Public Service Company of New Mexico announced the closure of the San Juan Generating Station in 2017. The Energy Transition Act was passed in 2019 to acknowledge the need, in part, for thoughtful consideration of transition in a region overwhelmed by pollution and public health issues.
Arvin Trujillo (“Thanks for consultation with tribal governments; keep it up,” My View, March 9) was the executive director for Four Corners Economic Development and advocated for carbon capture/sequestration at the generating station, a petrochemical plant and continued reliance on fossil fuels.
It has not been successful. The largest economic driver in San Juan County has been Energy Transition Act-funded San Juan Generating Station replacement resources of renewable energy. It has provided $500 million in local investment, property taxes for San Juan County and revenue for Central Consolidated School District.
When Trujillo advocates for environmental stewardship, take a careful look at what he is proposing. It is typically fossil fuels.
Mike Eisenfeld
Energy and Climate program manager
San Juan Citizens Alliance
Farmington
Less is more
Why does Zozobra have to have a theme (“Incoming: 101st Zozobra burn,” March 15)? Or 6,000 staff and security?
Only $100,000 goes to community organizations and nonprofits? The Burning of Zozobra has been turned into an overpriced circus. Why not take it back to what Will Shuster envisioned?
This is not a concert or a pageant; it was meant solely to burn the gloom of locals away. No need for drones, TV monitors, excessive fireworks, wrist bands that change colors or special seating other than for accessibility.
Get rid of the bloat. The excess and national advertising are what is making the safety of it questionable.
If Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe actually sold 65,000 tickets, it would have cleared $1 million — which went to the bloat, not the organization it was meant to help. Remember, less is more.
Elaine Anton
Santa Fe
What’s the plan?
Gutting USAID funds is, of course, unforgivable. The Trump administration seems unaware that one of the best ways to prevent disease, poverty, hunger and war is to assist people in other countries of the world.
Of course, there are two ways to use some of the billions of dollars President Donald Trump claims he is saving. He could end homelessness, food insecurity and diseases on American soil. Or he could give tax breaks to his billionaire cronies. Gee, I wonder what his plan is.
Tommy Thompson
Santa Fe
Cruelty’s the point
There are so many horrifying things the new administration is doing, including causing economic chaos, decimating medical research, eliminating protections for our national parks and turning our backs on Ukraine.
But I would like to focus on one aspect: the cruelty of these actions. Causing so many dedicated employees to lose their jobs without warning and without a thank you. Terrifying families who have come here seeking refuge, often from economic collapse caused by our policies. Laying the groundwork to cut off access to health care for so many people. Erasing the word gay from every government website or document, as if it’s a curse word.
And perhaps most heartless of all: Demonizing transgender people to the extent of claiming they shouldn’t exist.
I continue to be shocked that half our population has turned out to be so cruel or is willing to overlook such cruelty as it unfolds.
