July 2016 Green Fire Times

News & Views

The

from the

S u s t ai n ab l e S o u t h w e s t

10 Microeconomies

of

New Mexico

by Alan Webber

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Growing a 21st Century Economy in New Mexico New Mexico as World Water and Energy Expert July 2016

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Vol. 8 No. 7

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Vol. 8, No. 7 • July 2016 Issue No. 87 Publisher Green Fire Publishing, LLC

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News & Views

from the

Sustainable Southwest

Winner of the Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Outstanding Educational Project

Contents

The 10 Microeconomies of New Mexico • Alan M. Webber . . . . . . . . . . . 7 New Mexico Taxes and Economic Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Brian McDonald, Jim Peach, Lee Reynis, Chuck Wellborn . . .. . .. . .. 10 Excerpts from a Statement about New Mexico’s Economy • Jim Peach. . . . . 11 Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Growing a 21st Century Economy in New Mexico • Marie Longserre . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 15 New Mexico First’s 2016 Statewide Economic Town Hall . . .. . .. . .. . 15 Small Is Beautiful for Local Economies • Vicki Pozzebon . . .. . .. . .. . 16 Op-Ed: Energy Choice That Could Create the Change We Need Mariel Nanasi . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 20 Gary Goodman’s Big Idea: Reboot New Mexico as World Water and Energy Expert Tami Brunk . . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 21 Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation • Dale Gannaway . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Key Opportunities along New Mexico’s Southern Border • Ken Miyagishima . . .. 25 Agricultural Development Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Op-Ed: Industrial Hemp in New Mexico • Gloria Castillo . . .. . .. . .. . 27 Op-Ed: The Demographic Revolution • George Cappannelli. . . . . . . . . . . 29 Newsbites and Sidebars. . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. .9, 12, 15, 18, 23, 25, 26, 37 What’s Going On. . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 38

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Green Fire Times provides useful information for community members, business people, students and visitors—anyone interested in discovering the wealth of opportunities and resources in the Southwest. In support of a more sustainable planet, topics covered range from green businesses, jobs, products, services, entrepreneurship, investing, design, building and energy—to native perspectives on history, arts & culture, ecotourism, education, sustainable agriculture, regional cuisine, water issues and the healing arts. To our publisher, a more sustainable planet also means maximizing environmental as well as personal health by minimizing consumption of meat and alcohol.

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© 2016 Green Fire Publishing, LLC

The 65th Annual Traditional Spanish Market will take place on Santa Fe’s Plaza and the Contemporary Spanish Market on Lincoln Avenue on July 30–31.

COVER: Sunrise Springs Resort, south of Santa Fe Bottom (l-r): Pan American Building at Journal Center in Albuquerque; Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe Rooftop solar panel installation; drip-irrigated agriculture Top: © Anna C. Hansen; Bottom (l-r): courtesy Goodman Realty Group; © Douglas Merriam, courtesy of City of Santa Fe; © Brian Leddy; © Seth Roffman

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The 10 Microeconomies of New Mexico

Alan M. Webber

We have some of the worst unemployment statistics in the country. We’re at the bottom when it comes to children living in poverty; when it comes to the overall well-being of children, we rank next to the bottom. Too many New Mexicans find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, which leads to poor schooling, which leads to poor jobs, which leads back to poverty.

New Mexico’s future is hiding in plain sight.

When you look at New Mexico today, you have to agree with the advice James Carville gave Bill Clinton: “It ’s the economy, stupid!”

The other truth is this: It doesn’t have to be this way.

We know because we live here and we love it here. When we look around the state, we see unmatched natural beauty, unique culture and history, remarkable diversity and great pride in that diversity, phenomenal natural resources, terrific talent, resilience and resourcefulness among the people of New Mexico. There is so much to celebrate about New Mexico, so much untapped potential, so much strength and opportunity, we all agree: New Mexico’s future is hiding in plain sight.

Let’s go back to James Carville: “It’s the economy, stupid.” Bill Clinton got the idea when he said, “The best social program in the world is a good job.”

New Mexico’s future depends on getting our economy going and our people working. A good job solves a lot of problems. It fights poverty, puts food on your table and a roof over your head, helps kids do better in school and creates real opportunities.

The question for New Mexico is not whether we need to create jobs; it’s how we’re going to do it.

This is where it gets interesting. This is where, to borrow from Abraham Lincoln, we “disenthrall” ourselves from old ways of thinking. This is where we get to create an approach that is unique to New Mexico— just as New Mexico is unique in America.

We get to utilize our strengths and think differently about a strategy that grows New Mexico from the grassroots up and from the inside out.

