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Wildfire-affected voters in N.M. take officials’ disaster recovery efforts into account at polls
After experiencing the largest wildfire New Mexico has ever seen, northern New Mexico voters headed to the polls yesterday keeping in mind what officials have done — or haven’t done — to help their communities recover. Flooding has been a continuous threat for New Mexico counties near the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon burn scar, but skies […]
DOJ deploys personnel to New Mexico to monitor voting rights on Election Day
As polls open up Tuesday for the midterm elections around the nation, the U.S. Department of Justice is deploying officials to keep an eye on polls at specific locations, including in New Mexico. A watchdog program has officials set to keep an eye on Bernalillo and San Juan Counties to make sure nobody’s voting rights […]
PNM customers continue to pay for San Juan coal plant that’s no longer operating
In the two months since the San Juan Generating Station shut down in New Mexico, the region’s customers have been paying the same rate for a facility that’s no longer giving them energy. And they could keep doing so for years following a decision by the New Mexico Supreme Court last week. The Public Service […]
Regulators, intent on maintaining schedule for community solar, approve credit details
New Mexico homeowners, renters and businesses who participate in the state’s future community solar program could save more than half of their normal electric bill under credit rates after the state regulators approved some financial details this week.
Lack of affordable solar energy options in Farmington, clean energy advocates say
Thousands of New Mexicans could be missing out on the opportunity to get solar energy options at homes and businesses because their locally-run utility company is exempt from a new law requiring them to offer the incentive. In 2021, the state Legislature passed a bill requiring state-regulated privately owned utility companies operating in New Mexico […]
How displaced or unhoused New Mexicans can register to vote
Those experiencing homelessness or who are displaced still have the right to vote in New Mexico. They just have to register first — if they’ve never done so before — which can now happen in-person during early voting or on General Election Day, and a ballot can be cast that same day. To register, New […]
Coalition studies options as historic drought conditions threaten NM agriculture and water
Water and agriculture organizations are trying to figure out how to strengthen water-dependent cultivation industries in New Mexico during a climate change-caused megadrought that’s only expected to get worse. “Keeping water in agricultural valleys is critical for both the ecological and community resilience. We all know this,” said Connie Maxwell, a researcher who presented at […]
As the climate changes, NM officials draft protections for watersheds against wildfires
While New Mexico continues its yearslong recovery process from a disastrous fire season, the state and community partners are reviewing a 50-year water plan taking into account burn recovery and fire dangers the region will face. Andrew Erdmann is the water planning program manager for the Interstate Stream Commission, a division of the Office of […]
Vice president visits with NM governor in ABQ to reiterate importance of protecting abortion
As early voting continues and General Election day creeps closer, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to the University of New Mexico to talk with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday about reproductive rights — a central concern for voters. One of the main points in the election for Democrats is their stances to protect abortion […]
Water companies want NM to reuse oil and gas byproduct, despite safety and environmental concerns
A warming globe and dwindling water supply are forcing conversations on alternative water sources, so some water engineers and scientists are encouraging New Mexico to start treating and using the toxic water that comes from oil and gas extraction. But environmental advocates say the chemically infused water is unsafe and untreatable. The New Mexico Desalination […]
NM Republicans strive to get election challengers to the polls
As early voting continues, political parties still have a chance to be part of the voting process by sending election challengers to watch over polls and make sure everything is happening legally. And the state’s Republican Party is pushing to get their members to volunteer as challengers at voting locations. Acting as an election challenger […]
Secretary of State’s Office combats unbased fears of election fraud as more early voting locations open this weekend
Expanded early voting starts on Saturday, Oct. 22, which means more polling locations will open up in New Mexico counties. There are about two and a half weeks left of early voting. Voters can cast their ballots at their county offices or the new additional voting locations, a list of which can be found here. […]