COUNTY News:
Results of a survey conducted by Triton Polling & Research on behalf of the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) were shared with the Board of Public Utilities at the Wednesday, Jan. 20 monthly meeting.
A sample of Los Alamos citizens were asked to indicate their level of either support for or opposition to DPU’s environmental goals.
The survey concludes that the majority of respondents support all environmental goals adopted by the Board in October 2020.
Seventy-seven percent of citizens express support for DPU’s goal to be a carbon-neutral electric provider by 2040 with only 11 percent who say they oppose.
Eighty-seven percent of citizens support increasing local solar to six megawatts by 2040 (this includes customer rooftop solar installations), while just eight percent oppose.
DPU’s goal to reduce drinking water consumption by 12 percent by 2030 was met with milder enthusiasm: 45 percent support and 32 percent oppose this goal.
DPU’s natural gas goal was split into two questions. The first asked citizens the level of support to reduce natural gas use by five percent by 2030. Sixty-nine percent of respondents support this goal and another 21 percent oppose.
Eliminating natural gas use by 2070, which would require all energy use in the community be from carbon-neutral electricity, was the second question. Support for this goal was 54 percent. Thirty-four percent oppose this goal.
The last question related to a goal to improve reclaimed wastewater for irrigation of county and school turf so that it is the highest quality possible for unrestricted urban uses. Eighty-two percent of citizens support this goal and 9 percent oppose.
Conducted during the week of Dec. 14, 2020, Triton sampled 515 citizens using a combination of cell phones, landlines and emails. The confidence level is at 95 percent with a margin of error at +/- 4.3 percent.
DPU will incorporate these goals into an updated DPU energy and water conservation plan. In addition, conservation initiatives that support these goals and were recommended to the Board by a volunteer citizen committee last July 2020, will be integrated into this plan where appropriate.
Direct questions to the DPU at 505.662.8333 or CustomerCare@lacnm.us.