New Mexico

Coal stacks dropping signals a transition to a new era – NM Political Report

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2024

Coal stacks dropping signals a transition to a new era – NM Political Report

The ground shook west of Kirtland on Saturday as an explosion echoed along the bluffs. The towers of the San Juan Generating Station that have been a prominent landmark in the area since the 1970s and 1980s crumbled and fell.

The coal-fired power plant has, in many ways, become a potent symbol of the energy transition in New Mexico.

In 2010, the majority owner of the power plant, Public Service Company of New Mexico, received 40 percent of its electricity from two coal-fired power plants in the northwest corner of the state, a percentage that dropped throughout the years.

By 2015, that had reduced to 35 percent.

Then, in 2017, two of the four units at the power plant closed as part of an effort to reduce emissions from the plant.

By 2020, PNM was receiving 27 percent of its electricity from coal.

Next year, the utility anticipates only five percent of its power will come from coal. Meanwhile, renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which were virtually absent from PNM’s resource portfolio in 2010, will likely make up more than half of its generation in 2025.

This transition to renewable energy comes with its own set of challenges.

Kelsey Martinez is the chief of staff and former director of regional markets for PNM. She spoke about some of these challenges during a media event Thursday in Albuquerque.

Martinez outlined how the transition to more intermittent sources of power like solar and wind has led to a greater need for coordination with other utilities in the western United States as well as in parts of Canada and Mexico that are connected to PNM’s system through the grid.

This increase in renewable energy on the grid is leading toward more interconnected operations and regional markets.

Western Energy Imbalance Market

In 2021, PNM joined what is known as the Western Energy Imbalance Market. This changed how PNM works with other utilities if there is a shortage or surplus of electricity on PNM’s systems.

In the past, PNM engaged primarily in bilateral trades in which the company would contact another utility to buy or sell electricity.

Now a computer system evaluates supply and demand for electricity on participating utilities throughout the western United States. An algorithm determines what the most cost efficient and reliable method is for meeting that demand.

While this has become increasingly important for PNM, it still has its limitations. For example, the energy imbalance market does not optimize transmission or provide plans a day in advance.

PNM is working toward more advanced planning and looking for better ways to coordinate with regional utilities.

Regional coordination including regional transmission organizations—-which work together to optimize transmission of electricity—-is not new for electric utilities. Some parts of the country have had their utilities working closely together for a while now.

In New Mexico, Southwestern Public Service, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, is part of a regional transmission organization.

But, in much of the west, there isn’t a specific entity to coordinate the transmission of electricity throughout the grid.

“In the west,” Martinez said. “We weren’t as quick to adopt regional cooperation policies.”

She said this is in part because the population is not as dense.

“We really built huge baseload power plants with long, high voltage transmission lines to serve our loads,” she said. “And there were not very many of those lines and that’s proving to be very important now.”

Because the eastern United States has a more densely populated area, there tends to be more tightly connected transmission infrastructure.

“So we’re behind and we need to catch up,” Martinez said.

Wind and solar make operations more dynamic and unpredictable, she said.

“That’s creating a lot of new issues that we’ve never seen before,” Martinez said.

PNM is currently working on a 20-year transmission plan that it hopes to release later this year. The plan will outline possible transmission projects that PNM could embark on in the future.

PNM has also been in talks with Pattern Energy about the possibility of connecting to the SunZia line that is being built and will run south of Albuquerque.

The move to renewable resources also changes how PNM must plan.

Before, Martinez said, PNM planned for its peak load, or when people are using the most electricity.

Now PNM must plan for its highest risk hours.

“The times we are at highest risk are when our renewable generation is at its lowest,” Martinez said.

The hardest situation to plan for can be when there is a lot of wind in eastern New Mexico and storm coverage in the Albuquerque area. But that isn’t necessarily because of resource shortages.

