of the electrical grid and help bring more electricity generated with renewable resources such as wind and solar to markets throughout the region. Several public meetings are planned next month in New Mexico and Arizona, and you can comment on the proposal until July tenth.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with 30-percent chance of showers. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.