Protesters rallied outside of PNM's headquarters Tuesday in response to the utility's rate hike proposal and its plan to take on a greater share of the San Juan County Generating Station. The organizers of the "Rally for Ratepayer Justice" say they want to show PNM shareholders that New Mexicans want more renewable energy to protect the future for families. Last month, a New Mexico Public Regulation Commission hearing examiner rejected PNM's 12 percent rate hike, stating that the utility's application was incomplete. However, PNM says the hearing examiner wrongly imposed a heighten standard for the utility, and is urging the PRC to reject the case recommendation. Regulators will take up the issue later this month
New Mexico regulators have signed off on an agreement brokered by dairy farmers, state officials and environmental groups. The Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously to approve the agreement during a meeting Tuesday in Santa Fe. It marks a compromise over how best to protect groundwater from potential contamination from dairy operations. Settlement talks began earlier this year as regulators prepared for a public hearing to consider changes to New Mexico's dairy regulations. Attorney General Hector Balderas says the agreement is critical to southern New Mexico's economy and water quality. He pointed out that the dairy industry has an economic impact of about $1.4 billion. The new regulations require monitoring wells and dairies will be allowed to line their waste ponds with clay liners so long as there's no contamination.
The head of Sandia National Laboratories plans to step down after five years at the helm of the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based research center. Sandia President and Laboratories Director Paul Hommert announced Tuesday he plans to retire in mid-summer. Hommert says the process to name his successor is well underway and will be complete in time to assure a smooth transition. The laboratory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp. and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque and Livermore, California, Sandia has research and development responsibilities that cover national security, energy and environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.
You’ll probably be seeing more bicycles and people who ride them in Santa Fe this week. There’s a lot going on with it being Bike To Work Week in the City, as well as Santa Fe playing host to the Santa Fe Century rides on Sunday and the Outside Bike and Brew event at the Railyard, which begins this afternoon and runs through Sunday. Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization Planner Eric Aune says bike to work week is when local residents are encouraged to make bicycling one of their transportation options. *****051315-Aune-3 :27***** Aune says Bike to Work events will be celebrated Friday with breakfast burritos for early commuters at 7:45am on the downtown Plaza and capped off later with a gathering of bicyclists at the Railyard making the afternoon commute. He adds that Bike To Work Week is a great time for members of the public to start making bicycling for transportation a reality. He suggests tapping the knowledge of the committee that works to plan the week from November through May. *****051315-Aune-4 :41***** Aune says Committee members will be available at Friday afternoon’s events. A full rundown of events is on the Santa Fe MPO’s website (http://santafempo.org/) There’s also a Santa Fe Bike To Work Week Facebook page with more information. (https://www.facebook.com/BiketoworkSantaFe?fref=ts)
New Mexico regulators have signed off on an agreement brokered by dairy farmers, state officials and environmental groups. The Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously to approve the agreement during a meeting Tuesday in Santa Fe. It marks a compromise over how best to protect groundwater from potential contamination from dairy operations. Settlement talks began earlier this year as regulators prepared for a public hearing to consider changes to New Mexico's dairy regulations. Attorney General Hector Balderas says the agreement is critical to southern New Mexico's economy and water quality. He pointed out that the dairy industry has an economic impact of about $1.4 billion. The new regulations require monitoring wells and dairies will be allowed to line their waste ponds with clay liners so long as there's no contamination.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy with a 50-percent chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms, today’s high, 62. Tonight: Partly cloudy with the overnight low down to 45. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms and a high of 65.