Our New Mexico Method is based on two big ideas: The first big idea is that New Mexico doesn’t have “an economy.” A state as large and diverse as ours has many microeconomies—10, in fact. The more we talk about “an economy,” the more we obscure the uniqueness of New Mexico and fall into the trap of adopting a generic approach, like chasing out-of-state smokestacks as a solution to the New Mexico economy.

The second big idea is that New Mexico’s future is hiding in plain sight. Our 10 microeconomies give us a huge competitive advantage. If we develop microstrategies for each of these 10 areas and then knit them together so the pieces fit together

© Seth Roffman (2)

Here’s the question: What do we need to do to change our future, so every New Mexican has more opportunity, better work, better pay and more meaningful employment—a better life?

“It’s the Economy, Stupid.”

Solar array that provides power to Santa Fe’s wastewater treatment plant

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© Elliott McDowell

W

e New Mexicans know that our state is doing far too poorly in too many important categories. We hate the ratings, but we can’t ignore them unless we’re willing to accept the status quo. Because the hard truth is, the headlines and the numbers don’t lie.

Scared Butte, Fajada Butte and ancient rockwork at Chaco Canyon, a National Historical Park in northwest New Mexico (composite photo) and also reinforce and strengthen each other, we will have a powerful, dynamic and original New Mexico Method. No other state can copy, borrow or steal it.

It will be grounded in those remarkable things that make New Mexico what it is: our land and sky, our history and culture, our character and experience. It seems obvious, but it’s worth saying: We won’t win by being cheaper than Texas or dirtier than Arizona. We win by being the best New Mexico we can be.

So what are these 10 microeconomies?

How can we describe them? How can we use them to create jobs and opportunities, first within each area and then between and among them? How does this kind of thinking and doing change what’s possible for New Mexico and for all the different regions and communities in our state?

Here are the 10 microeconomies

1. Energy. We are extraordinarily gifted as a state with energy resources; in fact, when all of our potential BTUs are added together, we rank in the nation’s top five states. For a long time, we’ve lived off our oil and gas resources. Now, with sustainability as New Mexico’s calling card and climate change a global concern, it’s time for us to lead the nation in renewable energy: solar, wind, hydrothermal, and the cheapest source of energy—conservation. As is true for almost every one of the

10 microeconomies, if we do energy right we will create multiple wins for New Mexicans: more jobs that are sustainable and future-facing, plus cheaper electricity and more local control over our own energy future, plus a cleaner environment that will help preserve our quality of life, plus more tourists—and tourist dollars— coming to our beautiful state.

2. Water. There are two ways to gain a competitive advantage: Make the most of an abundant resource— energ y—and take advantage of a scarce resource—water. New Mexicans have always known that water is scarce and precious. Water is life. Now, the whole world is learning this lesson. We should be able to sell our expertise, knowledge and technologies to create good jobs in New Mexico out of the hard truth of water scarcity.

3. Farming and Ranching. We ’ve always depended on farming and ranching both as a way of life and as continued on page 8

Green Fire Times • July 2016

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The 10 Microeconomies of New Mexico continued from page

7

The Longmire television series is one of many media projects filmed in New Mexico. a way to make a living. Today, there are huge new—and some very old— opportunities to take New Mexico to the forefront of the future of food and food production. Industrial hemp is one opportunity; it is a perfect fit for New Mexico. Hemp requires a lot of sun and very little water, and it can be transformed into tens of thousands of products. We have entrepreneurs in Silver City working to make biochar a New Mexico industry, reintroducing old farming practices into a new economy that wants better yields and better crops.

4. Tourism. We need to think and act more creatively than ever to grow tourism in New Mexico. Yes, we have amazing land, sky and mountains. We’re also home to more history, culture and art than

5. Digital Entertainment. New Mexico is already known as a great place to film a movie or produce a TV show.

But we’re leaving money on the table.

America’s largest export today is video games. We should be creating every form of digital entertainment right here in New Mexico, using our own talented designers and programmers to bring games and apps to life. There’s already a popular game called “The Oregon Trail.” Why isn’t there “The Santa Fe Trail” or “The Camino Real,” or games and stories set in Pueblo life and history?

6. Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

I n c i t i e s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y, e n t re p re n e u r s a n d i n n o v a t o r s are challenging the business establishment with new products and services, using new technology, the web, smart phones and new business models. It takes talent, ideas, an ecosystem that encourages risk taking and a place where people want to live and work. New Mexico has all the components to become the

Diversifying New Mexico’s Economy

New Mexico is the second most federally dependent state in the nation, behind only Mississippi, according to a WalletHub report released in March. The financial website evaluated state residents’ and state governments’ dependency, share of federal jobs and federal funding as a percentage of a state’s revenue.

New Mexico is home to two of the three U.S. nuclear weapons laboratories, multiple military bases and federal land-management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. With a high poverty rate and an aging population, the state also draws a large share of federal social spending.

