Mead: Thoughts On The ‘Greening’ Of America (And Los Alamos)
By WILLIAM C. MEAD
Los Alamos
I read the Op/Ed by Steve Tobin of the BPU with interest. I am glad to see the BPU and DPW thinking about issues and costs of green energy production. I have some observations and questions about specifics and about general societal attempts to reduce CO2 emissions.
I’ll offer a few observations and some questions about Mr. Tobin’s discussion. At face value, Mr. Tobin seems to be calling for a radical change in direction for 1) “green” (solar) electrical production and 2) related personal investments. I will deal separately with these two recommendations.
I certainly Read More
Canceled: Tonight’s County Council FY25 Budget Hearing
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council FY25 Budget Hearing scheduled for this evening, April 30, 2024, has been canceled.
The hearing was canceled because the FY25 budget was approved at the Council’s April 29, 2024 Budget Hearing.
The cancellation notice has been published as is available online here. Read More
Los Alamos County Transportation Board To Meet May 2
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Transportation Board is scheduled to meet 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Council Chambers at the Los Alamos Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.
The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda for the meeting is available here. Read More
Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meets May 1
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Historic Preservation Advisory Board will meet 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Room 110 at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.
The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda can be viewed online here. Read More
Environmental Services Offers Two Dedicated Reuse Centers
From Los Alamos County:
Did you know that Los Alamos County disposes of approximately 15,000 tons of trash yearly? Many valuable items like decorations, BBQ grills and exercise equipment could find a new life instead of ending up in a landfill.
The Environmental Services Department has two dedicated Reuse Centers, one at the Eco Transfer Station and the other at the Overlook Convenience Center, where you can take items for free or leave your gently used treasures so that they can have a second chance at being cherished. Note that leaving items counts as one of your 12 annual loads.
Help us reduce Read More
State Police Checkpoints And Saturation Patrols To Begin In Counties Across New Mexico In May 2024
NMSP News:
New Mexico State Police (NMSP) will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols; and registration, insurance, and driver’s license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during May 2024.
We are bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising.
These checkpoints are helping to change society’s attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.
Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver had the courage to make Read More
Op/Ed: Utility Scale Solar – Why So Vital For Decarbonization
By STEVE TOBIN
Member
Board of Public Utilities
Hello Los Alamos Community Members,
As a note of introduction, I joined the Board of Public Utility (BPU) in 2019. My largest motivation was a desire to learn and be a part of an effort to meet the BPU’s Net Carbon Neutral by 2040 Goal for electric generation. I appreciate the engagement of many community members in discussing our utility rules; our exchange of views is an essential part of being a community owned utility.
My purpose in this email is to provide some context that I have not heard expressed in the discussions with regards to changes under Read More
League Of Women Voters To Host Candidate Forum May 9
LWVLA News:
The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos (LWVLA) will host a candidate forum on Thursday, May 9 at Fuller Lodge. The forum begins at 7 p.m., but all are invited to enjoy refreshments and socialize with the candidates at 6:30 p.m.
Participating in the forum are:
- Christine Chandler (Dem.) and Chris Luchini (Lib.) running for NM District 43;
- Mary Carmack-Altwies (Dem.) and Marco Serna (Dem.) running for District Attorney in the First Judicial District;
- Beverly Neal-Clinton (Dem.), Denise Derkacs (Dem.), Ryn Herrmann (Dem.), James Wernicke (Lib.), and David Reagor (Rep.) running
Scenes From Mimosas With Matthew Modine At Fuller Lodge
From left, Los Alamos Small Business Center Coordinator Sandy Jones, Los Alamos County Council Chair Denise Derkacs and Matthew Modine at Sunday morning’s ‘Mimosas with Matthew Modine’ at Fuller Lodge. This kick-off Welcome Brunch for the Los Alamos Film And Culture Festival, featured actor and filmmaker Matthew Modine, who stars in the film ‘The Martini Shot’ featured this year. Many will recognize Modine as Vannevar Bush in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’. Festivities continue for this inaugural international film festival, which runs through May 5, and includes 20 films at SALA Read More
County Council Proclaims April 14-20 Animal Control Professional & Shelter Volunteer Appreciation Week
Animal Control staff and volunteers along with Police Chief Dino Sgambellone and Council Chair Denise Derkacs hold up the proclamation for Animal Control Professional and Shelter Volunteer Appreciation Week. Shown from left, shelter volunteer Theresa Gustafson, Sgambellone, Derkacs and Animal Control’s Theresa Phelan and Fanny Capolungo. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council presented April 22 a proclamation to Los Alamos Animal Control staff and volunteers, recognizing April 14-20 as Animal Control Professional and Shelter Volunteer Appreciation Week.
Council Read More
County Seeks Volunteers For May Trails Day
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Parks and Open Space team is seeking volunteers to help them work to rejuvenate the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail on May 11 for May Trails Day.
