Archive for February, 2011
February 2011 Edition
Feb 1st
Office of Women’s Health Federal Grant Awarded
Feb 1st
The coalition will identify the health condition having the most adverse effect on the health and well-being of these populations in their community and subsequently develop a strategy that will More >
Southwestern NM Officials Invite High Level Nuclear Waste to WIPP
Feb 1st
Climate Adaptation Plan Created for Taos County
Feb 1st
“The climate has already changed,” Foster told the Taos News. “We can expect more droughts, less snow, more risks of forest fire and so forth.” The plan states, “These impacts will change our lifestyles permanently, as everything we do as individuals, families and communities More >
Southwest Energy Alliance Formed to Foster Clean Energy Development
Feb 1st
Specifically, alliance member companies plan to tie together wind and utility-scale solar power plants as well as clean, gas-fired generation, gas pipelines, and energy storage projects using advanced battery, superconductor power cable, HVDC converter, and other technologies. Many are involved with the Tres Amigas Project in New Mexico, which focuses on interconnecting the country’s More >
Solar Manufacturer Moving to Carlsbad
Feb 1st
The solar-wind power units are designed for rapid deployment by the military, emergency response services, and Third World countries without reliable sources of power.
Sac-Tec will initially employ 25 people and anticipates eventually employing hundreds.
Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies in Rural Communities One Project Slated for San Fidel, New Mexico
Feb 1st
“The Obama Administration is committed to helping our nation become more energy independent by helping rural businesses build renewable energy systems,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These investments will not only help our farmers and small businesses reduce energy costs, but also help find renewable alternatives to generate energy.”
One of the 68 projects chosen is at More >
Sustainable North Korean Relationship
Feb 1st
Is there any hope for the U.S. to maintain a sustainable, working, mutually respectful relationship with North Korea? That question was the focus of a recent talk given by former Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory director Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker at the January meeting of the Santa Fe Council on International Relations. Over 100 people attended the sold-out event at the Hilton Hotel in Santa Fe.
The conclusion: maybe. It appears that, despite what we are constantly fed by most of the media, North Korea really does want to have some sort of civilized ongoing relationship with the U.S. and the More >
The New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council’s Legislative Priorities
Feb 1st
The NMFAPC is advocating for the following bills in the 2011 state legislature:
• NM-Grown Produce in School Lunches – “Healthy Kids/Healthy Economy” (Sen. Campos, SB 123)
NM Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals: More >
Industry Groups Appeal Regulations
Feb 1st
The Independent Petroleum Association of NM, the NM Oil and Gas Association, Public Service Company of NM, two other utilities have all More >
Holistic Spanish Helps Health Professionals Learn Spanish
Feb 1st
Spanish speakers based on a two-hour lecture about holistic health and nutrition. Holistic Spanish can be used by health practitioners in any field to improve their communication with Spanish speakers.
The first of three volumes is currently available as a digital download that come with a full transcript and instructional notes. The hard copy version and Volumes 2 and 3 will be released soon. Volume 1 contains 24 lessons with over 19 hours of audio content. The audios feature native Spanish speakers from Mexico, Spain, Guatemala and Venezuela.
Holistic Spanish is More >
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Provisions Extended
Feb 1st
President Obama has signed a bill that extends many energy efficiency and renewable energy provisions through 2011. Included is Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Under the guidelines, the federal government will provide cash instead of tax credit totaling up to 30% of the qualifying cost of the project. The measure extends for one year the start-of-construction deadline for wind and solar projects.
Also extended through 2011 are a $1 per-gallon production tax credit for biodiesel, credit for manufacturers of energy efficient homes, a 50 cent per gallon alternative fuel tax credit, and credits for manufacturers More >
$967 Million Loan Guarantee for Arizona Solar PV Project
Feb 1st
First Solar started construction on the 290-megawatt photovoltaic facility late last year and has said it will be completed by 2014. In December First Solar agreed to sell Agua Caliente to NRG for an undisclosed amount. The deal requires that First Solar installs, operates and maintains the project.
NRG plans to invest $800 million of equity in the project, which would be the largest solar-panel power generator in the world. NRG’s More >
Audubon NM Grant Protects Ecosystems and Native Traditions Santa Clara Pueblo Rio Grande Partnership
Feb 1st
Loss of natural areas inevitably affects wildlife populations, but it can also represent a cultural loss. In Santa Clara Pueblo, for example, the disappearance of certain significant plants and wildlife along the Rio Grande has eroded Pueblo cultural traditions and practices.
With its $22,000 Innovation Grant, from Audubon and Toyota’s TogetherGreen initiative, Audubon More >
Abengoa Bioenergy Reopens New Mexico Ethanol Plant
Feb 1st
The plant became viable again due to more favorable market conditions and increasing demand. Recent legislative and administrative actions supporting the industry and expanding ethanol blend levels are also expected to have a positive impact.
Ethanol produced from the facility is also expected to have a higher value than ethanol produced at some other grain-based facilities under the provisions of More >
Aamodt Water Rights Claims End After 44 Years
Feb 1st
Santa Fe Creative Tourism Initiative
Feb 1st
“As a result of listing my workshops on SantaFeCreativeTourism.org and learning about Internet marketing strategies through a free consultation at the Community Gallery, I attracted many new More >
Birthing Back Our Roots: Yiya Vi Kagingdi Española Community Doulas
Feb 1st
“A farmer and a midwife do the same work. We learned midwifery from the corn.” These are the words of Katsi Cook, a Mohawk elder, healer, midwife and environmental health researcher who visited the Yiya Vi Kagingdi Española Community Doulas at Tewa Women United last year. She was part of a panel of traditional birth workers that the program hosted so that the doulas and their networks could gain a better sense of how to bring traditional wisdom into their work in indigenous rural communities. Cook spoke of the importance of birth work as an element of a sustainable More >
To Your Health – A column Dedicated to Sustainable Health and Wellness
Feb 1st
To Your Health – A column dedicated to sustainable health and wellness
How to Safely Make It Through the X-ray at the Airport
Dr. Celeste Skardis, DOM, DNCCAOM, CNLP, D.Hom
How to Safely Make It Through the X-ray at the Airport
Just the other day my friends and were talking about all things under the sun. The conversation turned to airport security measures. Lamenting, gnashing of teeth and hopeless thoughts ensued about the potential ill effects from radiation engendered by the new x-ray machines at check-in.
I, too, was thinking hopeless thoughts when More >
Southwestern College “Transforming Consciousness Through Education”
Feb 1st
Southwestern offers Masters’ Degrees in Counseling and Art Therapy/Counseling, as well as a Community Education Program and Counseling Center, which offers sliding-scale More >



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