Government employment is down, and budget cuts have lowered federal spending here. Hiring at both Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), however, is expected to pick up in the coming year as more money for waste cleanup, energy and weapons development flows into the state.

© Seth Roffman (2)

any state in America. Our tourism should be focused on experiences, ecotourism and cultural tourism.

Chaco Canyon can be our Machu Picchu. We need apps—not maps— that guide tourists to our state’s unique offerings, from the pueblos to the wineries to music festivals to dark skies.

Downtown Santa Fe next cool place for the entrepreneurial economy to take off, if we make key investments in high-speed Internet connectivity, air service and education that make startups easy to launch.

7. S m a l l a n d M e d i u m - S i z e d Business. New Mexico has never been, and most likely never will be, home to the large corporations of America. It’s not who we are, and, f rankly, it’s not who we aspire to be. We are a state of small and medium-sized businesses, which makes it all the more surprising that we put so much of our money and time into wooing large out-ofstate corporations. If you listen to our mom-and-pop shop owners, they’ll tell you the kind of help they need: cutting through red tape, workforce training and de velopment, permits and the permitting process, issues of zoning and transportation, better access to their businesses and better marketing of their businesses.

8. The Border. Very simply, we’re not making enough of our border with México. These days, it’s politically popular to talk about our border with México as if it were a problem and the only solution is a wall. We know differently, based on history, language,

New Mexico’s concentration of employment in the mining sector, which includes oil and gas, is three times the national average.

In May, at a Legislative Finance Committee hearing to assess ways New Mexico can diversify its economy and grow beyond its dependence on government, extractive industries and cattle, a panel of economic-development experts cited education and workforce development as essential to creating jobs and long-term economic growth.

Kathy Keith, director of community programs at LANL, told the committee that building the next generation of employers might mean finding ways to support people who start businesses in a garage or small workspace, although creating many new jobs from these enterprises may not happen overnight.

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Green Fire Times • July 2016

Aging vibrantly at the Commons in Santa Fe

culture and relationships. Right now, México’s own entrepreneurial economy is growing. Manufacturing, investment, exports and imports continue to evolve and develop. We have México and Latin America at our doorstep. We need to do more—and do it smarter and better— to build on existing relationships and opportunities.

9. The New Aging. New Mexico is one of America’s “grayest” states: We are home to a large number of people who are 50 years old and older, and this is a huge opportunity. Aging is being disrupted and reinvented.

People are living longer, healthier and more engaged lives. People want to find ways to contribute, to make a difference, to make some money, to add some meaning to their lives. It is all part of the New Aging, and New Mexico can be at the foref ront of writing the new rules and providing the new goods and services that come with this underappreciated phase of life.

10. Health Care and Well-Being. It’s part of the New Aging, but it’s also part of farming and ranching and entrepreneurship and innovation.

We’re seeing how technology can deliver healthcare to rural and frontier communities. Wellness and prevention are smarter, cheaper and better than treating diseases. This is another microeconomy in which New Mexico has so much to offer in the way of technology, experience and practice, as well as much to gain by moving to the f ront of exploration and commercial application of working solutions. continued on page 10

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The 10 Microeconomies of New Mexico continued from page

8

Those are the 10 microeconomies, with just a small suggestion of what each could contribute to New Mexico and how some could connect with others to create an internally consistent, self-reinforcing strategy for the state—a method that makes sense and works.

The goal is to invest in those areas that open up opportunities in others: Growing hemp, for example, creates new possibilities for entrepreneurship, micromanufacturing, smarter water use, and small and mediums i z e d b u s i n e s s e s Fo c u s i n g on digital entertainment supports entrepreneurship and innovation, but it also becomes a vehicle for tourism and rural communities to thrive.

Once we stop thinking about “the economy” and think instead about our microeconomies, we begin to see new opportunities and larger strategies for job growth that help all our communities and our future.

What will it take to make it happen?

It’s simple and hard:

• We have to look at each of these 10 microeconomies and design

working programs and policies for each of them.

• We have to develop ways for the private sector and the public sector to work together toward common goals for New Mexico.

• We have to want change and believe that there is a way forward for a better New Mexico.

• We have to work hard and work together.

• We have to embrace new possibilities and demand new leadership.

Our future is hiding in plain sight. The truth is, it’s there if we want it.

Now it’s up to us to see it, to want it and to create it. i Alan M. Webber is a businessman and entrepreneur in Santa Fe and was a c a n d i d a te f o r the Democratic nomination for governor of New Mexico in 2014.