Part of the challenge on those days has to do with where the electricity from the wind turbines in eastern New Mexico is going. The power generated by the turbines uses PNM’s high voltage transmission lines as it makes its way across the state to California.

“So our smaller but still high voltage transmission lines serving Albuquerque get constrained in ways we never saw before,” Martinez said.

All of these changes come with a price tag and, while the renewable energy sources tend to be less expensive to operate, the costs of essentially reinventing the grid are eating up those savings.

Demolition underway

The transition, Martinez said, is happening because it is the right thing to do for the climate and environment.

“It’s not because the fuel is cheaper, because the need to expand the grid is going to overrun the cost savings from fuel for decades,” she said.

At the same time, PNM’s analysis that was released in 2017 and predicated the closure of the San Juan Generating Station found that transitioning out of coal would save customers money.

The Energy Transition Act came about as a result of that 2017 announcement and on July 1, 2019—the day that the ETA went into effect—-PNM filed to close the power plant.

In its initial plan, PNM was going to leave the stacks and the generating station standing and the demolition would occur in a few decades.

But the San Juan County Commission passed an ordinance forcing the demolition of the plant.

Even before the stacks fell on Saturday, work was underway to remove the plant from the landscape.

More than 15 million pounds of materials have been recycled so far and the plan is that 90 percent of the material, by weight, will be recycled.

As for the site where the power plant stood, it will still provide a vital service to the grid. The substation that took electricity from the San Juan Generating Station will remain and the San Juan Solar project is connected to the grid at that point.

PNM owns the land and, while the future development of the parcel is uncertain, its proximity to transmission infrastructure is likely to draw interest from energy project developers.

Economic impacts

The closure is a bitter point for some of the San Juan County residents, including some in the City of Farmington who unsuccessfully attempted to keep the plant open through a carbon capture bid.

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett told legislators this week that the city has made a lot of progress on its efforts to diversify the economy and build recreation opportunities, but that can’t replace what’s been lost.

“We’re trying to replace $100,000 a year jobs with recreation jobs,” he said. “That’s not really feasible.”

He said the hope is that by creating a place where people want to live and play and go to school, Farmington will be able to attract companies that offer higher paying jobs.

The Energy Transition Act has also provided funds for economic development and workforce development in the impacted communities. It also required some of the replacement power to be built within the Central Consolidated School District boundaries in an effort to offset the loss of property tax revenue. This is also providing some short-term employment opportunities.

Tim Gibbs, the CEO of Four Corners Economic Development, told legislators that there has been a decrease in population in San Juan County “but it feels like it’s finding equilibrium.”

As San Juan County works to recover from the loss of the San Juan Generating Station, it is bracing for the closure of the nearby Four Corners Power Plant, which is slated to close in 2031, though once again hopes have arisen that a carbon capture bid could keep it open.

Environment and health benefits

Meanwhile, environmental advocates say the transition from coal will ultimately benefit people living in the Four Corners region.

“We are hopeful that after the demolition of San Juan Generating Station, the Four Corners area and its communities will no longer have to sacrifice our health and safety for fossil fuels,” Rose Rushing, attorney at Western Environmental Law Center, said in a press release. “There is work to be done to ensure that the region can transition to a sustainable, diversified economy, starting with fulfilling the commitments of the Energy Transition Act. We look forward to working with community groups in the next year to make sure our community receives the full benefits the Energy Transition Act promises.”

Some of the people who have been impacted the most by emissions from the power plant are residents of the Navajo Nation.

“Indigenous advocates have long brought attention to the many adverse public health, land, and water quality impacts resulting from the operations at SJGS and Four Corners Power Plant (“FCPP”), pointing out the environmental injustice that Indigenous and local communities were saddled with in living so close to two coal mines and plants”, Robyn Jackson, executive director of Diné C.A.R.E, said in a press release. “We can remember the terrible air quality that both plants produced in our region. It therefore came as no surprise that health disparities existed among our population, compared to the rest of the U.S. general population when it came to childhood asthma, as well as other illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Our tribal-led organization recognizes that it is necessary and inevitable that our local economy be rebuilt around development that is renewable, sustainable, and regenerative. The health of our communities, economy and climate will require a transition away from fossil fuels if we are to survive and succeed.”

