LUCKY Americans can get extra money in summer payment programs, but some have fast approaching deadlines.

For example, under Ithaca’s Guaranteed Income Program in New York, payments worth $450 are expected to be made to 110 residents for a total of 12 months.

The payments are intended for caregivers, including parents, and payments are expected to start rolling out in June via prepaid debit cards, as reported by The Ithaca Voice.

Meanwhile, eligible Chicago, Illinois residents can apply for $50 and $100 worth of transit and gas card funds each month.

The deadline to apply for these benefits is June 1 for monthly payments.

Finally, any Indiana taxpayer who filed their 2020 taxes by January 3, 2022 is eligible for a payment of at least $125, with eligible married couples receiving up to $250. Paper check refunds are expected to be issued in July or August.

Read our stimulus check live blog for the latest news and updates…

New Mexico joins the club of 15 states that have adopted Clean Car rules. These rules are based on California’s emissions and fuel economy standards – the State Environmental Improvement Board. Meanwhile, the City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board all voted to adopt cleanliness standards. Following “a robust stakeholder engagement process over the past year”.

Clean car standards relate to Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards. Here, the ZEV concerns car manufacturers that sell a large number of plug-in vehicles. And the LEV aims to reduce emissions of pollutants and other greenhouse gases. These rules will be effective from 2026 for on-road models.

👏👏👏 Thanks to @GovMLG and @MaireKeller for making NM a clean car state! Your climate and clean economy leadership will benefit New Mexicans across the state for generations to come https://t.co/HNgO6LQcvT#NMCleanCars #Clean Air #NMPol #ClimateActionNow #ProtectPublicHealth pic.twitter.com/D0XAwcb3RY

— NMCleanCarsCleanAir (@NMCleanCars) May 5, 2022

The brand new Mexico Clean Cars Clean Air coalition includes more than 35 nonprofits, local agencies, businesses and unions. These were taken care of in the rulemaking process. Dr. Virginia Necochea of ​​the New Mexico Environmental Law Center said, “We applaud the administrations of Governor Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller for taking this important step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from at least 26% by 2025, in line with the Paris Agreement. “,

Electrification

Additionally, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Ken Hughes said, “Over 900 New Mexicans have submitted comments in support of these standards. The American Lung Association found that electrification would save New Mexicans $3 billion and save 273 lives.

Additionally, Aaron Kressig of Western Resource Advocates said, “We look forward to working with the state to build on this momentum and advance the Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars II standards. Transportation is the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, harming New Mexico’s air and environment. Transport-related pollutants are linked to many adverse health effects, including decreased lung function, inflammation of the airways, worsening of asthma, increased risk of cancer, damage to the immune system and neurological, reproductive, developmental and other health issues.

“Clean cars make sense for New Mexico,” says Tammy Fiebelkorn of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “Clean cars will save us money, save gas, protect our health and preserve our climate. The more we prioritize clean transportation, the greater the benefits. We look forward to working with the Lujan Grisham administration on further cleaning policies for our cars and trucks.

In early 2019, Governor Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico would join the US Climate Alliance. It is a bipartisan coalition of 23 governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Reduce by at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025 – a target consistent with the Paris Agreement.

Los Lunas, New Mexico, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday that a capital investment group has pledged to create more than 950 jobs and invest more than $2 billion dollars in the construction of an aluminum can foil rolling mill and recycling center in Valencia County, New Mexico.

The group has signed a letter of intent to purchase a 1,300-acre parcel in Los Lunas, with construction expected to begin in late 2023 and manufacturing in 2026. The facility would be powered by 100% renewable energy from PNM and would have the capacity to manufacture up to 1.3 billion pounds of aluminum per year, with plans to ensure 85% recycled content once the plant is fully operational.

“The partnerships we’ve built to create and grow a renewable energy economy in New Mexico are attractive to businesses looking for friendly places to grow,” Governor Lujan Grisham said. “Aluminum produced with a low carbon footprint is in demand as customers continue to push for sustainability, and this innovative new project in Valencia County positions New Mexico to benefit from this industry.”

Louisville-based Manna Capital Partners, a private investment firm whose founding partners are Ulysses L. “Junior” Bridgeman and Kevin R. Attkisson, will lead the project and build and operate the plant. Ball Corporation, one of the world’s leading suppliers of infinitely recyclable beverage packaging, will enter into a long-term supply agreement and also intends to take a minority stake.

Manna chose New Mexico in part because of its competitive business climate, proximity to a transportation network that includes rail service, the growth of can manufacturing facilities in the southwestern United States, and Governor Lujan Grisham’s commitment to sustainable energy. The governor specifically targeted sustainable manufacturing for additional public investment to diversify New Mexico’s economy and create better-paying jobs.

The state of New Mexico is pledging $5 million from its Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) job creation fund to support the project with assistance paid when the manufacturer meets economic development criteria, to be determined in a project participation agreement.

The jobs will bring in an average of $68,000 per year and the project is expected to have an economic impact of $3.4 billion over 10 years.

“This state investment will not only bring new, better-paying jobs to New Mexicans, but it will expand our manufacturing footprint with sustainable and responsible products that will see growing demand,” said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes. The ministry and our partners worked together for months to bring this project here. We competed against 10 other sites and now these jobs are coming to New Mexico. True collaborative efforts like this translate into great successes for our state.”

The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) received the company’s initial application and subsequently played a critical role in the site selection process and provided key assistance to investors.

“Since last August, when AREA was contacted by Manna Capital Partners and introduced to its project, AREA’s Director of Business Development, Grant Taylor, has worked as a focal point to collect data, connect with partners and return every stone that helped the company make its decision to locate in the region,” said Danielle Casey, President and CEO of AREA. “The Manna team has demonstrated that they will be a tremendous corporate citizen in the state and an employer of choice in the region. From Governor Lujan Grisham to Mayor Griego to many economic development partners, we are grateful for everyone’s investment and continued stewardship to ensure the success of this project.

Global demand for aluminum cans is expected to experience strong growth over the next decade. From wine to hard seltzer water and flavored water to energy drinks, canned beverages are growing and are preferred by consumers. The facility plans to be one of the greenest, most efficient, and highest quality aluminum sheet suppliers in the United States.

“There is a growing demand for recycled aluminum packaging from beverage manufacturers driven by a desire for sustainability. New Mexico has given us the opportunity to respond with what we anticipate will be the newest state-of-the-art aluminum rolling mill in North America. This project will have a positive impact on people’s lives and is a win-win situation for everyone,” said Junior Bridgeman, Managing Partner of Manna Capital Partners.

The Village of Los Lunas also assists the manufacturer in issuing industrial tax bonds and will act as tax agent. The project can also qualify for a refund of a percentage of the GRT it spends on construction, under a 2021 law signed by Governor Lujan Grisham that allows only part of the revenue tax construction-related gross be reimbursed to companies for large, large job-creating projects.

“Manna Capital Partners’ planned investment in the Village of Los Lunas is a tremendous win for our community as we continue to work every day to retain and attract businesses and employees. It sends a strong message that our community is growing, thriving and an attractive place for businesses to locate and succeed,” said Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego. “This is a great day for the Village of Los Lunas, Valencia County, Metro du Greater Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico. The jobs and investments will reverberate for years and generations to come. The Department of Economic Development and AREA played an important role in the smoothness of the overall process and deserve special thanks for their continued support.

The aid is pending formal review and approvals from the governing bodies of Valencia County and the Village of Los Lunas.

The New Mexico Public Service Company works closely with Manna throughout the process to ensure renewable energy goals are met. The manufacturing process will require more than 500,000 megawatts of electricity per year.

“PNM is proud of the work we’ve done to bring our electricity generation ever closer to 100% carbon-free generation. Working with the Governor and his administration, New Mexico’s clean energy transition efforts are noticed by companies that value environmentally sustainable energy. Our combined efforts provide economic opportunities and new jobs for new Mexicans,” said PNM CEO and Chairman of the Board, Pat Vincent-Collawn. .

About Manna Capital Partners: Manna Capital Partners is a private investment firm founded by Junior Bridgeman and Kevin Attkisson. The company and its subsidiaries focus on investment and acquisition opportunities across multiple sectors in the United States and internationally, including sustainability investments and impact-oriented opportunities for businesses and minority and women’s communities. For more information, contact Manna Capital Partners at [email protected] or 502.805.1329.

