New Energy Economy

By Christie Chisolm After more than a year of death-defying escapes, an environmental rule was repealed on Monday, Feb. 6, with a unanimous vote by a Gov. Susana Martinez-appointed board. The rule up for debate was on capping and trading carbon dioxide emissions—putting a cap on how much can be produced and allowing companies that [...]

On November 10, 2010 the Environmental Improvement Board adopted the cap and trade proposal submitted by the New Mexico Environment Department. Yesterday, in response to PNM and other industry groups’ Petition the Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) did an about face. The justification for adopting Cap and Trade Rules (350, 300 and 301) was that it [...]

By Tom Ribe PNM squares off against the EPA’s new haze rules Do New Mexicans deserve low-cost electricity or clear skies? That question lies at the heart of the latest dust-up between federal regulators and the Public Service Company of New Mexico. The main point of contention is the San Juan Generating Station, an old coal-fired [...]

By Staci Matlock The possibility of the city and county of Santa Fe owning an independent municipal power utility is under study and gathering support. Electricity for Santa Fe and much of the county is now provided by investor-owned Public Service Co. of New Mexico. The majority of the power comes from coal-fired power plants [...]

By Staci Matlock Coal, the rock that built America, also is the No. 1 source of the greenhouse-gas emissions blamed by most climate scientists for worldwide climate change. Dirty Business, a film by the Center for Investigative Journalism, explores the history of coal and the role the rock has played in producing electricity and leveling [...]