
With or without you
The closing of the San Juan Generating Station in the Four Corners area is a hot topic among environmentalists, economists and others; the coal-fired power plant is set to be shut down soon to keep with emissions goals, but it provides many needed jobs in an economically depressed area. This week, SFR looks at four ways forward for the coal-fired power plant proposed by PNM, and The New Mexican also reports that a company claims it can retrofit the plant with technology that will reduce its emissions by 90% ($), therefore allowing it to keep operating in a carbon-neutral way. Needless to say, folks are skeptical.
Here’s an idea
Speaking of carbon emissions, US Sen. Martin Heinrich advocated in Washington on Monday for legislation that would charge companies $52 per ton for carbon pollution; the fee could raise raise an estimated $2.3 trillion over 10 years, and that money would then be turned around in the form of tax credits to states to help pay for a transition toward clean and renewable energy sources.
Bioscience firm gets funds
Los Alamos-based Pebble Labs is to get a windfall of economic development dollars, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced yesterday. The bioscience firm, which researches food and crop safety, public health and the reduction of disease is set to get at least $4 million (maybe more) from the state; Los Alamos County is issuing $12.5 million in industrial revenue bonds; and the company itself has pledged to invest $60 million in development. That's a lot of zeroes.
And miles to go
At a news conference, Gov. Lujan Grisham said her administration is working hard to resolve issues, clean up messes, fill vacancies and settle lawsuits left over from the previous administration, but that "we have a long way to go." The Albuquerque Journal details some of the overhanging issues still wending their way through the governor's cabinet and the courts.
Could it be true?
Santa Feans have been told so many times that we're getting an awesome bowling alley somewhere in town, it's hard to believe the news might actually be true this time … but The Alley Lanes & Lounge is indeed making progress ($ TNM), has "coming soon" signs up now at the DeVargas Center, and posted on its Facebook page that it will soon be accepting resumes for employees. The business could open as soon as mid-August. This feels real, folks!
Could get life
An El Paso man has pleaded guilty to illegally transporting migrants in New Mexico in a van in April; when cops tried to stop him, he ignored them, then tried to swerve around a roadblock that would blow out his tires. He crashed instead, killing two of his passengers. He now faces life in prison.
Monsoons don’t fail us now
Today is forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far, so stay cool if you can and hydrate no matter what. Chances of precipitation go up a bit over the weekend, but only ever hit about 30%, so it's likely going to be a hot and dry spell for a little bit here.
Thanks for reading! The Word thinks you should stock up on some of our favorite T-shirt designs from Best of Santa Fes past in preparation for our BOSF issue, which comes out July 24, and our BOSF party in the Railyard, which goes down July 26.