The mission of the New Mexico Department of Economic Development (EDD) is to improve the lives of New Mexico families by increasing economic opportunity and providing a place where businesses can thrive.

EDD’s programs contribute directly to this mission by providing funds to train our workforce, providing infrastructure that supports business growth, and helping every community create a thriving economy. Since January 1, 2019, EDD has supported more than 13,000 new jobs and trained 8,323 New Mexicans for better pay. EDD has used LEDA to invest in 53 companies, supporting over 7,500 new jobs at an average salary of $70,000, $531 million in annual payroll, $5.2 billion in new capital investments and economic impact over ten years of more than 30 billion dollars. Thirty-nine communities in 22 counties have benefited from EDD programs.

A mapping project published today by non-profit environmental groups EarthWorks and FracTracker shows that more than 12.3 million people live within half a mile of an oil and gas facility in the United States, including 144,377 in New Mexico. And earlier this month, a mostly rural county just south of Albuquerque passed an ordinance that could increase that number even further.

In early May, the Valencia County Board of Commissioners passed a zoning “overlay” that would allow anyone in the county to apply to mine natural resources on property not located along the Rio Grande Greenbelt (which divides the county in half) and not in an incorporated area. They would also not lose the zoning classification of the property’s original county. Proposals would still have to meet county and state guidelines for resource development, but the layering would significantly reduce the administrative steps and public hearings required by the county for zoning changes.

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The change could help landowners tap into all kinds of resources, says County Commissioner Joseph Bizzell, who sponsored the bill. “It could be gravel, it could be hydrogen,” he says. He also has his own business idea: “I’m trying to get brackish water. Bizzell says water deposits in the western county could be mined, desalinated and sold for both clean water and the resulting salt. Currently, that would require an industrial rezoning, he says, and if the brine runs out, he would have to reapply to have the land for agricultural or residential use.

But layering has uses beyond rocks or salt water.

Harvey Yates Jr. of Albuquerque, a county to the north, told the commission, “I think there’s a good chance we could develop a new industry that would mean a better economy for Valencia County.

And maybe a better economy for Yates, too.

The former leader of the state’s Republican Party runs Jalapeño Corporation, an Albuquerque-based oil and gas drilling and exploration company. He is also part of New Mexico’s best-known and wealthiest oil family. It was a Yates who drilled the first successful oil well in New Mexico in 1907. And in 2016 the family sold Yates Petroleum to EOG Resources for $2.5 billion. While the family’s businesses no longer primarily revolve around owning oil and gas wells, research at the New Mexico Division of Petroleum Conservation shows that other companies still own nearly 320 wells with “Yates” in the name.

Valencia County Attorney David Pato said the zoning overlay allows landowners to quickly revert to previous uses “whether or not there are natural resources in the area.”

Bizzell, who sponsored the zoning overlay, invited Yates to the commission meeting that evening, and Yates was blunt when asked during the meeting if there were any fossil fuel deposits in the county of Valencia.

“Are there resources in Valencia County?” I think so,” he said. The US Geological Survey also thinks it’s possible. A 1995 study notes that the Albuquerque Basin “has the potential for large quantities of hydrocarbons, probably gas” – although none have been found at this point due to scattered and “poor” underground data. .

Yates liked that the layering would allow people to continue doing what they were doing on the surface while the drilling and mining took place underground. “In Fort Worth,” he said, “there are 2,000 wells under the city.” He also noted wells under Hobbs and Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Valencia County is not exactly Fort Worth or the middle of the Permian Basin. For one, there are only about 76,000 people and no oil or gas wells. County Attorney David Pato says the overlay allows landowners to quickly revert to previous uses “whether or not there are natural resources in the area.”

This could be significant for Yates, as companies he controls — including Jalapeño Corporation, Petro Yates and Yates Exploration — own hundreds of plots scattered across the eastern part of the county, many in ghost developments that were part of the years Massive 60s and 70s Horizon Land Corporation Scam. Yates did not respond to interview requests for this story.

But Yates’ ties to Valencia County run deeper than the land his companies own. His Jalapeño Corporation donated $1,500 to the Bizzell County Commissioner’s 2020 election campaign, according to records from the office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. That’s about three-quarters of all the money Bizzell has raised for the race. Asked about campaign donations, he changed the subject, saying, “You know, again, I’m looking at brackish water.”

“It could be something the people of the county would not support and would be appalled to happen.”

~ Kathy McCord, Valencia County resident

Bizzell worked with County Attorney Pato on the zoning project: “I gave him the idea of ​​what I wanted, and he wrote it down.” And Bizzell says he shared the proposed zoning overlay with Yates to get his input ahead of the commissioners’ meeting. When asked if Yates had suggested any changes, Bizzell replied, “I don’t know if he made anything or not.”

“When constituents have concerns, they take them to their commissioners, who are then raised and considered by the council,” says Pato. It’s unclear if Yates is considered a voter because he lives in another county. Asked about the kinds of concerns raised while writing the proposal, Pato replied, “I don’t remember.

The committee heard other concerns at the meeting. Duana Draszkiewicz, who lives in the county, came to ask the commission to ban fireworks during this dry season. She stayed when she saw the zoning overlay on the commission’s agenda. After Yates spoke, she told the commission it was “just going to get oil and gas. I dare you to tell me I’m wrong.

She says that after the meeting, “I had [county workers] outside the door that gave me a thumbs up because they can’t talk.

Kathy McCord, who also came out to talk about fireworks and also lives in the county, stood up to say, “This might be something the people of the county wouldn’t support and would be appalled to happen.”

They both pleaded with the commissioners to have a wider public audience – which ultimately they probably will. The zoning change was only publicly announced once prior to the meeting, and it probably should have been posted twice. Pato said once was enough for this type of change, but recommended the commissioners rescind the rule, reissue it, and hold another public hearing. Bizzell is in favor of the redesign. “That way everyone has public comments,” he says.

Many oil and gas facilities give off toxic gases, and studies show that living near these emitters leads to increased rates of cancer and other illnesses.

The public has new data to consider.

According to the oil and gas threat map released today by EarthWorks and FracTracker, none of the more than 144,000 New Mexicans who already live within half a mile of an oil and gas facility are in the county. of Valencia. By comparison, it is difficult to find areas in huge portions of the Permian and San Juan fossil fuel basins that are not within half a mile of a facility.

Many of these facilities leak toxic gases, and studies show that living near these emitters leads to increased rates of cancer and other illnesses. State and federal agencies have known this for years, but so far they have been unable to stop the pollution. A case in point: One year after the start of a new reporting program administered by the New Mexico Division of Petroleum Conservation, 262 operators failed to file quarterly reports accounting for natural gas losses due to evacuation and flaring.

“It can be very overwhelming if you can’t afford to pick up and move,” says Kayley Shoup, a community organizer with Citizens Caring for the Future. She lives in Carlsbad in the middle of the Permian Basin.

Overwhelming and unhealthy. According to map data, approximately 80 percent of the residents of San Juan County in the San Juan Basin live within half a mile of an oil or gas facility. Joseph Hernandez with the NAVA Education Project in Shiprock, New Mexico lives there and points out that about 60% of the county is in the Navajo Nation, so the majority of people affected by heavy air pollution due leaks from oil and gas facilities are people of color.

“For generations, we have been affected on many levels [by] fossil fuel industry,” he says.

“I can’t stress enough how important this is for future generations.”

Rancher and environmental gadfly Don Schreiber lives on a cattle ranch with 122 producing gas wells at the eastern end of the San Juan Basin. For years, he has pushed state and federal agencies to tighten rules governing fossil fuel companies, and he has harsh words for Valencia County commissioners and the people who live there.

“County planning and zoning commissions have a huge responsibility,” he says. “They are the last line of defense” when state and federal institutions are unable or unwilling to regulate an industry, be it oil, gas or brackish water. He emphasizes that a well is never just a well. You need big drilling equipment. You need trucks or pipelines to transport the resulting liquids. Roads are needed for trucks and to access wells and pipelines. All this leads to further industrial development.

He says companies are coming to new communities to start drilling and promising a golden goose. But companies tend to get the gold.

“The other things that come out of the goose,” he says, “everyone ends up with that.”