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New Mexico

NM Department of Wildlife warns of aggressive wildlife behavior

Published

12 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

NM Department of Wildlife warns of aggressive wildlife behavior

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

CHARGES, INCLUDING MURDER. HIS TRIAL DATE IS NOT YET SET. THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE IS URGING EVERYONE TO STAY ALERT AFTER TWO CASES OF AGGRESSIVE WILDLIFE IN THE GILA WILDERNESS IN CATRON COUNTY. A BOBCAT AND FOX APPROACHED AND ENGAGED WITH PEOPLE IN SEPARATE ENCOUNTERS. THEY WEREN’T BITTEN, BUT THAT BEHAVIOR RAISES SUSPICION OF RABIES. A BOBCAT JUST TESTED POSITIVE FOR THAT IN SIERRA COUNTY. STATE WILDLIFE AND HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID WILD ANIMALS, KEEP PETS LEASHED AND GET THEIR RABIES SHOT

NM Department of Wildlife warns of aggressive wildlife behavior

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

Updated: 6:42 PM MDT Apr 8, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County. According to the department, in different incidents, a bobcat and a fox approached and engaged with hikers and campers within the Gila Wilderness. Though nobody was bitten, these reports raise suspicion of rabies infections and come after a bobcat tested positive for rabies in Sierra County in March.They say rabies has been diagnosed in both bobcats and foxes in New Mexico. If you see a rabid animal, you should report it to your local animal control officer or your local New Mexico Department of Wildlife Conservation officer.The department says to keep you and your family safe from rabies:Always keep pets on a leash. Pets should be up to date on rabies vaccinations and wearing current license tags on their collar. If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild animal, call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.Horses and other livestock should also be considered for rabies vaccination to protect them from rabid animals that may attack them.Stay away from wild or unfamiliar animals. Do not attempt to feed, approach or touch wild animals (alive or dead). Teach this important message to your children and always keep a close eye on your children.If you or someone you know is bitten by an animal or comes into contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water. Be sure to report the bite to local animal control and seek medical care as soon as possible.If you or your pets are bitten or otherwise exposed to the saliva of wild animals, seek medical care immediately and contact the NMDOH Helpline at 833-SWNURSE (796-8773).

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

According to the department, in different incidents, a bobcat and a fox approached and engaged with hikers and campers within the Gila Wilderness. Though nobody was bitten, these reports raise suspicion of rabies infections and come after a bobcat tested positive for rabies in Sierra County in March.

They say rabies has been diagnosed in both bobcats and foxes in New Mexico. If you see a rabid animal, you should report it to your local animal control officer or your local New Mexico Department of Wildlife Conservation officer.

The department says to keep you and your family safe from rabies:

Always keep pets on a leash. Pets should be up to date on rabies vaccinations and wearing current license tags on their collar. If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild animal, call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.
Horses and other livestock should also be considered for rabies vaccination to protect them from rabid animals that may attack them.
Stay away from wild or unfamiliar animals. Do not attempt to feed, approach or touch wild animals (alive or dead). Teach this important message to your children and always keep a close eye on your children.
If you or someone you know is bitten by an animal or comes into contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water. Be sure to report the bite to local animal control and seek medical care as soon as possible.
If you or your pets are bitten or otherwise exposed to the saliva of wild animals, seek medical care immediately and contact the NMDOH Helpline at 833-SWNURSE (796-8773).

