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New Mexico
Clean Energy Update
News Programs for New Mexico Public Radio
  

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The New Mexico Clean Energy Update offers the following reports in MP3 streaming and download.

Report Series One – Produced June through August 2007 (each report is 5 minutes)

1. New Mexico’s Clean Energy Vision

This first report focuses on what clean energy is, why it’s important to the citizens of New Mexico, and what New Mexico’s Executive and Legislative branches hope to achieve by laying the foundation for widespread development of clean energy infrastructure. Features interviews with:

  • Bill Richardson, Governor, State of New Mexico
  • Fernando Martinez, Director, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division
  • Sarah Cottrel, Energy and Environmental Policy Advisor to the Governor

2. New Mexico’s Clean Energy Resources

As we turn to renewables for our energy supply, is the extent of our renewable energy resources substantial enough that future generations of New Mexicans may rely on it? This report explores New Mexico’s renewable energy resources, how abundant they are and how renewables differ from fossil energy. Features interviews with:

  • Roger Taylor, Manager of State, Local and Tribal Activities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado
  • Brian Johnson, Energy Technology and Engineering Manager, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division

3. Solar in New Mexico – An Overview

This report looks at technologies that convert sunshine into energy we can use, and how the state’s commitment to clean energy is giving a boost to development of solar energy infrastructure. Features interviews with:

  • Roger Taylor, Manager of State, Local and Tribal Activities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado
  • Marlene Brown, President New Mexico Solar Energy Association
  • Brian Johnson Energy Technology and Engineering Manager, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division
  • Jean Arya, Affordable Solar Group

4. Solar PV – An Emerging Industry in New Mexcio

A new manufacturer of photovoltaic cells has elected to start operations in New Mexico. This report focuses on the factors that influenced the decision to locate in New Mexico and what it takes to attract clean energy manufacturing industry to the state. Features interviews with:

  • DeDe Feldman, New Mexico State Senator
  • James Gee, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Research, Advent Solar

5. Solar PV – Home Owners Produce Power for the Electricity Grid

All over New Mexico, home owners are becoming electric power producers by installing solar photovoltaic electric systems and connecting their PV systems to the power grid. This report explores what’s making this possible, and why New Mexican solar PV system owners find it so rewarding. Features interviews with:

  • Jon Spar, Solar System Owner
  • Robert Broderick, PNM Senior Planning Engineer, Customer Generation and Distribution Planning Programs

6. Solar Thermal 

When we think of solar energy, we often think of solar photovoltaic panels that generate electricity. But there’s another way to use the sun. Solar thermal technology uses the sun’s energy to create heat for space heating or hot water supply. This report looks at a couple of applications to see how solar thermal is paying off. Features interviews with:

  • Robert and Grace Holland, Solar Thermal System Owners
  • Ron Rouix, District Energy Conservation Coordinator for Albuquerque Public Schools

7. Wind – Rapid Development in New Mexico

During the past four years, nearly 500 megawatts of electric power generation capacity has been installed in New Mexico by developers of utility-scale wind power plants. This report explores why wind power is developing so rapidly in New Mexico. Features interviews with:

  • Michael McDiarmid, Energy Technology Engineer, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division
  • John Calaway, Chief Development Officer for Babcock and Brown

8. Wind – Technological Developments

Of all of the renewable technologies, wind energy is undoubtedly the most successful in terms of market growth.  This report examines technological developments that have made wind a reliable, cost competitive source of electricity. Features interviews with:

  • Michael McDiarmid, Energy Technology Engineer, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division
  • Tom Ashwill, Wind Energy Technology Department, Sandia National Laboratories

9. Wind – Economic Benefits to New Mexico

What does wind energy contribute to New Mexico’s economy? This report looks at the economic benefit of wind energy to New Mexico and to the communities where wind energy is developed. Features interviews with:

  • Michael McDiarmid, Energy Technology Engineer, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division
  • Steve Tapia, Rancher, Pastura, New Mexico

10. Building Green – What Is Green Building?

This report looks at what it means to build green, and how the degree of sustainability of a building can be measured. Features interviews with:Steve Dent, Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Planning, the University of New Mexico

  • Lisa Logan, President-Elect, U.S. Green Building Council, NM Chapter
  • Steven Dent, Associate Professor of Architecture, UNM School of Architecture and Planning, and partner, Dent & Nordhaus, AIA

11. Building Green – Jumpstarting the Green Building Movement

Why is building green important to New Mexicans, and how is the state helping to jumpstart the green building movement in New Mexico? We’ll see in this report. Features interviews with:

  • DeDe Feldman, New Mexico State Senator
  • Susie Marbury, Energy Efficiency/Green Building Administrator, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division

12. Clean Fuels in New Mexico

What are clean fuels, and what are the benefits of using them? This report looks at clean transportation fuels in New Mexico. Features interviews with:

  • Frank Burcham, Land of Enchantment Clean Cities Coalition
  • Charles Bensinger, Biofuels Program Director, Renewable Energy Partners

13. Biomass – Heating the Coronado High School, Gallina NM

This report examines biomass, and how one New Mexico school district is using biomass to save money, cut its use of fossil fuel, and reduce the hazard of forest fires. Features interviews with:

  • Colin Messer, Energy Program Manager, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division
  • Jack McGowan, CEO, Energy Control, Inc.
  © Vision Trust, Inc. 2008