Copyright 2022 Capital & Main

• Schneider Electric presents a new framework for future-proof buildings developed in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to accelerate the investments needed to create a greener urban built environment

• New modeling reveals a necessary two- to three-fold increase in the rate at which Europe’s building stock is modernized to meet Paris Agreement commitments

• Company announces the creation of 2,500 green jobs worldwide to help accelerate climate action across all facets of the economy

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 20, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, calls for an urgent overhaul of investment priorities and greater collective action to drive global efforts on climate change at the upcoming WEF in Davos.

Scenarios from Schneider’s Sustainability Research Institute show that stimulating a demand-led transition is the only scenario in which emissions will fall fast enough to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. The Research Institute will launch the Towards Net Zero Buildings: A Practical Path e-book in Davos, examining how to break the current impasse between supply and demand. Key findings include:

• Only 1 to 1.5% of the building stock in Europe is renovated each year. Renovation levels must reach 3% per year to meet Paris commitments

• Funding remains the biggest barrier to investing in sustainable buildings¹ but investing in decarbonization technologies, digital and city ecosystem services maximizes value creation for all stakeholders

• Energy efficiency technology offers significant opportunities to reduce energy consumption ranging from 10-60%, depending on geographies and quality of existing assets

• Digital energy efficiency solutions deliver 20-30% carbon reduction across the building stock, delivering highly competitive returns on investment and cost savings for consumers well within 8 years in mean

The eBook provides a practical roadmap for governments and industries to balance the costs of energy transition with the added burden on communities, especially in today’s unpredictable climate. It also introduces a new Future-Proof Buildings Framework for Buildings developed in collaboration with the WEF that presents a model and toolkit to accelerate investments to decarbonize cities. Importantly, the framework emphasizes the need to create value for all. Through the adoption of existing technologies that reduce carbon and provide a net benefit to consumers, while creating value for the economy and communities.

The story continues

Schneider Electric has embarked on its own sustainability journey, leading the way as an impact company for 20 years, and believes that accelerating action in a context of high and volatile energy prices requires change. of strategy. In addition to investments to increase renewable energy capacity, it is now essential to create demand for clean energy through a consumer-driven transition.

In line with this approach, Schneider Electric also announces the creation of 2,500 green jobs worldwide to help accelerate climate action in all facets of the economy. The jobs, primarily field service roles, will involve helping Schneider customers digitize and decarbonize facilities, modernize assets promoting a sustainable and circular economy approach, and provide advice on sustainable development.

“Investment in renewable energy must continue apace, but every energy transition in history has been driven by market demand. Shifting to a consumer-centric, demand-driven investment approach will not only lead to large-scale decarbonization, but will also achieve more encouraging results than current modeling suggests,” – declared Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric. “Consumers are driving change. That means demand is driving change. The priority must be to disrupt demand with new technologies and bring benefits to the user.”

Schneider Electric representatives at DAVOS 2022

In his role as co-chair of the Forum’s Net Zero Carbon Cities initiative, Jean-Pascal Tricoire will call for a shift in investment priorities. This requires moving from cost-centric investment criteria to value criteria, extending the current focus on infrastructure to investments that fuel demand, and shifting from over-indexing hardware to solutions. durable software-based. He will also discuss the need for greater collaboration to move faster to a low-carbon economy.

Luc Remont, Executive Vice President of International Operations at Schneider Electric, will discuss the importance of digital technologies to enable the energy transition in emerging markets and major new partnerships in India, East Asia and South America to empower the workforce and train more people in energy management.

Barbara Frei, Executive Vice President of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, will discuss the implications of a shift to an increasingly supply-driven economy and how the transformation of a supply chain model linear supply in a circular model is essential for a sustainable future. She will discuss the challenges companies face in moving from resource-intensive production and consumption to efficient, low-carbon processes, as well as the role of technologies, collaboration platforms and interoperability in the resolution of these challenges. She will also discuss the need for manufacturers to refocus their digital transformation journeys towards workforce engagement to attract talent and create safer work environments. She will share her insights on how augmented automation can empower the workforce and improve productivity.

Peter Weckesser, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of Schneider Electric, will provide insights into the transformative role of data and artificial intelligence in advancing business strategies that simultaneously address the biggest challenges facing industries: resilience and decarbonization. He will also discuss the opportunities and values ​​that can be captured today through digital ecosystem collaboration and the deployment of innovative technologies at scale – and across the enterprise.

See below for details of public sessions with Schneider Electric spokespersons:

Topic: The augmented crafting experience
Speaker: Barbara Frei, Vice President of Industrial Automation
Date: Monday May 23
Weather: 8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. CET

Topic: Unleashing Digital Innovation for Net Zero
Speaker: Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO
Date: tuesday 24 may
Weather: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CET

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s goal is to give everyone the means to make the most of our energy and resources, combining progress and sustainability for everyone. We call it Life is on.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for sustainability and efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating cutting-edge process and energy technologies, endpoint-to-cloud connection products, controls, software and services throughout the lifecycle, enabling integrated management of enterprise, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partner ecosystems who are passionate about sharing Meaningful, inclusive and empowered purpose values.

https://www.se.com/ca/en/

Discover life is lit

Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog

Discover the new insights shaping sustainability, Electricity 4.0 and next-generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights.

Hashtags: #InfrustructureOfTheFuture #Sustainability #ClimateChange #Electricity4.0 #Industry4.0

_________________
¹ WGBC “Beyond the Business Case”

See the source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220520005272/en/

contacts

Media Relations – Edelman on behalf of Schneider Electric, Juan Pablo Guerrero, Phone: +1 416 875 7173, Email: [email protected]

Remark:

Governor Lujan Grisham has recently continued her attempt to simultaneously keep the oil and gas revenue spigot while embracing enough policies from the radical environmental agenda to appease her political and fundraising base.

His latest plan, known as the Clean Car Rule, has been adopted by his hand-picked Environmental Improvement Board (EIB). Governor-appointed councils are much more willing to do as they are told than unruly and sometimes uncooperative (albeit overwhelmingly Democratic) legislative bodies with their own political calculations and aspirations.

Incredibly, New Mexico’s new Clean Car Rule undermines democracy and self-government (as well as our economy) by placing New Mexico’s auto regulations under the control of another state, California. The current rules are California’s and if California changes them, New Mexico will have to follow them or reverse course and opt out.

New Mexico’s new auto standards will require approximately 7% of new cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2025. In the latest available report (Q3 2021), zero-emission vehicles accounted for only 2.29% new vehicle sales in New Mexico. . So, to comply with the new rule, sales of zero-emission vehicles will need to slightly more than triple from the third quarter of 2021 to 2025.

But the real kick is that by bowing to California’s political whims, New Mexico could soon be forced to adopt even more aggressive “clean car” standards. California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order that, if passed, would end the sale of gasoline-powered cars in California by 2035. Final passage of the rule could come in California as early as this month. of August.

If California adopts this rule, 35% of new cars, SUVs and small pickups sold in California (and therefore New Mexico) must be zero-emissions starting with 2026 models. This number will increase each year, reaching 51% of all new car sales in 2028, 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035.

New Mexico’s ‘just’ tripling of electric vehicle (EV) sales in two years means dealerships will subsidize EVs by raising gasoline vehicle prices or look to the state to further subsidize sales of “chosen” vehicles. This could make gas-powered vehicles purchased in New Mexico more expensive, which would drive purchases from out-of-state auto dealerships. This would result in lost jobs and tax revenue in New Mexico. This situation will worsen if California (and New Mexico) adopts the even more aggressive rules envisaged.

Current tax credits and grants include a federal tax credit of $7,500 and various credits for upgrading electrical grid connectivity, which further aid in the deployment of electric vehicles. Of course, these credits and subsidies are paid for by increasing costs to ratepayers and utility rate payers.

The deployment of electric vehicle charging stations will be another expense associated with this plan. A recent report revealed that New Mexico has only 401 public charging stations statewide. And these must be maintained. A recent report from EV-friendly San Francisco found that 27% of charging stations in the bay were not functional.

This all comes at a time when New Mexico’s largest utility (PNM) is keeping its coal-fired power plant open just to keep the lights on and says it won’t have half the solar replacement power. /battery required to keep the lights on through the summer of 2023.

There are so many issues and costs with a drastic shift to electric vehicles that at the very least the elected New Mexico legislature should have had a say, but instead we have a governor in a battle tight reelection that wants to make big promises to environmental groups and their backers, no matter how much they disrupt or harm New Mexicans and their livelihoods.