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New Mexico Taxes and Economic Development Brian McDonald, Jim Peach, Lee Reynis, Chuck Wellborn Employment levels in New Mexico are still not back to the levels achieved in 2007 before the Great Recession. The state has been hit hard by the federal sequestration, the bust in construction activity and now the decline in energy prices. Despite claims that recent job gains signal economic recovery, these new jobs continue to be largely healthcare jobs and are due not to state economic-development initiatives but to enactment of the federal Affordable Care Act and the resulting increase in medical care for state residents. Albuquerque Business First reported on April 29 that, although the South and West offer the best climates for small-business growth, Albuquerque ranks 93rd in business vitality out of 106 metro areas with a population of at least 500,000.

A three-step course of action is recommended.

First, fix the gross-receipts tax. Retain the gross-receipts tax breaks that make a demonstrated contribution to in-state economic-development efforts. But also conduct this overhaul in a way that will raise gross-receipts tax revenues modestly, so that New Mexico has the resources to invest in its future. And don’t let anyone tell you that a modest tax increase will kill our chances to attract new business activity to New Mexico.

Second, make a periodic review and refinement of the existing inducements that the state offers to job creators, including tax breaks, subsidies for job training and infrastructure and their effectiveness.

The average salaries of New Mexico’s schoolteachers are 45th in the nation.

Third, rather than relying solely on these job-creation inducements, the state should implement strong measures to stimulate New Mexico’s economy, including meaningful fiscal stimulus.

Here are a few examples: the state could use increased tax revenues, capital-outlay money, severance tax and general obligation bonds to pay for state infrastructure projects that will materially improve the long-term health of the state’s economy, including roads, airports, Internet connections, innovation districts, university science and engineering laboratories, tenured faculty positions, plus equipment and facilities for public schools and other improvements to New Mexico’s education system that enhance educational and training opportunities for the state’s young people.

The City of Albuquerque has demonstrated ways to implement innovative infrastructure projects. The city recently built the new interchange at Paseo del Norte and I-25, not by waiting for federal spending to arrive someday, but instead by largely using city bond money to pay for it. The work created many construction jobs and improved the commuting life of citizens. The city is doing much the same thing with its Albuquerque Rapid Transit project, except that the federal government is providing tens of millions in funding. Similarly, the city, county and UNM are funding development at the Innovate ABQ project on Broadway and Central.

There will always be those who complain that the city or state is doing too little to address important challenges and then find fault with whatever action is taken. Yes, some will worry that improving roadways will lead to urban sprawl or more cars on the road. Some will not believe that the rapid-transit bus will lead to increased investment in properties along Central Avenue. Others will not be convinced that an innovation district will be a meaningful job creator. But isn’t decisive but thoughtful action better than doing nothing but wringing our hands over the state’s and city’s uncertain economic future?

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Green Fire Times • July 2016

Brian McDonald, Ph.D., an economist, has focused on New Mexico state and local tax policy analysis and was director of UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research for 21 years.

Jim Peach, Ph.D., an accomplished economist and author, is a regents professor in the Department of Economics and International Business, College of Business, New Mexico State University.

Lee Reynis, Ph.D., has served as city economist for the City of Albuquerque, chief economist for the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, and director of the UNM Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Chuck Wellborn, an attorney, is chairman of the New Mexico Small Business Investment Company and former chairman of the Albuquerque Economic Forum.

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Excerpts from a Statement about New Mexico’s Economy Before the Senate Finance Committee, Jan. 20, 2016 Jim Peach

Employment growth is the key to sustaining personal income growth and • S tate job growth has been modest during the recovery.

• A lthough Albuquerque has shown some strength in recent months, the rest of the state is much weaker.

Oil and Gas

Many oil analysts expect a protracted period of low oil prices. … Without a substantial reduction in world production in 2016, there is little reason to anticipate a rebound in oil prices. … The big players in the industry continue to reduce capital expenditures and lay off workers. … Rig counts are falling both nationally and in New Mexico. … The assets of many oil firms consist mainly of Estimated Ultimately Recoverable Reserves (EUR). … EUR at $30–$35 per barrel are much lower than at $100-plus per barrel. [Editor’s Note: In June the price was between $48. and $50.]… The financial sector faces losses from the energy sector. Can these firms continue to have access to capital markets with drastically reduced assets?

Probably not, and this could easily result in additional cuts in capital expenditures, further layoffs and, ultimately, in reduced production.

New Mexico has a failed economicdevelopment strategy.

There is simply so much natural gas available in the United States today that it is difficult to imagine substantial price increases in the next couple of years. …New Mexico production has been fairly stable at about 1.2 trillion cubic feet [per year]…

It is reasonable to expect a decline in [oil] production in FY17 from the forecasted 155 million barrels unless prices recover.

New Mexico can do better.

New Mexico has a failed economicdevelopment strategy. For as long as anyone can remember, New Mexico has pursued a strategy of economic development by theft; that is, economic-development officials and private-sector organizations try to “steal” a firm from some other state.

Should the state do this? Probably. And we

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should all celebrate the success stories in this game. But development by theft has not, in general, been a successful strategy.

