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Morning Word
Avangrid pulls plug on PNM merger
More than three years after first announcing a proposed merger, a deal between PNM Resources and Avangrid has been terminated. Avangrid nixed the deal, whose fate has been unclear pending a decision from the New Mexico Supreme Court. “We are greatly disappointed with Avangrid’s decision to terminate the merger agreement and its proposed benefits to our customers and communities,” PNM Resources chairman and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn said in a statement. “We had been looking forward to providing customers with the immediate benefits in our agreement and also the longer-term benefits of being part of a larger-scale entity with ties to global innovation and experience in the clean energy transition.” The Public Regulation Commission unanimously rejected the proposed merger in December 2021, capping a year of allegations and litigation, and in accord with Hearing Examiner Ashley Schannauer’s recommendations. PNM and Avangrid filed an appeal of the PRC’s decision with the state Supreme Court at the start of January 2022. In a statement, Avangrid noted that with “the close of 2023 there is still no clear timing on the resolution of the court review of the New Mexico regulator’s denial of the merger nor any subsequent regulatory actions” and it had, as such terminated the merger agreement. “While our merger agreement with PNM has been terminated, we remain more than ever steadfast in our commitment to New Mexico in the development of wind and solar renewables,” the statement added, “helping explore options in the new hydrogen economy, and delivering on the partnership with the Navajo Nation to achieve its clean energy future.”
City department head departs for state
City of Santa Fe Community Health and Safety Department Director Kyra Ochoa is leaving her position at the end of the week to become one of two new deputy secretaries at the state Human Services Department. The other, Kathy Slater-Huff, has served as acting deputy secretary since March 2023. Ochoa, who has been with the city for more than five years and in her current position for more than three, has played a key role in overseeing the city’s efforts to address homelessness. In a recent interview with SFR regarding a pop-up shelter pilot initiative, Ochoa described the plan as “just one more option for people that are out on the streets or in the arroyo that we hope will get them in forming good relationships with those who provide services.” Regarding Ochoa’s appointment to HSD, Secretary Kari Armijo said in a statement she was “confident that under her leadership, we will continue taking significant steps toward building a healthier and more equitable New Mexico. Kyra’s unwavering dedication to strengthening safety net programs and her alignment with our core values at HSD make her an invaluable addition to our team.” For her part, Ochoa, who begins her new job on Jan. 6, characterized herself in a statement as “honored and grateful” for the opportunity “to serve as a member of a team leading such critical work in our state. I have a passion for health system improvement and believe in a strong safety net for those in need, especially because we are all stronger when every member of our community has the resources needed to thrive—with the creation of the Health Care Authority, we are moving in the right direction to achieving a healthier New Mexico for everyone.” The new Health Care Authority is slated to take over several state agencies as an “executive agency” on July 1.
State fines two cannabis companies $1 mil, revokes licenses
The state Cannabis Control Division yesterday announced revocation of two more cannabis producers’ licenses for: exceeding plant count limits; not utilizing the state’s mandatory track and trace system; and unsafe conditions, among other violations. To date, the CCD, which operates under the state’s Regulation and Licensing Department, has revoked six licenses and levied more than $2.3 million in fines related to illegal activity. In this case, Bliss Farm and Native American Agricultural Development Company, both located in Torrance County, have been ordered to immediately stop all commercial cannabis activity and fined $1 million each. “The excessive amount of illegal cannabis plants and other serious violations demonstrates a blatant disregard for public health and safety, and for the law,” RLD Acting Superintendent Clay Bailey says in a statement. Specifically, Bliss Farm received 17 citations, with the state describing some of the violations—which included unsanitary conditions—as “alarming.” Native American Agricultural was cited for eight violations. At both farms, compliance officers reported evidence of recent harvests, but no plants had been entered into the mandatory tracking system. “Compliance within the industry is the CCD’s main priority and our office is committed to ensuring New Mexicans have access to safe cannabis products,” Cannabis Control Division Director Todd Stevens says in a statement. “The team worked diligently on both of these cases to determine the appropriate action for violations at a scale we hadn’t seen before…I hope this serves as a reminder to those who might be violating the laws and rules the state has put forth.”