The fact is that the real costs of these unrealistic and damaging policies will be borne after this election. Unfortunately, this is all intentional.

Paul Gessing is president of the Rio Grande Foundation of New Mexico. The Rio Grande Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization dedicated to promoting the prosperity of New Mexico based on the principles of limited government, economic freedom, and responsibility. individual.

They were torn from their parents’ arms, changed their names and cut their hair, forbidden to speak their own language or practice their customs, and severely punished for any act of disobedience. Many did not survive, their bodies buried next to the schools they were forced to attend.

The U.S. government has released the first volume of an investigation into the degrading treatment of Native American children in federally-run Indian boarding schools over a century and a half. So far, the investigation has established that more than 500 children have died in 19 of these schools. “This number is expected to increase” as the investigation progresses, says the report, which estimates the number will climb into the “thousands or tens of thousands” as the horror of what happened in these schools will be revealed.

The investigation was launched after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. A similar survey was launched in the United States, and the first results were published on May 11 by the United States Department of the Interior, which is responsible for the protection of federally owned lands and the management of programs relating to indigenous communities.

Research shows that between 1819 and 1969, the federal system of boarding schools for Native American children included 408 federal schools in 37 states or what were then considered territories, including 21 schools in Alaska and seven in Hawaii. The survey has identified marked and unmarked burial sites in 53 schools and indicates that more are likely to emerge.

The report was presented by current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first serving Native American woman whose own grandparents were separated from their parents at the age of eight by authorities. “The consequences of federal policies on Indian boarding schools – including the intergenerational trauma caused by family separation and cultural eradication inflicted on generations of children as young as four years old – are heartbreaking and undeniable,” he said. she said at a press conference.

Haaland believes that the results of this investigation should be used to give voice to the victims and their descendants in order to heal the scars inflicted on the indigenous populations.

The 106-page report describes how the attempted cultural assimilation of Indian children was part of a larger goal to deprive Native American tribes and Alaska Natives and Hawaiians of their land. “I believe this historical context is important to understanding the intent and scope of the federal Indian residential school system, and why it has persisted for 150 years,” Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland wrote in the letter. accompanying the report.

The document goes on to compile historical evidence that supports this conclusion while highlighting the hundreds of treaties signed under duress in the second half of the 19th century that served to relieve Native Americans of their territories. Some have offered education in return, but the report notes that there is ample evidence that many children were forcibly separated from their parents without the consent of the family and, in fact, some parents paid with their lives for their resistance.

One of the appendices includes maps showing the location of boarding schools, with black dots covering the entire map of the United States, although they are particularly dense in what is now Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.

In many schools, children were involved in animal husbandry, agriculture and poultry farming, milking, fertilization, tree felling, brick making, cooking and sewing. It was considered part of their education, but the report says they left school with little that could help them contribute to the country’s economy as adults. Under cover of a so-called education, the students were, in effect, used as child labour.

The report documents how a policy of deliberate uprooting was carried out, with the federal government often collaborating with religious organizations and institutions to run the boarding schools. Not only were the children separated from their parents and relatives, but the schools insisted on mixing students from different tribes, which meant that they necessarily had to use English to communicate.

Indian Affairs Commissioner William A. Jones stressed in 1902 that there was a need for perseverance regarding the initiative and compared Native Indian children to caged birds. He said the first generation wants to fly out of the cage because it retains its instincts, but after several generations the bird would rather live in the cage than fly away. The same goes for the Indian child, he added, according to the report. “The first savage Redskin placed in the school resents the loss of freedom and yearns to return to his savage wooden home.” But, over time, these children develop “new rules of conduct, different aspirations and a greater desire to be in contact with the dominant race”.

The inquiry has drawn up a catalog of the mistreatment and abuse suffered by children, beyond separation from their families and forced confinement. “The federal Indian boarding school system deployed systematic weaponization and identity-altering methodologies in an effort to assimilate Native American children,” the report said.

“Boarding school rules were often enforced through punishment, including corporal punishment such as solitary confinement; flogging; withhold food; whip; slaps; and handcuffs. The report adds that older children were sometimes forced to punish younger ones. Those who attempted to escape from the schools were severely punished.

The investigation has already discovered 53 burial places on the grounds of these boarding schools and in 19 of these centers more than 500 child deaths have been recorded. The report does not go into a direct analysis of the cause of death, but notes that the whole system of assimilation and uprooting was “traumatic and violent”.

Although the death toll is in the hundreds, the Department of the Interior anticipates that the ongoing investigation “will reveal that the approximate number of Indian children who have died in Federal Indian Residential Schools is in the thousands or tens of thousands.” , many of which are unidentified. and buried in mass graves. “The death of Indian children while in the care of the federal government or federally supported institutions has led to the breakdown of Indian families and the erosion of Indian tribes,” the report concludes.

“The goal of our tour is really to dive deep into some of the programs that will be offered in the coming fiscal year, either an expansion, or a change, or an added benefit that relates specifically to business, industry, attractions , interested parties,” Antoinette Vigil, Deputy Secretary for Tourism, told the crowd.

Guest speakers discussed grants related to beautification, rural infrastructure, event support and maintenance, and marketing, among other resources.

Some of these programs are already used by the city of Roswell, a city heavily dependent on foreign visitors.

“For the City of Roswell, we have such an iconic brand, it’s something that our downtown businesses rely on us to help bring visitors to their business, to our local restaurants,” said Junita Jennings, Director of Public Affairs for the City of Roswell.

Jennings, who manages the city’s marketing efforts, said in 2022 the city had received a total of $157,096.50 and for the coming year it had so far requested $143,655. . Much of that money is for city marketing, like the $9,000 the state received from the Google Ads Department to promote the city’s annual UFO festival.

The city also received funding for the Department’s Marketing and Advertising Program, which is used for print, billboard and digital advertisements marketing the city. Themes go beyond the UFOs and extraterrestrials that Roswell is known for and also include the city’s outdoor riches, including its museums and outdoor riches, as well as activities such as hiking, bird watching and fishing. ‘astronomy.

“It’s about making memories and having this adventure of exploration,” Jennings said.

Beyond marketing, the city also hopes to apply for a $50,000 grant from the Department to make improvements to its visitor center, located downtown. The city has already set aside $300,000 and hired an engineer for the project.

Improvements to the center are expected to include expanded parking and digital kiosks where visitors can inquire and make lists of local attractions they want to visit.

With pandemic restrictions now relaxed, Jennings said she thought people were eager to travel again.

“After being locked up these two years, it’s about getting out there, and you know, being able to explore all that we have to offer,” Jennings said.

New Mexico state regulators are calling the first month of adult-use cannabis commercial sales a success, after licensed retailers recorded more than $22.1 million.

That figure is in addition to $17.3 million in medical cannabis sales, bringing the combined total to nearly $39.5 million, according to the state’s Cannabis Control Division (CCD).

CCD officials hailed the first-month benchmark as an indication of a strong market and supply that has made the new industry a boon to New Mexico’s economy.

“New Mexicans showed up April 1 ready to support local businesses selling high-quality New Mexico products,” said CCD Director Kristen Thomson. “And they always come. Thanks to the hard work of dedicated people working in the industry, the supply has easily met consumer and patient demand. New Mexicans have reason to be proud of the launch of this new industry, which is already adding value to the state’s diverse economy.

The most populous city in the state with over 560,000 residents, Albuquerque saw the highest numbers with $8 million in adult-use cannabis sales and nearly $6.9 million in cannabis sales medical, or about 38% of the state’s overall sales figures for April.

Meanwhile, Las Cruces, with about 110,000 residents, saw nearly $2.1 million in adult usage and $1.6 million in medical sales for the month. Santa Fe (population 87,500) had over $1.8 million in adult usage and $1.6 million in medical sales.

In addition, communities near the Texas border also saw strong sales figures, Hobbs ($1.3 million for adults and $422,000 for medical) and Sunland Park ($1.2 million for adults and $225,000 for medical care) rounding out the top five cities by sales, according to CCD.

Overall, cannabis for adults accounted for 56.1% of sales in April.

Retail trade was boosted by five Fridays and five Saturdays for the month, as well as spikes associated with the state’s April 1 launch, which included about $2.7 million in combined sales, and the holiday from April 20, when dispensaries recorded $2.2 million in combined sales.

Duke Rodriguez, president and CEO of Ultra Health, New Mexico’s largest cannabis company with 38 dispensaries serving both medical and adult customers in the state, highlighted these factors and more.