The numbers from a long-term perspective provide strong evidence of the failure of our economic-development strategy.

New Mexico’s per capita income in 2014 ($37,605) was 82 percent of the national average ($46,129), and the state ranked 45th among the 50 states. In 2014, New Mexico’s per capita income was the lowest of any of our neighboring states. In 1964, New Mexico’s per capita income was 82 percent of the national average, but New Mexico ranked 38th among the 50 states.

I don’t think that this committee wants to hear from some other economist 50 years from now saying that the state’s per capita income remains at 82 percent of the national average and that we rank in the bottom five of all states.

At the county level, per capita income in 2014 ranged from $23,789 in McKinley County to $62,619 in Los Alamos County.

Clearly, New Mexico has a problem with economic-development issues that is geographic.

New Mexico has been slow to recover from the Great Recession that began in December 2007. New Mexico’s slow recovery is related to New Mexico’s long-term economicdevelopment issues.

As of November 2015, New Mexico had 17,300 fewer nonfarm payroll jobs than it had in December 2007. Jobs in the state increased by 4,400 in the last year (November 2014 to November 2015), but it will be a long time (2017 or 2018) before New Mexico has as many jobs as it did in September 2010 (797,000). Since then, the state has added 34,800 jobs, with 40 percent of those in education and healthcare services. Leisure and hospitality has also seen job increases (10,900). Mining, which includes oil and gas, has also shown increases, even with the rapidly falling price of oil. The job gains in education and healthcare services are generally attributed to increases in Medicaid and other payments received through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

For the last two years, Census Bureau estimates indicate that New Mexico lost population. Between 2013 and 2014, more people left the state (11,482) than were added due to natural increase (9,942). The same general pattern occurred between

2014 and 2015. While the total population decreases are small, this is the first time since the late 1960s that Census Bureau estimates indicate a decrease in the state’s population. Those leaving the state probably did so mainly for economic reasons.

On a county level, 14 New Mexico counties lost population between 2000 and 2010. From 2010 to 2014, 21 of the state’s 33 counties lost population.

These demographic trends are not the sign of a healthy economy.

New Mexico continues to rank high in terms of poverty.

In 2014, 20.3 percent of the state’s population was below the poverty level, a figure exceeded only by Mississippi’s 20.5 percent.

In October 2015, 460,000 A capped gas well in the Galisteo Basin south of Santa Fe New Mexicans received region. More of one does not necessarily Supplemental Nutrition imply less of the other. People are not Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits hungry because we cannot produce more according to USDA (U.S. Department food. In the United States, the agricultural of Agriculture) data. As of October 2015, problem for more than a century has been 735,391 New Mexicans were enrolled low prices and the inability to produce in Medicaid or the Children’s Health more. We do not have homeless people Insurance Program (CHIP). because we cannot produce more housing.

None of this is pretty. New Mexico can People are not thirsty because we cannot do better. produce more beer and wine or milk or coffee or tea.

There is no economic justification for poverty. For more than a century, the world has had the technology and resources to eliminate hunger, to provide decent housing, education and medical care for everyone. Poverty is a policy decision. No nation has ever produced as much as it could. The dismal science of economics shares much of the blame. For the most part, economists continue to perpetrate the All nations have excess capacity. This 19th-century scarcity story when we live, or is particularly true in the 21st century could live, in a society of abundance. as technological change is increasing our capacity to produce in sometimesWhat economists often teach is that if unbelievable ways. we produce more of one thing, we must

New Mexico’s slow recovery is related to New Mexico’s long-term economic development issues.

produce less of another. Under almost all circumstances, this is nonsense. If more beer is produced in Germany, there is no reason why oil production in the Permian Basin must decrease. It doesn’t even matter if the beer and the oil are produced in the same

In this case, what is true for the world and the nation is also true for New Mexico.

There are no technological or resource constraints prohibiting us from doing better. In the economic-development game, continued on page 12

Green Fire Times • July 2016

11

© Seth Roffman

I

n the short run, the New Mexico economy faces considerable uncertainty. A few things to watch:

Excerpts from a Statement continued from page

New Mexico's Unemployment Rate

11

there are no natural laws or predetermined outcomes. New Mexico is not condemned to lead the nation in poverty.

New Mexico can do better, but how? No one can solve this in only a few minutes, but here are a few things we can and cannot do.

There are some things New Mexico—or other states—can’t do. An individual state cannot conduct monetary policy. Like Greece, we do not issue our own currency, and federal law says the Federal Reserve Board will conduct monetary policy. New Mexico does not conduct fiscal policy; that too is a federal government function. New

Economic development, on the other hand, is one of the most dangerous ideas ever conceived. Economic development cannot occur by doing more of the same.