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New Mexico

Domino’s top franchisee got his start in southeast New Mexico, delivered pizza in Alamogordo – Alamogordo Daily News

Published

24 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Domino’s top franchisee got his start in southeast New Mexico, delivered pizza in Alamogordo – Alamogordo Daily News

Brian Bailey (far left) poses with key individuals who have helped him become Domino’s largest franchisee in the U.S. From left to right: Michelle Bailey, Brian’s wife and business partner; Tom Monaghan, Domino’s founder; Anthony Fish, Team Bailey executive vice president; Cyndi Tweet, Team Bailey vice president of training; and Rob Hoff, Team Bailey vice president of Texas operations.

Staff reports Brian Bailey owns more Domino’s franchise stores than anyone else. And he got his start delivering the pies in southeast New Mexico. He…

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New Mexico

New Mexico reaction to Trump’s deadline on Iran war

Published

2 days ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico reaction to Trump’s deadline on Iran war

Sen. Ben Ray Luján says Trump is waging an illegal war

THIS IS KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS AND THAT BREAKING NEWS IN THE WAR IN IRAQ. IF YOU’RE JUST TUNING IN, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING ON TRUTH SOCIAL, HE WILL AGREE TO A TWO WEEK CEASEFIRE ON THE CONDITION THAT IRAN AGREES TO REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. HIS NEW OFFER, COMING HOURS BEFORE HIS DEADLINE FOR IRAN TO OPEN THE STRAIT, THREATENING IF THEY DIDN’T. QUOTE, A WHOLE CIVILIZATION WILL DIE TONIGHT, NEVER TO BE BROUGHT BACK AGAIN. NOW, HE SAYS HE’S HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FIELD MARSHAL AND PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN AGREEING TO HOLD OFF FORCE BEING SENT TONIGHT TO IRAN. HE POSTED THIS. I’LL HOLD OFF THE DESTRUCTIVE FORCE BEING SENT TONIGHT TO IRAN AND SUBJECT TO THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN, AGREEING TO THE COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE AND SAFE OPENING OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. I AGREE TO SUSPEND THE BOMBING AND ATTACK IRAN FOR A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS. HE CALLED IT A DOUBLE CEASE FIRE AFTER GETTING A PROPOSAL FROM IRAN AND WORKABLE BASIS ON WHICH TO NEGOTIATE. PROTESTERS AND LAWMAKERS REACTING TO THE PRESIDENT’S EARLIER SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ABOUT ENDING A CIVILIZATION. IF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WAS NOT REOPENED. PRIOR TO THAT TEMPORARY CEASE FIRE DEAL HAS BEEN SUSPENDED. NOW, GETTING REACTION FROM SENATOR LUJAN. YEAH. SENATOR LUJAN, TODAY REACTING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF NEW MEXICO CALLING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IMPEACHMENT. BUT FIRST, PROTESTERS GATHERED IN ALBUQUERQUE THIS MORNING. THE WAR IN IRAQ, IN ALBUQUERQUE, A FAMILIAR SPOT IN FRONT OF KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE TUESDAY, WHERE PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN GATHERING. BUT TODAY’S TONE WAS A BIT DIFFERENT. WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY IS A UNIVERSAL PURGE OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PENTAGON. THERE’S NO REASON TO HAVE THESE WAR CRIMINALS IN OUR SERVICE, OR EVEN IN OUR GENE POOL ANYMORE. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF NEW MEXICO CALLING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IMPEACHMENT. IN AN EMAIL SENT TO KOAT, U.S. SENATOR BEN RAY LUJAN IN ALBUQUERQUE AND RESPONDING, DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE? PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH IS WHERE THERE WOULD BE ANY IMPEACHMENT CONSIDERATION OR HEARINGS. SENATOR LUJAN, REACTING TO THIS SOCIAL MEDIA POST BY TRUMP WHERE HE CALLS FOR ATTACKS ON THE IRANIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, BRIDGES AND POWER PLANTS. IF A DEAL WASN’T REACHED, THERE HAS STILL NOT BEEN A VOTE THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BROUGHT TO THE SENATE FLOOR, GIVING THE PRESIDENT THE TOOLS THAT ANY PRESIDENT WOULD NEED TO GO TO WAR. AN AUMF THIS PRESIDENT IS GOING AT IT AGAIN, RECKLESSLY. LUJAN FALLING SHORT OF CALLING TRUMP A WAR CRIMINAL. I BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT IS NOT FOLLOWING UNITED STATES LAW. WHEN THE PRESIDENT IS THREATENING THE ELIMINATION OF A CIVILIZATION OF PEOPLE, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT IS BREAKING U.S. LAW, FEDERAL LAW, GLOBAL LAW, AS WELL. OKAY. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEW MEXICO RELEASING THIS STATEMENT TO US JUST A SHORT TIME AGO, SAYING IN PART, MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DEALT WITH IRAN HAS FUNDAMENTALLY MADE OUR COUNTRY SAFER. AS THE PRESIDENT HAS STATED, OUR MILITARY OBJECTIVES IN IRAN ARE NEARLY FINISHED. AND THE TWO WEEK CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCED TODAY PROVES THAT WE ARE IN TOTAL CONTROL OF THIS CONFLICT. IN THE STUDIO, JOHN POLO, KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS TONIGHT AT TEN. OUR WASHINGTON BUREAU WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS BREAKING DEVELOPMEN