“Keep in mind we were making $20 million a month in medical bills in 2021,” he said. Cannabis time. “So we are seeing a deterioration in medical care. Now, if it migrates to adulthood, we can’t tell yet. But the reality is that we are seeing a deterioration in medical sales compared to last year, and adult sales did not meet our target.

Rodriguez said New Mexico’s retail target should, in part, be based on comparisons with Montana, which launched its adult retail program on Jan. 1, 2022. During that month inaugural, licensed retailers in Montana sold more than $14.1 million in adult-use cannabis and $10.1 million in medical cannabis (nearly $24.3 million combined), according to the Department of Revenue of State.

Montana’s population of 1.07 million is about 51% of New Mexico’s population of 2.1 million, but its overall first-month sales were 61.5% of New Mexico’s. Mexico.

Besides being close to their adult launch dates, Montana and New Mexico are similar in some ways, Rodriguez said.

“Montana is the fourth largest landmass. [New Mexico is the] fifth largest landmass,” he said. “We are both very rural populations. But New Mexico has a huge advantage over Montana: #1, we’re twice their population. #2, we border the nation’s second most populous state, Texas.

While Rodriguez acknowledged that not all months are the same, he said fears have been raised based on those comparisons. While Montana recorded $25.4 million in combined adult and medical sales in April, he said he thinks New Mexico’s numbers should have been double that.

Although only a few days were recorded in the May sales books, Rodriguez said Ultra Health’s retail operations had seen very little change from April, other than the absence of the launch of the April 1 and the 4/20 push.

Overall, New Mexico retailers averaged $1.3 million a day in adult and medical sales throughout April.

The first tax payments on adult-use cannabis sales are due May 25, and data on state revenue from those sales will be available after that date, according to CCD.

Going forward, the division will publish sales figures on a monthly basis.

The cost of these disasters has increased dramatically and so far in 2022 there is little relief on the horizon.

Historically, extreme weather events are less frequent in the first quarter of most calendar years, but Aon Benfield estimates The first quarter of 2022 was the sixth consecutive year with more than $10 billion in insured losses. Their first estimates for the first quarter of 2022 suggest that severe weather events globally have resulted in $32 billion in overall economic losses, of which $14 billion is covered by public and private insurers.

An estimated $6 billion of global economic losses in the first quarter of 2022 stem from weather events in the United States, primarily severe convective storms and tornadoes in March.

Damage from convective storms has become almost as costly as hurricanes, with average annual losses in the United States amounting to nearly $17 billion, with hail losses contributing up to 50-80%, according to RMS. severe convective losses in a given year. Warm temperatures and unusual changes in the jet stream lead to more extreme weather events like the devastating tornadoes of December 10 and 11, 2021, which crossed six states and included a single tornado with the longest path on record of approximately 250 miles.

According to AccuWeather, March, April and May tend to see the most powerful storms and large tornadoes, such as the EF4 tornado that hit Des Moines, IA on March 5-6. From March 21-23, a large tornado outbreak hit the southern region of the United States, with strong tornadoes near College Station, Austin and Houston, TX, metropolitan areas, and another supercell hitting the New York metropolitan area. -Orleans.

“Tornado Alley”, the region from the Southern Plains to the Northern Plains encompassing central Texas, much of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, parts of eastern Colorado and New Mexico and parts of Iowa, has historically seen…

FARMINGTON — The county’s hopes to open the San Juan County Industrial Park received a boost April 28 with a $1.6 million infrastructure grant from the U.S. Bailout Coal Communities Pledge .

County Executive Mike Stark said that grant, 30% in county matching funds and an earlier state grant to connect the park to a local natural gas line, totaled more than $4.1 million. investment dollars to improve the facility for potential tenants.

Planned infrastructure improvements are intended to stimulate future growth of the industrial park.

Upon completion, Stark predicted the facility would be “potentially the first industrial space here in the Four Corners”.

Cash received from the state and federal government

The $1.6 million in federal money for infrastructure will be matched by $699,760 in local money.

The $4.1 million investment plan is complemented by a $1.82 million rural infrastructure grant the county received in March for the construction of a gas pipeline extension aimed at attracting new businesses in the La Plata industrial park, owned by the county.

The New Mexico Department of Economic Development announced March 29 that San Juan County had received the state grant to extend an 11-mile natural gas pipeline along the NM 170 freeway to the industrial park, a project that will also open access to natural gas to residents along this highway.

From mine headquarters to industrial park

The 190-acre parcel was acquired by San Juan County as a future industrial park from the Bureau of Land Management and international mining company BHP Billiton in 2007.

The area was used for 10 years by local company PESCO, an oil and gas equipment manufacturer, until 2019.

Another tenant was ready to occupy the park in early 2020, “and then COVID hit, and they rightfully backed off,” Stark said.

After lease negotiations ended, the facility sat vacant, and the county decided to look into the shortcomings noted by past users of the site and seek money to improve the park.

Located 18 miles north of Farmington on Highway 170, BHP’s former La Plata mine headquarters is just a little off the beaten path. The 1985 facility includes a 42,000 square foot building, as well as smaller buildings. There is a 19,200 square foot store and it has two overhead cranes 50 feet above the work area, according to a white paper for the county grant application.

Stark said these cranes are a big advantage in attracting certain types of manufacturing.

There is also storage space, locker rooms and support areas on the lower level, and 8,200 square feet of adjoining office space, according to the white paper.

Stark said the office space needs updating, and that’s part of the plans for the grant money. Other upgrades include broadband access and structural improvements. These include water and fire suppression system upgrades, lighting and security upgrades, mechanical upgrades, HVAC system upgrades and system improvements roof.

The improvements partly represent the county acting on concerns or complaints from those who used the facility despite key flaws, Stark said. The lack of access to natural gas meant high propane heating bills, and the lack of broadband also made the site less attractive.

Grant part of the federal effort for coal communities

The grant is part of the Economic Development Administration’s $300 million US bailout and coal communities pledge.

“President Biden’s U.S. bailout provides direct assistance to American communities as they work to build a better America following the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement. a press release on April 28.

“This EDA investment will support San Juan County in its efforts to diversify its economy and create new, well-paying jobs for the community.”

The EDA press release noted that the project was facilitated by regional planning efforts “led by the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments. The EDA is funding the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

The statement said the project is part of the federal government’s multi-agency efforts to help communities hard hit by job cuts in the coal industry.

“The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping communities across the country implement strategies to alleviate economic hardship brought about by the coronavirus pandemic,” said the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project is part of EDA’s Coal Community Engagement and will support the transition of the local economy from the coal industry to new fields, attracting additional businesses to San Juan County and supporting a stronger and more resilient regional economy.”

Contact John R. Moses at 505-564-4624, or by email at [email protected]

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The Nuevo Leon state government visited the partnership this week with the aim of strengthening relations between the two regions, focusing on the development of their energy, logistics, life sciences and technology ecosystems. This visit follows last month’s successful economic development trip to Mexico, led by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston First Corp. and the Partnership.

Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garciaeconomics secretary Maestro Ivan Rivas Rodriguezand General Manager of the Corporation for the Development of the Border Zone of Nuevo León Dr. Marco Antonio Gonzalez Valdez all attended a luncheon where they discussed infrastructure proposals and the state’s thriving economy.

International Bridges Master Plan

Gonzalez presented Nuevo Leon’s plan to modernize the Port of Colombia, referring to the project as a priority for Governor Garcia’s administration. The Port of Columbia is the only international bridge directly connecting Texas to Nuevo Leon and ranks #3 in total customs federal tax collection between the United States and Mexico. Gonzales discussed plans to maximize port activity, noting advanced talks to reactivate a railroad to the border town. He also said that establishing a cargo airport and promoting the strategic relocation of export factories are key goals for the administration.

The flourishing “economy”

Economy Secretary Maestro Iván Rivas Rodríguez discussed the economy of Nuevo Leon, led by the capital Monterrey, which accounts for 92% of the state’s population. Rodriguez pointed to Nuevo Leon’s business and labor competition, noting that it generates 7.8% of Mexico’s GDP while the state represents only 4.6% of the country’s population.

Rodriguez shared other economic factors, focusing on the state’s foreign direct investment (FDI) records. According to the secretary, with $921 million in FDI in the fourth quarter of 2021, the state of Nuevo Leon ranked No. 1 in the country, accounting for 24% of Mexico’s total FDI.