Economic development necessarily involves significant structural change. An example is the kind of change that took place as the nation shifted from being predominantly rural and agricultural to a mainly urban and industrial economy. Such changes are inevitably accompanied by changes in economic and political power, as well as social changes such as the structure of families, birth rates and the role of women in the economy.

Despite a high-level strategy for economic development, New Mexico’s economy has been stagnant. The unemployment rate is the fourth highest in the United States.

New Mexico’s Department of Workforce Solutions reported that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.2 percent in May, unchanged since March but lower than the 6.6 percent rate of a year earlier. The national rate in May dropped to 4.7 percent. The decline in oil and gas prices and their effect on related industries including trade, transportation and utilities have taken a toll. The energy sector, which includes mining and logging as well as drilling, lost 6,500 jobs over the last 12 months. The Associated Builders and Contractors, in March, reported the overall construction unemployment rate at 14.2 percent, ranking the Land of Enchantment at 47th—near the bottom.

The state’s economy added 2,900 jobs between May 2015 and May 2016, most in the private sector. Industries with the largest job gains included information and trade, transportation and utilities, as well as business and professional services and education and health services.

While Arizona, Colorado and Utah are among the top states nationally for employment growth, New Mexico is among 10 states that have failed to regain all jobs lost in the Great Recession, even after more than seven years of recovery.

Wages in New Mexico, however, have been on a slow upward trend, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

New Mexico’s Economy Ranked Fifth Worst

© Anna C. Hansen

According to a report released June 6 on the financial website WalletHub, New Mexico ranks as the nation’s fifth-worst economic performer, ahead of Maine and behind Louisiana. In “economic health,” which included metrics such as unemployment rate, median household income, percentage of residents living below the poverty level and other measures, New Mexico ranked dead last among the 50 states. Moody’s Investors Services predicted that New Mexico is on a downward spiral into another recession.

Los Alamos National Laboratory sits on top of a once-remote mesa in northern New Mexico. It is a center for research and innovation covering multiple disciplines, from bioscience and sustainable energy sources—to plasma physics and nuclear weapons.

Mexico does not and cannot control the prices of or demand for its main exports.

The prices of oil, natural gas, copper, potash and Intel chips are determined in national and international markets. But there is a lot that we can do.

New Mexico needs an economicdevelopment strategy that recognizes the difference between economic growth and economic development.

Economists make important distinctions between the concepts of economic development and economic growth. In the academic world, these subjects are usually taught in different courses—and for good reason. Economic growth is a relatively simple area defined to be increases in key economic variables such as employment, income or (GDP). Often, these measures are presented in per capita terms. Economic growth is easily quantified, and success or failure of efforts to achieve growth can easily be determined. Economic growth can be achieved by producing more goods and services, perhaps in all sectors of the economy without significant structural changes.

Economic development destroys old ways of doing things. That is why economic development is dangerous, and that is why economic development and policies designed to achieve development are so often resisted. Simply stated, change is scary, and so is economic development.

The distinction between development and growth is not trivial. All too frequently, the phrase “economic development” is used in policy discussions when what is being discussed is economic growth.

Policies designed to encourage economic development are not the same policies designed to promote economic growth.

Poverty is a policy decision.

12

New Mexico needs a systemic approach to evaluating and rank-ordering all economic-development expenditures and projects, including our dozens of tax expenditures. We have never asked the right questions about the state-led or subsidized development projects. The question to ask is whether or not the spending on the project under consideration is the best expenditure we could make for long-run economic development. Consider, for example,

Green Fire Times • July 2016

continued on page 18

Still, a few positive indicators can be found. Like most of the rest of the United States that has extra money to spend as a result of lower gas prices, the state’s hospitality and leisure sectors grew 4.21 percent during the past 12 months. The economic impact of New Mexico’s tourism industry in 2014 was the largest in state history. The industry injected $6.1 billion into New Mexico’s economy and supported about 89,000 jobs in 2014. The one positive indicator for New Mexico reported by WalletHub was “innovation potential,” where the state ranked 15th.

That category measured commercial areas such as the percentage of jobs in high-tech industries, patents, research and development (R&D) spending and entrepreneurial activity.

Report: “New Mexico Susceptible to Corruption and Crony Capitalism”

According to a report released in January, New Mexico’s reliance on government jobs, its history of corruption and a “poorly compensated” citizen Legislature create a “perfect storm” that has been a major reason for the state’s languishing economy.

“New Mexico’s economy is stagnant, largely because of the state’s reputation for corruption and crony capitalism,” the report states. The report defines crony capitalism as “regulatory favoritism, pay-to-play political coercion and interest group politics, in which companies gain more from political activity than their own economic activity.”

The report is from the nonpartisan Committee for Economic Development and the University of New Mexico. The CED is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, business-led public-policy organization.

