Las Cruces fair highlights renewable energy
In May, the
Southwest Energy Alliance (SWEA) held its first annual Energy Fair.
SWEA is a new environmental nonprofit based in Las Cruces which
encourages responsible energy use and supports the implementation of
clean and renewable energy solutions.
Environment New
Mexico’s Lauren Ketcham joined dozens of other groups at the all-day
outdoor fair, which featured exhibits and working displays from
nonprofits, businesses and government agencies showcasing new
technologies and policies to address global warming, increase New
Mexico’s use of renewable energy and increase energy efficiency.
Ketcham
was also featured as a speaker for a community discussion about the
Clean Cars program and global warming policy in New Mexico.
Albuquerque announces “Zero Waste” campaign
In
June, Environment New Mexico advocate Lauren Ketcham joined Albuquerque
Mayor Martin Chavez and others as he announced a new “Zero Waste
Initiative” that would dramatically cut waste and increase recycling in
Albuquerque in order to reduce the city’s landfills, help to address
global warming and save energy.
The City of Albuquerque produces
about 600,000 tons of garbage annually and now diverts only about 1.5
percent of that away from landfills through recycling. Mayor Chavez
wants to increase that rate to 26 percent by 2010 and ultimately to 45
percent by 2030.
To reach these goals, the city plans to
increase residential and commercial recycling programs, create a green
waste recycling program, launch a public education campaign, set up
recycling sites at all city facilities, parks and public spaces and
provide incentives for commercial recycling.
New Mexico has the second highest solar energy potential in the nation, but 87 percent of our power still comes from coal. 
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