Rodriguez also highlighted the recovery of the state from the pandemic and the business sectors. “Not only are we recovering…we’re doing a lot better,” Rodriguez said. “We are ready for businesses and people to come and make a soft landing in Nuevo Leon.”

Memorandum of Understanding

Senior Vice President and Director of Economic Development Susan Davenport, Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia and Nuevo Leon Economic Secretary signed a memorandum of understanding. The MOU represents an agreement for future collaboration between Houston and Nuevo Leon.

Remarks from the Governor of Nuevo Leon

Governor Garcia discussed the importance of the Port of Columbia project, with a focus on tax revenue. “Imagine what we can accomplish with our people…[and] with a good port.

The Mexican governor also highlighted the economic development gains of Texas and Houston. “Texas did a great job winning California. [companies]… the [growth of] the new Silicon Valley in Austin and energy issues in Houston.

Honoring Governor Garcia’s visit to Houston and anticipating multi-industry collaborations, Mayor Turner proclaimed April 26 Nuevo Leon Day.

Learn more about Houston’s global business relationships and register for the Partnership’s International Business Month events – a celebration of Houston’s thriving international relationships and our position as one of today’s great global cities. today.

Earnings reports from social media companies are coming out this week, including those from Twitter and Facebook, and ad accounts from much of their business.

But when Snap Inc. reported earnings last week, the company flagged issues that could hurt ad demand. The problems are familiar – supply chain problems and inflation.

Most people who work in advertising will tell you that ad spend is a good measure of where companies are headed for the economy. Deloitte Digital’s Mark Singer said that while brands are worried about a possible recession, marketing is on the chopping block.

“Marketing is the first to go, and it’s the leading indicator when the economy comes back because it’s the first to come back. We don’t recommend our customers do this,” Singer said.

It’s actually time to continue to invest in marketing, he said, or even invest more in building brand loyalty. And digital is where they should be investing their ad dollars, especially during a pandemic that has kept people online more than ever.

“We’re seeing influencers making leaps and bounds,” Singer said.

According to Tina Moffett, principal analyst at Forrester, social media is seeing the strongest growth of advertising in general. It’s not just because it’s where consumers’ eyes are, it also gives brands the best value for money. Campaign effectiveness is easy to measure and ads can be targeted to consumers in specific geographic markets.

Moffett said it’s really helpful if your product is readily available in New York, but it would take too long to get to New Mexico.

“Because they weren’t going to spend media money in an area to promote a product where they didn’t have it,” she said.

As for inflation? According to Wharton marketing professor Barbara Kahn, it’s about your, “trying to get the consumer to understand that we’re in this together,” she said. “We try to do the right thing. We are a partner with you. We try to create value.

Because in a time when a lot of how people buy comes down to price, explaining why it hopefully increases loyalty and a more honest relationship with a customer.

SANTA FE, New Mexico –

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed emergency declarations as 20 wildfires continued to burn Sunday in nearly half of the 33 drought-stricken counties.

A wildfire in northern New Mexico that started April 6 merged with a more recent blaze on Saturday to form the second-largest blaze in the state at more than 171 square miles, prompting widespread evacuations in counties of Mora and San Miguel.

Another wind-driven wildfire in northern New Mexico that began April 17 has charred at least 197 square kilometers of ponderosa pine, oak brush and grass north of Ocate, an uninhabited community. incorporated as Mora County.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, some residents forced to evacuate due to a wildfire near Flagstaff were allowed to return home on Sunday morning.

Winds and temperatures in New Mexico eased on Saturday but remained strong enough to fan the fires. Dozens of evacuation orders remained in place.

Fire officials expected wildfires in the north to slow on Sunday as cloud cover and smoke shifted, allowing forests to retain more moisture. But they added that interior parts of the fires could show moderate to extreme behavior, which could threaten structures in those areas.

More than 200 structures have so far been charred by the wildfires and another 900 remain at risk, Lujan Grisham said.

Fire management officials said the exact damage toll was unclear as it is still too dangerous for crews to enter and look at all the homes that have been lost.

“We don’t know the extent of the structural loss. We don’t even know the areas where most of the houses survived the fire, where the houses weren’t damaged or anything like that” , said the chief of the operations sections, Jayson Coil.

Some 1,000 firefighters were battling wildfires across New Mexico, which has already secured about US$3 million in grants to help fight the blazes.

Lujan Grisham said she asked the White House for more federal resources and called for a statewide ban on fireworks.

“We need more federal agencies for firefighting, fire mitigation, public safety support on the ground in New Mexico,” she said. “It’s going to be a tough summer. This is why we prohibit fires. And that’s why on Monday, I’ll be asking every local government to think about ways to ban the sale of fireworks.

Wildfires have become a year-round threat in the West given changing conditions that include earlier snowmelt and later rains in the fall, scientists said. The problems have been exacerbated by decades of fire suppression and poor management, as well as a 20-plus-year mega-drought that studies have linked to human-induced climate change.

In Arizona, two large wildfires continued to burn Sunday 16 kilometers south of Prescott and 22 kilometers northeast of Flagstaff.

Coconino County officials lifted the evacuation order Sunday morning for residents living in neighborhoods along Highway 89 after fire management officials determined that the wildfire in the area of Flagstaff no longer posed a threat.

The fire near Flagstaff was 83 square miles on Saturday night. It has forced the evacuation of 766 homes and burned down 30 homes and two dozen other structures since it began a week ago, according to county officials.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey declared the fire a state of emergency Friday for Coconino County to release recovery assistance to affected communities.

The wildfire near Prescott started last Monday and was 12.4 square kilometers in size and 15% contained Sunday morning as helicopters and air tankers dropped water and retardant to slow the fire’s growth .

The cause of the wildfires in New Mexico and Arizona remains under investigation.

We’ve woke up to rain all week here in Northern California, which after three months of abnormally dry winter weather is welcome, especially as we watch the wildfire season begin to rage in Arizona and New Mexico.

So far this year, 19,774 fires have burned 832,844 acres in the United States, 30% more than the 10-year average of fires and acres burned to date, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Here in the West, as we celebrate the 52nd Earth Day on Friday, it’s shaping up to be another big fire year. In Europe, however, the story this weekend is the upcoming ban on Russian oil and gas. In particular, how weak it looks.

With the European Union still expected to issue a ban as early as next week, last-minute compromises behind the scenes in Brussels are sparking speculation it will be full of holes as more countries join in. Germany and Hungary to voice their opposition to a rigid ban on Russian energy and look for loopholes.

Instead, the EU is doubling down on commitments to increase the use of renewables, planning to more than double by 2030. While that’s all very well, and in eight years a collapse of unity in striking Russia in its most vital economic interests will send a terrible signal to Vladimir Poutine as he hammers into Mariupol and impedes Europe’s transition for many Earth Days to come.

More information below. . . .

Zeus: climate change becomes Hollywood

. . . . Despite the success of the recent film Don’t look up, The apocalyptic nature of many climate change films over the years has prevented screenwriters from incorporating the renewable energy transition into more scripts and streaming shows, according to a new report. David Callaway suggests that the focus should be on the drama of finding solutions to global warming, particularly around the people, technologies and money that go into it. He even tries out some new show ideas himself. . . .

Read the full chronicle of Zeus

EU Notebook: Germany increases its commitment to renewable energy in the overhaul of the electricity industry

. . . . No European country is more exposed to the energy effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine than Germany, which draws 40% of its energy from Vladimir Poutine. New efforts this week from the government of Olaf Scholz to increase renewable energy capacity to 80% by 2030 target large increases in wind and solar energy use, writes Alisha Houlihan from Dublin. But little has been said about nuclear power, which Germany has been trying to phase out in recent years. The new scheme will draw praise from Brussels, but is likely to be challenged in the short term by supply chain issues that have dramatically increased the prices of renewable technologies. . . .

Read the full EU notebook

Thursday Subscriber Preview: Tesla Solar Supply Issues Dampen Renewable Energy Forecast

. . . . On the one hand, an executive of a large solar company predicts solar will generate half of the world’s electricity by 2050. On the other hand, Tesla’s solar installations have dropped nearly 50% due to supply chain issues. Which give? Will the road to solar supremacy be easier?