The report recommends that business leaders push for greater campaign-finance disclosure, an independent ethics commission—something that has repeatedly not passed in the Legislature—and a “rigorous” review of tax subsidies to determine whether tax incentives for certain corporations are effective. Private companies can apply for 34 different tax credits in seven industries. Between 2011 and 2013, the state issued 860 subsidies at a cost of more than $262 million. Many of the industries that benefited also contributed to the campaigns of public officials who help write the subsidies, according to the report.

New Mexico is one of 16 states that still have a part-time legislature with relatively low pay and limited resources. The report says this makes lawmakers “susceptible to interest-group politics and lobbyists for basic information on the issues.”

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Green Fire Times • July 2016

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Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Growing a 21st Century Economy in New Mexico Marie Longserre

O

ne of the most dramatic trends affecting the U.S. economy in the past several decades has been the rise of entrepreneurial activity as a foundation for business and job growth. While small businesses of all types have always played a critical role and continue to do so, a combination of technology, financial capital, market evolution and support infrastructure has launched a new type of entrepreneur, one focused on innovation.

Innovation in this context is used to mean new approaches to solving practical problems through business ventures, including reimagining product design, business models and markets. At its extreme, “disruptive innovation” topples entire industries and product categories, creating new ones in their place—think Netflix or Uber—with the associated opportunities and economic benefits. Schools across the country have begun to treat this field as a discipline, venture capital resources have exploded, and the success of role models like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk has created a sense of possibility for all.

A Microeconomy Platform for New Mexico

Entrepreneurship is one approach to, and platform for, New Mexico’s other microeconomies, all of which hold tremendous entrepreneurial potential, and many are already showing innovative results. This approach can extend to traditional areas such as tourism and agriculture, as well as newly developing areas such as digital media and renewable energy, by promoting and supporting a next generation of innovators, prepared to take on the challenges—and capture the opportunities—of modernized markets and technologies.

New Mexico’s microeconomies are already showing innovative results.

The importance of entrepreneurship to the state’s economy is already clear: economicdevelopment offices, social-sector players, and New Mexicans in general increasingly recognizing that economic diversification is crucial, and corporate recruitment goes only so far. The best solution is to attract, retain and empower entrepreneurs to grow new innovative businesses, expand our markets and widen our horizons.

New Mexico First’s 2016 Statewide Town Hall “Economic Security and Vitality for New Mexico” New Mexico First, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public-policy organization, held its biennial statewide town hall in May, convening more than 220 citizens who called for robust and immediate economic policy action. Specifically, participants recommended more incentives and financial resources for entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive and stay in New Mexico, closely aligned K-12 and post-secondary education with workforce development, improved regulations and a reformed tax code. They also called for a focus on family-friendly policies in the workplace, support for families at economic risk and investments in tribal, rural and frontier communities.

Economic town hall calls for reforms to strengthen businesses, education and families in poverty

The meeting in Albuquerque brought together people from all regions of the state.

Participants came from small, medium and large towns and included tribal, federal, city and state employees, nonprofit employees, business people, economic developers, students and other community members.

Heather Balas, president of New Mexico First, said, “The participants addressed the topics of business growth and family economics in a comprehensive and thoughtful way, paying close attention to how their recommendations would help create a stronger and more robust financial foundation for New Mexicans.”

Strategies fall into three major categories: job creation and business growth; education and workforce; and family economics, especially for people in poverty.

Recommendations included the following specific examples:

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It Takes an Ecosystem

While entrepreneurs are characteristically passionate individuals who are prepared to pursue their vision despite the risk and odds, evidence shows that support infrastructure— i.e., facilities, resources, programs—is needed to increase their chances and maximize their successes.

New Mexico has been making great progress in developing a rich entrepreneurial support ecosystem.

From the founding of the Santa Fe Business Incubator in 1997 to a surge of recent activity in every region, we are increasingly making New Mexico a f riendly, inviting, and supportive environment for Fully equipped shared bioscience lab startup businesses and their founders. A partial list of key elements includes business incubators (Santa Fe Business Incubator, South Valley Economic Development Center, WESST Enterprise Center, Enterprise Center at San Juan College, Arrowhead Technology Center, Navajo Tech Innovation Center, Taos County Economic Development Center); accelerators (ABQid, SFid, Creative Startups, SFAI Works); business-plan competitions (BizMIX Challenge, UNM); and technology-transfer offices (our two national laboratories and three research universities); supplemented by co-working and maker spaces, financial capital and technology support. continued on page 18

• Expand access to capital and other powerful incentives for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses.

• Comprehensively restructure the tax code for the purposes of attracting and retaining businesses.

• Increase job creation by improving regulation, licensing and permitting processes.

• Invest in and strategically plan rural and tribal economic development.