New Mexico reaction to Trump’s deadline on Iran war

Sen. Ben Ray Luján says Trump is waging an illegal war

Updated: 7:06 PM MDT Apr 7, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Protesters gathered Tuesday in front of Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, a familiar location for demonstrations, as tensions rose following the missed deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz. “What would make me happy is a universal purge of the White House and the Pentagon. There’s no reason to have these war criminals in our service, or even in our gene pool anymore,” one protester said. The Democratic Party of New Mexico called for President Trump’s impeachment in an email sent to KOAT on Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, who was in Albuquerque that day, addressed the issue. “Do you think he should be removed from office?” asked KOAT reporter John Rupolo.”We’ll see what happens in the House of Representatives, which is where there would be any impeachment consideration or hearings,” Luján said. Luján also reacted to a social media post by Trump in which the president called for attacks on infrastructure, bridges, and power plants if a deal was not reached by Tuesday night. “There has still not been a vote that Republicans have brought to the Senate floor, giving the president the tools that any president would need to go to war and a umph. This president is going at it again recklessly,” Luján said. While Luján stopped short of labeling Trump a war criminal, he expressed strong criticism of the president’s actions. “When the president is threatening the elimination of a civilization of people, I would argue that that is breaking U.S. law. Federal law. Global law as well,” Luján said.We reached out to state Republican leaders, but they refused to comment. We also reached out to the New Mexico Republican Party and never heard back.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Protesters gathered Tuesday in front of Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, a familiar location for demonstrations, as tensions rose following the missed deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz.

“What would make me happy is a universal purge of the White House and the Pentagon. There’s no reason to have these war criminals in our service, or even in our gene pool anymore,” one protester said.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico called for President Trump’s impeachment in an email sent to KOAT on Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, who was in Albuquerque that day, addressed the issue.

“Do you think he should be removed from office?” asked KOAT reporter John Rupolo.

“We’ll see what happens in the House of Representatives, which is where there would be any impeachment consideration or hearings,” Luján said.

Luján also reacted to a social media post by Trump in which the president called for attacks on infrastructure, bridges, and power plants if a deal was not reached by Tuesday night.

“There has still not been a vote that Republicans have brought to the Senate floor, giving the president the tools that any president would need to go to war and a umph. This president is going at it again recklessly,” Luján said.

While Luján stopped short of labeling Trump a war criminal, he expressed strong criticism of the president’s actions.

“When the president is threatening the elimination of a civilization of people, I would argue that that is breaking U.S. law. Federal law. Global law as well,” Luján said.

We reached out to state Republican leaders, but they refused to comment. We also reached out to the New Mexico Republican Party and never heard back.

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