
PNM to be carbon-free ahead of schedule
Public Service Company of New Mexico says the utility will be carbon-free by 2040, which is five years earlier than mandated by the recently passed Energy Transition Act. PNM CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn announced the plans at an event at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center yesterday afternoon, at the center's kickoff of Native American Week and timed to coincide with Earth Day. Shutting down two power plants in Indian Country ($) will achieve 70% of PNM's emissions goals; reports on Vincent-Collawn's statements yesterday did not reflect any plans to mitigate the resulting economic impact to the Four Corners region.
More Midtown talk
The Midtown campus, which formerly housed the Santa Fe University of Art and Design and, before that, the College of Santa Fe, has an art collection valued at $4 million. The state Department of Cultural Affairs has proposed taking over the collection ($), consolidating it, and possibly using a building on the now-desolate campus to serve as a site for the state's preservation programs. The collection is an unsung treasure and contains ancient pottery, works by Picasso and Dali, and photographs by Dorothea Lange, among other works.
Not a charm
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (who also has an eye on being Senator Toulouse Oliver, in case you missed it) has said no for a third time to Republicans' petition against new gun control legislation. Minority Leader Jim Townsend, R-Artesia, has tried again to overturn via referendum a law requiring background checks on nearly all gun purchases, but Toulouse Oliver says that tweaks he's made to his petition still don't change the fact that the law is related to "peace, health or safety" and is therefore not eligible to be overturned by such a motion.
If it weren’t for those meddling kids
The man arrested for leading a vigilante militia on New Mexico's southern border had plans to train his followers to assassinate Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and George Soros ($). The FBI reportedly knew about these plans two years ago, and has not commented on why it didn't intervene then. Members of Larry Mitchell Hopkins' group, the United Constitutional Patriots, still support their leader and are still operating in Sunland Park, but say they might move their base due to excessive media attention.
Money please
Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber has suggested a $6 million budget increase ($) for the city, which would give many workers pay raises and create new positions; he also references rising costs of employee health insurance. He says he wants to make the city "the employer of choice for talented people" and that budget increases would eventually increase quality of life here. The new budget would also fund a proposed Southside teen center. Aside from an increase in PNM's franchise fee expected to earn about $700,000 per year on the backs of ratepayers, it's also not clear from the story where that new cash comes from. Read it straight from the city here.
Also on the city’s crisis list
The city Public Works Committee moved forward a proposed rule change about "accessory dwelling units" last night to allow landlords to rent casitas on the same property as a main house that is also rented out. Supposedly it is not allowed in city code, though pretty much no one knew that until resident Jamie Durfee raised her voice when she was recently threatened with eviction. The change would purportedly help alleviate the housing crunch in Santa Fe, but it appears at least some councilors aren't totally on board.
Something good
An update on that Amber Alert we told you about yesterday: 6-year-old Freddie Drake was found safe and his mother and alleged abductor was taken into custody. Authorities haven't released details, but it seems right to have a follow-up (especially a relatively positive one).
A respite from warmth
The Word woke up a few times last night to the sound of rain, which was nice; a slow-moving spring storm dumped some water in town and perhaps up to two feet of snow ($) in them thar hills. It's chilly as we write this before dawn, but the end of the week will rocket right back up to the 70s.
Thanks for reading! The Word likes gentle thrills.