Volunteers will enhance trailhead access, repair eroded sections, build water diversions and clear overgrown vegetation. “Let’s make our trails better together!”
Sign up TODAY to volunteer for the May Trails Day – Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail. Find more details about the project location. Read More
PAC 8 Community Media Center: May 3-May 9, 2024
PAC 8 News:
PAC 8 Community Media Center is available for recording events, transferring of old media, shooting and editing, live streaming and drone photography and videography.
For information, email pac8@losalamos.com, call 505.662.7228 or visit pac8cmc.com.
PAC 8 Television schedule for May 3 to May 9, 2024:
Friday, May 3, 2024
- 06:00 AM Deocracy Now! – Live
- 10:00 AM The Thom Hartmann Program
- 11:00 AM County Council Meeting Replay 4-30–24
- 03:00 PM Democracy Now!
- 05:00 PM PAC PAGES – Los Alamos County News Updates
- 06:00 PM A Chat with Glendora
- 06:30 PM White House Chronicles
- 07:00
Los Alamos County Council Proclaims National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Los Alamos County Council proclaimed April 14-20 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Los Alamos. County Council Chair Denise Derkacs and Police Chief Dino Sgambellone presented the proclamation. Shown here back row from left, Public Safety Telecommunicators Amanda Bucklin, Kate Stoddard, Sgambellone, Derkacs and Anthony Cardena. Front row, Susie Feiertag and Seth Martinez. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
On April 22, Los Alamos County Council proclaimed April 14-20 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Los Alamos.
Council Chair Denise Derkacs read the Read More
Senior Appreciation Night Funding & Volunteers Needed
Scene from a previous SAN activity at Ashley Pond Park. Courtesy photo
COUNTY News:
Senior Appreciation Night (SAN) is in need of funding and/or volunteers for the event on May 25, 2024. Volunteers and public donations to this non-profit event are needed to help keep the event fun and safe for graduating high school seniors.
First created in 1984, the goal of SAN has been to create a fun and safe environment for community youth to celebrate such a significant milestone in their young lives, and has become a staple of the community since. The Los Alamos community is, and always has been, an integral Read More
On The Job In Los Alamos: Dacotah Hofer At Aquatic Center
On the job in Los Alamos is Aquatic Center Program Coordinator Dacotah Hofer recently at 2760 Canyon Road. Hofer has worked at the center for 12 years. ‘I enjoy aquatics in general, I also like getting to communicate and interact with the community,’ Hofer said in speaking about his job. To learn more about the Los Alamos Aquatic Center, click here. Photo by Andy McBride/ladailypost.com Read More
LAPD To Host Spring DEA Drug Take-Back Day Today
LAPD will conduct its DEA Drug Take Back Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m today at the police station. Courtesy/DEA
LAPD News:
The Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) will conduct its biannual DEA Drug Take Back Day today.
This event is10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the north parking lot of the Police Department (off Central Avenue).
For this event, LAPD will have supplies for people to dispose of their liquids, creams and aerosols on site and a sharps container to drop off injectable medications. Read More
Cone Zone: Week Of April 28, 2024
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County has released the following construction news for the week of April 28:
Public Works Projects:
Los Alamos County Public Works’ staff manages the projects listed in this section through contractors. For more information, please email lacpw@lacnm.us, call 505.662.8150, or visit the “Projects/Public Works” link at https://lacnm.com/pw-projects. Please slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Please note the information below is based on a schedule provided by the contractors and may change due to weather or other delays.
DP Road Phase Read More
County Council 2024 Budget Hearings Continue April 29-30
COUNTY News:
The complete agenda packets for the Los Alamos County Council 2024 budget hearings to continue beginning 6 p.m. Monday, April 29 and Tuesday, April 30 have been published.
The agenda packet for the April 29 budget hearing is available online here.
The agenda packet for the April 30 budget hearing is available online here.
The hearings are open to the public and will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave. Read More
DPU Publishes Solar Q&A Online
COUNTY News:
A list of questions and answers pertaining to proposed changes to the Department of Public Utilities’ interconnection rule has been published on the Los Alamos County website.
The short link to the page is ladpu.com/Solar2.
DPU is attempting to reach all solar customers via email, phone or mailing address to point them to this information. Read More
County To Host Public Meeting On Downtown Los Alamos & White Rock Transit Center Study
COUNTY News:
On Thursday, May 2, 2024 the Los Alamos County Transportation Board and Public Works Department will hold a public meeting to present the Initial Evaluation of Potential Transit Center Sites in Downtown Los Alamos and White Rock.
Los Alamos County in coordination with its Transit Partners (Atomic City Transit, New Mexico DOT Park & Ride, North Central Regional Transit District and Los Alamos National Lab) has partnered with consulting firm Stantec to evaluate locations for a potential new transit center in Downtown Los Alamos and a potential auxiliary transit center in Read More