. . . . Without a doubt, producing alcohol is bad for the environment. You have to heat the grain mash to produce the alcohol, whether it’s for scotch or gin, which produces emissions. Ditto for brandy and other liquor store favorites. Today, a vodka producer says he can make hooch guilt-free. Learn more here. . . .

. . . . You’ve heard the jokes about ridiculously long CVS receipts. But that’s no laughing matter, because of the environmental and health risks they pose, says Green America. But there have been some healthy changes at the point of sale. Learn more here. . . .

. . . . If a tree burns in a forest and no one lights the fire, does anyone take responsibility for their greenhouse gas emissions? This is more than a thought experiment, as countries count their emissions under the Paris Agreement. Learn more here. . . .

Editor’s Choice: Arizona Wildfires; Oregon’s Not-So-Secret Coal Secret

Since the late 19th century, the Earth has warmed by about 1.3°C (2.3°F), almost half of that since 1990.

This warming is strongly correlated with the increase in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/CACfVxT8f8

— Dr. Robert Rohde (@RARohde) April 20, 2022

Arizona tunnel fire draws closer to Flagstaff

Out of control wildfires have destroyed homes and hundreds more are at risk near Flagstaff, Arizona. The tunnel fire in Coconino County, northern Arizona, which started on Sunday, had burned more than 20,000 acres by Wednesday afternoon. The state’s wildfire season began early this year and is expected to be worse than previous years, according to state fire officials. Half a million acres burned in Arizona in 2021 and more than 900,000 acres in 2020. National fire officials say the Southwest is the site of numerous wildfires fueled by high winds in areas such than Prescott, Arizona and even Las Vegas.

Does “green” Oregon have a dirty coal secret?

The state of Oregon has invested $5.3 billion in fossil fuel companies, according to environmental groups who want the state to divest. An Associated Press report says that although Oregon is generally considered a green state, in part because it was among the first to commit to ending the use of coal power, it has invested $1 billion in the coal industry alone. Citing Divest Oregon, the AP report says “the amount Oregon has invested in oil, gas and coal companies – whose products are a leading cause of global warming – is likely well over 5 This is because the numbers Divest Oregon obtained from the Treasury through a public records request do not include private equity investments, which are not subject to disclosure. The AP also noted that other states are monitoring their fossil fuel investments: New York’s State Common Retirement Fund will limit investments in 21 shale oil and gas companies that have not demonstrated that “they were ready for the transition to a low-carbon economy. And a new law in Maryland requires ‘a trustee of the state’s retirement and pension system to review the ri potential systemic risks of the impact of climate change on system assets”.

Words to live. . . .

“If we save Tuvalu, we save the world.” — hilda Eh, educator, politician and former President of the Marshall Islands.

Callaway Climate Information Bulletin

Biden continued his outreach to his allies on Tuesday morning via a secure video conference from the White House as Russia declared on Tuesday that the “next phase” of the war in Ukraine was underway, launching a major assault on key areas of ballast.

The Post’s Amy B Wang reports that Biden’s call included 11 other world leaders: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“Leaders reiterated their commitment to continue to provide security, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine during this difficult time,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force. One after the meeting ends. “The leaders affirmed their solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condemned the humanitarian suffering caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion.”

PSAKI said on Monday that the Biden administration was planning additional sanctions against Russia, a topic leaders discussed on Tuesday, according to the White House.

You can read Amy’s full story here in The Post’s Ukraine war live update file.

A California-based company that had applied for two more permits for potential community solar projects has had its applications denied.

The Chaves County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Thursday morning at the group meeting at the Chaves County Administrative Center against the two special use permit applications requested by landowners and Cenergy Power, or BAP Power Corp., based in Carlsbad, Calif.

In doing so, the commissioners were consistent with an earlier decision by the Chaves County Planning and Zoning Commission. Its members decided by a 5-0 vote on April 5 to reject permit applications after hearing from about seven area neighbors that they did not want 5-megawatt solar projects planned near their residences.

The reasons given by the commissioners, or “findings of fact”, included that a solar project is “not compatible with the surrounding residential area” and that neighbors had objected to it.

One of the projects had been planned for undeveloped farmland sometimes used for grazing at 3831 Cedarvale Road, which is owned by the Eastman Trust involving a brother and sister who do not live in the area. The other proposed site was to be on undeveloped farmland owned by a trust involving Leonard and Joanne Blach, who have their home nearby in the 1900 block of White Mill Road.

William Heck, a Cenergy representative, had requested a 90-day postponement of Thursday’s public hearing to provide additional information and conduct more studies to address neighbors’ concerns, but commissioners voted 3-1 against that. T. Calder Ezzell Jr. cast the dissenting vote that would have allowed the hold.

In public comments at meetings and in letters to commissioners, neighbors said solar installations would be an “eye-sore”, could disrupt wildlife habitats, could hamper neighbors’ ability to sell their home or property to the future and could cause storm runoff. or other negative impacts on the nearby Spring River.

Commissioners Dara Dana and Will Cavin also said they have received calls from residents saying they oppose the plans.

“Cenergy Power has built a number of these in multiple locations,” Heck said, “and we believe we can create housing that is both supportive of Chaves County’s economy and acceptable to residents, given the weather. to do that.

Heck said fencing and vegetation pads could be added. The company could also carry out wildlife and soil studies to ensure the construction does not adversely affect the Spring River, he said, and the company would be willing to meet with residents at to discuss project plans and address concerns.

Earlier this year, Cenergy successfully secured a permit for a possible solar project. The company and landowners Ben and Valarie Thomas had their special use permit approved by the Roswell-Chaves County Offshore Zoning Commission on March 15. This permit would allow for a potential solar project on an area near the Roswell Relief Route not too far from US 285 and US 70 cloverleaf north of the city limits.

The New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission and a third-party administrator are expected to make decisions soon on which companies will be awarded community solar projects. The New Mexico Community Solar Law enacted in April 2021 makes projects possible in the state, and the PRC has worked over the past year to develop the regulations and rules governing the projects. Through 2024, the state will only allow 200 megawatts from community solar, or about 40 projects statewide since individual projects are capped at 5 megawatts. Only 45 megawatts, or about nine projects, will be licensed in that part of the state served by Southwestern Public Service Co, which operates as Xcel Energy.

In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by providing an alternative source of electricity to fossil fuels, community solar projects aim to allow local residents to benefit from solar energy production by subscribing to the projects. Subscribers will receive discounts or rebates on their electricity bills based on the number of shares in the project they purchase.

Lisa Dunlap can be reached at 575-622-7710, ext. 351, or to [email protected]

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For ten years now, New Mexico public health advocate Carol Miller has been reading the Pentagon’s daily list of major military contracts.

And it changed his life.

“A friend of mine challenged me and said – just for a few days read the Pentagon daily digest and get a view of what they’re doing,” Miller said. Corporate crime reporter in an interview last month. “And I’ve been doing this now for ten years.”

“This daily update contains all the big contracts that the Pentagon distributes. Coming from a healthcare background where we were always on the hunt for money, being suddenly saturated with corrupt contracts coming out of the Pentagon, this was a real eye-opener. That’s what has kept me going for ten years now.

“It has become clear that Pentagon contracts are set up in such a way that they will never pass an audit. The Pentagon has the power to do what they call IDIQ contracts – meaning indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity. These are large sums of money that the Pentagon is handing out and saying – get us something with this money, we would like to do this or that.

“It became obvious with the Osprey. This was the plane they wanted to fly for low-flying in our neighborhood in New Mexico. This is the tilt-rotor aircraft. It was something out of 1950 comics. It lifts like a helicopter, then the rotors tilt and it flies like an airplane. Many soldiers died on this plane, including four last week. It’s dangerous. This starts fires.

“What’s that plane going to do flying over my head?” Watching it changed my life. And then I looked at all the contracts with Boeing and others to create this aircraft. There have never been any consequences for the company in the event of failure of projects. In the Reagan days, there was the $600 hammer and an attempt to say that the Pentagon contracts were out of control. But he was never under control and there was no intention of controlling him.

“I’ve had conversations with more optimistic people who advocate for legislation and insist that the Pentagon pass an audit. But if the contracting process itself isn’t changed, it never will be. The entrepreneur will say – yes, they gave us the money, but you didn’t tell us the delivery date. And you didn’t tell us how much you needed or wanted. IDIQ is a loophole big enough to get a carrier through. planes.”

There were once Pentagon watchdogs in Congress — people like Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire. Who are the current William Proxmires?

