Energy

AI Boom Drives Demand For Power … New Mexico Asks: Who Pays?

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A rendering of the planned Hermes 2 facility near Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where Kairos Power will build a molten‑salt‑cooled small modular reactor to help fuel Google’s expanding data centers. Source: Kairos Power

By MARLENE WILDEN
Los Alamos Daily Post
marlene@ladailypost.com 

New Mexico is racing to keep up with a surge in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and data center expansion. State officials are increasingly focused on making sure residential and small-business customers aren’t left footing the bill.

The tension surfaced Read More

Walsh Welcomes Energy Secretary Chris Wright To Hanford

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Secretary of Energy Chris Wright tours the Waste Treatment Plant at Hanford with the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Management Tim Walsh. Courtesy/DOE

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Management Tim Walsh speaks with the Hanford workforce. Courtesy/DOE

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to the Hanford Site last week.

“I was honored to show U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright the tremendous progress on full display at Hanford,” Assistant Secretary Walsh said. “I congratulate Read More

At Broadband Summit, Lopez Highlights Strong Community Coordination To Prevent Los Alamos-Style Failures

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Scott Lopez delivers opening remarks at the New Mexico Broadband Summit on Dec. 3 at UNM’s Continuing Education Center in Albuquerque. Courtesy photo

By MARLENE WILDEN
Los Alamos Daily Post
marlene@ladailypost.com

New Mexico policymakers and industry officials on Wednesday said stronger collaboration among state agencies, internet providers and utility crews is imperative to preventing the kind of service failures that repeatedly disrupted Los Alamos this year. Such coordination is essential to advancing practical, long-term improvements as the state prepares for a major expansion Read More

EMNRD Secretary Melanie A. Kenderdine Resigns

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EMNRD Secretary Melanie A. Kenderdine

EMNRD News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Dec. 5 that Melanie A. Kenderdine, secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), will resign for personal reasons effective immediately.

“Melanie brought national energy expertise to New Mexico, and I’m grateful for her contributions at EMNRD. I wish her well,” Lujan Grisham said.

Erin Taylor, deputy cabinet secretary, will serve as Acting Cabinet Secretary of EMNRD.

Kenderdine joined the administration in May 2024. Before her appointment, she Read More

DPU AND PEEC To Hold Home Energy Management In-Person & Live-Streamed Talk Monday

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Courtesy/OpenEnergyMonitor

COUNTY News:

The community is invited to join the Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) for a practical talk on simple tools to track and manage home energy use, from energy monitoring apps like Sense to smart plugs and device scheduling.

Scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at Los Alamos Nature Center, 2600 Canyon Road, the talk will also explore more advanced automation with Home Assistant, including a live demo of how it runs an off-grid solar system.

This program is part of a collaboration Read More

Home Energy Management Free Talk With PEEC, DPU Dec. 1

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OEM is a project to develop open-source energy monitoring tools to help us relate to our use of energy, our energy systems and the challenge of sustainable energy. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) and Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) invite the community to a free program on Home Energy Management, taking place at 7 p.m. MT, Monday, Dec. 1, at the Los Alamos Nature Center (2600 Canyon Rd). The event will be offered both in-person and live-streamed online. To register, visit peecnature.org/events.

This practical talk will explore Read More

Community Invited To Share Feedback Regarding Fleet Conversion Plan And Community-Wide EV Charging Plan

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COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County invites residents, business owners, landlords, tenants, HOAs, commuters, and all others to attend a public meeting for a presentation of the draft Fleet Conversion Plan and Community-Wide EV Charging Plan.

The meeting is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave. and via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.

The County encourages feedback from the community to help shape the future of local transportation and electric vehicle infrastructure across the county.

The Fleet Conversion Plan outlines how the Read More

EMNRD Budget Aims To Strengthen Wildfire Protection

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EMNRD News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department is requesting $49.3 million in general fund for fiscal year 2027, representing a 9.1% increase from the previous year.

“This budget reflects the growing need to protect New Mexico’s communities from the potential dangers of wildfires that are resulting from drought and warmer temperatures we are experiencing due to climate change,” EMNRD Sec. Melanie Kenderdine said.

The FY27 budget request focuses on the following priorities:

  • $50 million for Wildfire Prepared Program grants and contracts. This program,
Read More

Los Alamos-based UbiQD Appoints Veteran Finance Leader Tony Beams As Chief Financial Officer

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UbiQD CEO Hunter McDaniel, left, and newly appointed CFO Tony Beams. Courtesy/UbiQD, Inc.

UbiQD’s newly appointed CFO Tony Beams, left, speaking with CEO Hunter McDaniel. Courtesy/UbiQD, Inc.

BUSINESS News:

  • Veteran finance leader joins to support UbiQD’s next phase of commercial growth in agriculture and solar sectors

UbiQD®, a global leader in quantum dot technology, today announced the appointment of Tony Beams as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Beams brings a strong track record of financial leadership and operational expertise in sustainability-focused technology businesses, Read More

Op-Ed: Energy And Health – Building A Stronger Future For New Mexico

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By Sen. Pete Campos
District  8
Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Mora, Quay, San Miguel & Taos

New Mexico stands at a pivotal moment. As we work toward a healthier future for every resident, we must recognize the essential role that our energy sector—particularly oil and gas—plays in making that vision possible.

Oil and gas revenues are not just numbers on a ledger; they are the backbone of our state budget. In Fiscal Year 2024, these revenues contributed nearly half of the General Fund and supported over $1.2 billion in health programs, including Medicaid, which is matched three-to-one by federal Read More