Councilor Cassutt reneges on anti-nuke resolution
City of Santa Fe District 4 Councilor Jamie Cassutt says she’s pulling back a resolution that would have had its first committee hearing this week. Her withdrawal comes amid the loss of her co-sponsor and lack of support from Mayor Alan Webber. The resolution would have expressed non-binding opposition to plutonium pit production at Los Alamos National Laboratory, a sentiment expressed in two previous resolutions from prior City Councils. Originally co-sponsored by former District 1 City Councilor Renee Villarreal (whose term just ended and who did not seek re-election), the resolution also called on the federal government to prioritize clean-up of legacy nuclear waste and to decrease spending on nuclear weapons. Cassutt now tells SFR Villarreal played a stronger role in drafting the bill and had more knowledge about its contents. Thus, she says she will embark on a new round of meetings on the topic. “I want to make sure that I have a strong understanding of what those issues are, what the history is…what has been remediated, what hasn’t,” Cassutt says. “Obviously, the economic development impact of LANL for our community and for Northern New Mexico is huge. I think what’s really important for me is that I am not of the mindset of ‘LANL is this awful, terrible, evil organization.’ They do a lot of wonderful work. They have a lot of employees that are wonderful members of our community, and so for me just really…having a better picture of it all is important for me before I’m able to carry legislation.” District 1 Councilor Alma Castro, who holds Villarreal’s former seat, tells SFR she plans to work with Cassutt to revise the proposal.
Following last week’s inauguration, new and returning members of the Santa Fe City Council will convene this afternoon and again tomorrow for study sessions on their positions and the workings of city government, including a primer on legislative processes and policy research requests for city councilors.
Listen up
The Garden Journal podcast’s recent edition includes tips on winter garden care (spoiler alert: yards still need watering, even in winter), with a conversation between host Alexa Bradford and Santa Fe County Extension Office Agriculture Agent Tom Dominguez, along with Family and Consumer Science Agent Michelle Stizza. The show, which airs at 10 am Saturdays on KSFR 101.1, rotates gardening and agriculture-related content, and is presented by the Santa Fe Extension Master Gardener Association (which apparently has a hotline).
Dampened drinking
“Any reduction in drinking is associated with improvements in health,” Katie Witkiewitz, director of the Center on Alcohol, Substance Use And Addiction at the University of New Mexico, and a former president of the Society of Addiction Psychology, tells the Washington Post for a story on strategies to approach reduced alcohol intake in January. “As your drinking increases you have increased health risks, and as your drinking decreases you have decreased health risks,” Witkiewitz says. As some may find a “dry” January intimidating, Witkiewitz encourages perhaps trying for a “damp” January instead, aka less alcohol versus no alcohol, also known as “dryish” January. Witkiewitz, for instance, reduces her drinking by 50% in January, drinking half as often and, when she drinks, consuming half as much. “The holidays are a time when I might drink more than usual, so for me Damp January is a nice change of pace,” she tells the Post. “Our livers are really magical organs, but they could use our help every once in a while. You should be kind to your liver and your brain and your body generally.”
We still got it
Lest one worry New Mexico’s popularity as a tourist destination might wane in 2024, rest assured the state remains top of mind for travelers. Condé Nast Traveler includes Santa Fe in its list of the best places to travel in February, which it plausibly characterizes as the city’s best month for hitting the slopes at Ski Santa Fe (which has tap takeovers, music and other events starting this weekend straight on through into April at Totemoff’s). Other highlights noted by the magazine: Readers’ Choice Award favorite Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, which “has a tangible warmth to it, with gaslit kiva fireplaces and hand-carved four-poster beds adorning the rooms.” Green chile, Condé Nast notes, will help keep travelers to Santa Fe warm (or one can opt to visit the Republic of Maldives, which is also on the list). Santa Fe also made Condé Nast’s list of 24 best places to go in 2024, with Condé Nast Traveler US Editor Jesse Ashlock singing the city’s praises on a recent edition of The Today Show, noting Zozobra’s upcoming 100th birthday as a particular draw. “Go there,” Ashlock exhorts. “See some Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, eat some chile rellenos and get your pyromania on.”
Lust’s winter comes ere
The National Weather Service forecasts a mostly sunny day, with a high temperature near 45 degrees, north wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Tonight, chances for precipitation stand at 40%, with possible rain and snow after 2 am before rising to a 100% chance for snow on Thursday, during which time a winter weather advisory will be in effect.
Thanks for reading! With a new year comes a new slew of works now in the public domain, lists of which through The Word currently wades (she hopes Tigger does not also end up in a horror movie like poor Pooh).