“I’m not sure there are any that focus specifically on Pentagon spending. There are two organizations outside of government – ​​the Project on Government Oversight (POGO). And there’s a community campaign – Divest from the War Machine – to demand divestment from the military and they’re doing some of that monitoring work.

What happened to the Defense Information Center?

“They were incorporated into POGO several years ago. But they didn’t really succeed. They had funding from Ben & Jerry’s. They helped people in Vermont who were trying to block the F-35 base in Burlington. But it is quite amazing to realize the number of jobs related to the military and the number of companies whose work is focused on defence.

“I used to think of the Oshkosh company as a company that made cute overalls that you would buy your kids. In fact, they are actually one of the largest manufacturers of MRAPs – mine resistant ambush protected vehicles. These are the vehicles that were so faulty when they were used in Iraq.

“The company that makes the Ball canning jars – more of their business is military-based. Unicor is the branch of the federal prison industry. And they get big contracts and they have prisoners making clothes for the military The army is integrated in this country.

“I describe my path as – from health to hell and back again. I have worked closely with my congressional delegation to New Mexico for years on issues related to public health.

“They were upset with me and other members of the community when we tried to push back against militarization. Over the last ten years, the United States has bought this cold war that’s going on right now. It shows very clearly in the spending they’ve been doing. Congress has given the Pentagon more money than they asked for. There’s a real push for what the Pentagon calls a quasi-peer war. This quasi-peer war they are looking for would be either with Russia or China or both.Even if, as seen with the situation in Russia, they are not even close to a peer in this regarding equipment and training.

“Even members of Congress who I think had the public interest in mind, when they joined the military, they broke away.”

Who are you talking about in New Mexico?

“I’m talking about Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall. They both retired from the Senate. I always thought I had a good personal relationship with Jeff Bingaman. But it ended in a public event when me and others saw him in a lunch line. And we asked him why he let the Air Force take over all the airspace in New Mexico. And that was the end. It was the end of a decades-long relationship. Once we lifted the Achilles heel and that was it.

What about Tom Udall?

“Tom was always disappointing. I ran against him for Congress in 1998. We had a good relationship for a while. My community also has the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which has been converted into a 24/7 manufacturing plant for new nuclear bombs. When Tom made it his goal, it was the end of all personal or professional relationship with him. They would praise health care and the problems with our education system in New Mexico. But they really worked for the military-industrial complex.

Are there other liberals in New Mexico who were good at certain things but not at the military-industrial complex?

“All. Our current Senator Ben Ray Lujan is very bad on the nuclear issue – he prioritizes that and the military. He pays lip service and very little funding to our community. These are personal relationships. We are a small state, this is now – if one of these people sees me coming, they run the other way.

And Senator Martin Heinrich?

“Martin Heinrich is terrible. His campaign story was that he came to New Mexico for the environment. But in reality, he came to New Mexico to work at Sandia Labs. He is the biggest proponent of what are called directed energy weapons, which are laser weapons to incinerate people and buildings – turning them to ashes. This is the project he was working on at Sandia when he was elected to the House of Representatives. He launched the Directed Energy Caucus in the House to ensure that these weapons, which are likely illegal under international law, would be accepted. In the Senate, he did the same thing. He launched a Directed Energy Caucus. He was Lockheed’s and now Honeywell’s person in the Senate.

Who in Congress is most critical of the Pentagon’s exorbitant spending?

“Beyond one sentence each year, I don’t know of one. Senator Bernie Sanders has certainly been a leader. But here is the reality. When we give two-thirds of our money to the military, people end up believing that they have to defend the businesses that create jobs in their region. We have Senator Sanders in a big stalemate with the peace community in Vermont. I traveled to Vermont and met with the peace community there about the F-35 base in Burlington, Vermont. The F-35 has been extremely controversial in Vermont.

Senator Sanders supported the F-35?

“He said he backed him reluctantly, but he defended him. Senator Leahy insisted that it was very important to bring the F-35 to Burlington, Vermont.

“The lifeblood of our economy is the economy of death. It was heartbreaking.

“I spent time on the USA Spending website. It’s great. It has all the contracts and allowances and who gets them. I learned that the congressional district with the least federal spending is actually Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I hope to be able to contact her while I am here in DC”

“There are states where the whole quality of the people of the state has been sacrificed to the military. And then Democrats, progressives or not, are all on board with that. And Republicans certainly agree with that.

“Who runs these companies?

“Many of them are former soldiers. Our generals know that as soon as they leave the Pentagon, if they play their cards right, they can get very well paid positions in some of these defense companies.

[For the complete q/a format Interview with Carol Miller, see 36 Corporate Crime Reporter 13(12), February 28, 2022, print edition only.]

Of all the incredible landscapes in New Mexico, the Pecos Valley in San Miguel County is one of the most notable places to hang out. Each year, the watershed attracts hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans and visitors to hike, fish, hunt, bird watch, camp, bike and more.

Not only does this access to nature translate into dynamic, long-term community and public health gains, but it also benefits the region’s economy. According to data from the NM Department of Game and Fish, 158,402 people fished the Pecos River and its tributaries between 2020 and 2021. In 2020, these visitors, along with hikers, campers and birdwatchers, spent more than $87 million dollars in San Miguel County.

For all these reasons, the State Department of Economic Development’s Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) joins dozens of Pecos community members, tribes, outdoor enthusiasts, local governments, of acequia associations, farmers, ranchers and water conservation groups to urge the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) to protect 14 miles of the Pecos River and 165 miles of its tributaries in the watershed as Outstanding Waters – officially called National Outstanding Resource Waters or ONRWs – under the Clean Water Act. The WQCC hearing begins Tuesday, April 12.

This water quality designation will ensure healthy outdoor access, as well as traditional community uses of water, and protect waterways from degradation, waste disposal, overuse and the impacts of climate change.

Crucially, this initiative has the potential to spur other efforts to protect New Mexico’s waterways. It complements and reinforces Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s pledge to conserve at least 30% of the state’s land and water by 2030. In June, the ORD is pursuing a separate ONRW designation for three additional waterways – parts of the Rio Grande, the Rio Hondo and the sources of the Jemez – because of their exceptional recreational importance. If successful, this DSB-led petition would protect approximately 120 miles of northern New Mexico rivers in perpetuity for outdoor recreation, cultural uses and wildlife.

The designation of exceptional waters is a tool available to other communities to also protect their watersheds. Communities surrounding the upper Pecos watershed depend on clean water to support outdoor recreation, agriculture, and the local economy. The Pecos ONRW Petition is an extremely important tool to protect the waters of Pecos and New Mexico.

Copyright © 2022 Albuquerque Journal

A new federal grant of $800,000 will help Rainforest Innovations at the University of New Mexico reach out to aspiring Native American entrepreneurs across the state.

The grant, announced last week by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, will allow Rainforest Innovations to begin bridging the gap between existing startup support programs and tribal communities, said Lisa Kuuttila, director of the economic development at UNM and CEO of Rainforest Innovations, which manages the university’s technology transfer and entrepreneurship programs.

UNM and many other agencies, organizations, and institutions already provide statewide training and assistance through online and in-person programs. Some groups focus specifically on helping Native American entrepreneurs build successful businesses, such as New Mexico Community Capital.

But more needs to be done to make tribes aware of available aid and connect them directly to resources, Kuuttila said.

“We want to reach Native American communities in new ways to identify people who have already started businesses or want and don’t know where to go for help,” Kuuttila told the Journal. “There are many resources all over the state, but in rural areas many may not be aware of them, so we want to bring more of these aspiring entrepreneurs into the existing ecosystem.”

To do this, UNM will hire community “liaison officers” to work directly with the tribes.

“They will work remotely and travel across the state to work directly with people in the pueblos and the Navajo Nation,” Kuuttila said. “…They will be doing on-site visits and meetings, some by Zoom and some in person. We expect that each community or region will have different needs, so we will tailor programming specifically to where we work.

UNM will add $200,000 in matching funds to the EDA grant, which was awarded under the U.S. bailout to help local communities recover from the pandemic, the department’s assistant secretary said. Trade for Economic Development, Alejandra Castillo.

“This EDA investment will support UNM Rainforest as it expands its training, mentorship and strategy development programs to create new opportunities for tribal entrepreneurs and build a diverse and robust regional economy,” Castillo said in a statement. a prepared statement.