Environmental Issue

Environmental Groups Act to Protect the Air in New Mexico and the Four Corners Region

October 18, 2011 by Democracy for N...

In a push for healthier air across New Mexico and the Southwest, a coalition of environmental groups has filed a motion in federal court, approved today, to block an effort by New Mexico power company PNM to evade requirements of the Clean Air Act. In August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered the installation of adequate pollution controls at the company’s San Juan Generating Station.

The groups explain that PNM is appealing the EPA ruling, even though the company had years of warning that changes were needed to bring the coal-fired plant into legal compliance. The Coalition will support EPA’s goal of greatly reducing the pollution the plant sends into the air each day. Those toxins find their way into the skies over national parks and into the lungs of residents in the Four Corners area, environmentalists say.

Guest Blog: Out with the Good, In with the Bad? Don't Let ABQ City Councilors Scrap 2009 Energy-Saving Building Code!

October 14, 2011 by Democracy for N...

10/16 ABQ: Fulbright Association Hosts Perspectives on Climate Change

October 12, 2011 by Democracy for N...

From Fullbright Association, New Mexico Chapter:

You are invited to 
Perspectives on Climate Change
3:00 PM, Sunday, October 16, 2011
Jewish Community Center
5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Click for Flyer (PDF)
Free and Open to the Public

INTRODUCTION
“Current views in Congress on the threats of global warming:" Senator Jeff Bingaman (by video)

PANEL
“The scientific evidence that growing carbon dioxide levels and global warming are largely of human origin” -- Professor David Gutzler, The University of New Mexico

“Potential consequences of global warming, from inconvenient weather to global catastrophe” -- Dr. Mark Boslough, Sandia National Laboratories

“Obstacles standing in the way of addressing global warming- a business community perspective” -- Mr. Jeff Sterba,Chairman, PNM Resources

OKC Public Transit Challenge Needs Enthusiastic Leadership

October 4, 2011 by Blue Oklahoma

It's not surprising given its massive urban sprawl that Oklahoma City is ranked dead last in public transit use by workers among the nation's 50 largest cities.

What is surprising or perhaps just disappointing is Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett's lackadaisical, shrug-it-off response to the issue, at least as it was reported on NewsOK.com recently.  It's critical the city, for the sake of its long-term future and the quality of life here, develops a public transit system that is used by a growing cross-section of area residents.