• Expand high-speed broadband statewide, including on tribal and rural lands.

• Fund statewide economic-development efforts consistently, not up and down from year to year.

• Advance incentives and programs that promote life-long academic success for high school students.

• Better align college and vocational training with actual career opportunities.

• Provide an array of supports, including financial literacy education, to people living in poverty.

• Assess the impacts on families—positive and negative—of new public policies (similar to the way the state currently assesses financial implications of new policies).

• Incentivize employers to adopt family-friendly policies.

The town hall recommendations will be advocated to state and local leaders by an implementation team comprised of volunteers from the event. The team will be led by former New Mexico House Rep. Tom Taylor and Bill García, community leader and former secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

A full report on the results of the town hall can be viewed at nmfirst.org

Green Fire Times • July 2016

15

Small is Beautiful for Local Economies

Vicki Pozzebon

Microeconomics (from Greek prefix mikro- meaning “small”) is a branch of economics that studies the behavior of individuals and firms in making decisions regarding the allocation of limited resources.

This is in contrast to macroeconomics, which involves the “sum total of economic activity, dealing with the issues of growth, inflation, and unemployment.”

Microeconomics also deals with the effects of national economic policies (such as changing taxation levels) on the aforementioned aspects of the economy.

Individual behavior means making choices based on your own limited resources.

Knowing where your food comes from and making a conscious decision to spend your hard-earned money with a farmer who can put that $5 directly into his or her own pocket helps to 1) feed the farmer’s own family, 2) put more crops in the ground for the next round of planting, 3) feed the farmer’s livestock, 4) put money back into their own community because they’ll use the $5 at other locally owned businesses they support. This is a multiplier effect, where a dollar spent in our community stays in our community and is recycled over and over again into wages, services, goods, and local taxes. In some cases, the multiplier can be up to eight times on a single dollar.

Now, let’s look at a firm’s decisions regarding the allocation of limited resources. When a small business owner makes an effort to pay a living wage or better to his or her small team, this is an investment in human capital.

It’s also a way to give employees a salary they are worthy of and providing them with the resources to be productive individuals in their own community. They will be able to purchase more goods and services in their own neighborhoods with their income, thereby contributing to the multiplier effect.

With over 152,000 small businesses in New Mexico—representing 95 percent of all employers and 54 percent of the private-sector workforce, and over half being woman-owned—small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Collectively, small businesses are an economy all their own, creating jobs and serving many sectors from food and agriculture to industrial manufacturing to tourism and services.

What do they need to succeed in our state?

R e s o u r c e s . C a p i ta l . I n m a n y conversations with loc all y owned businesses, it was revealed to me that what many owners wanted was easier access to capital that allowed them to negotiate lower rates of repayment or to take on mid-size loans from $20,000 to $100,000 for staff expansion or inventory. Many lending institutions are risk-averse, not wanting to provide smaller loans like this to a small, relatively new business or to an owner who has personal debt or a spotty credit history. I’m not advocating for free money to business owners. I’m advocating for more conversation about how to clean up old debt, learning more about what the business does as a force for good in the community and how a repayment plan works to help support—not hinder—the business’s growth.

Café Tazza in Taos

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) recently published results of data gathered f rom more than 3,000 locally owned independent businesses across the United S tates. The y found that “…One obstacle is a lack of credit for businesses seeking to grow ... One in three independent businesses that applied for a bank loan in the last two years failed to secure one. That

An excellent resource: T he Institute for Local Self-Reliance Localist Policy Agenda https://ilsr.org/localist-policy-agenda/

16

Green Fire Times • July 2016

© Seth Roffman (2)

ooking at this basic Wikipedia d e fi n i t i on f rom a l o c a l i s t perspective, let’s dive right in:

TerraCotta Wine Bistro and the Eldorado Hotel in Santa Fe figure was 54 percent among minorityowned businesses and 41 percent among young firms, whose expansion has historically been a key source of net job growth.”

Tax incentives for local businesses are key solutions to the problem, as well. The same study from the ILSR found that “…On the policy side of these challenges, majorities of the businesses surveyed said they would support legislation to cap the dollar value of the economic-development tax breaks that companies are eligible to receive, and that they think regulators should more vigorously enforce antitrust laws against dominant companies.”

Small businesses in New Mexico are the backbone of our economy.

Imagine our cities and towns helping local businesses succeed with hiring more local talent by giving them tax breaks instead of offering relocation incentives to the next corporate call center that comes to town with the promise of 200 $12-an-hour jobs.

We might gain those jobs in New Mexico, but at what price? And what happens when that company gets another incentive to move again in 10 years to another city in our neighboring state? Goodbye, jobs.

What I’m also talking about here is the fact that those companies are not investing in local jobs the way a locally owned business would. For $12 an hour, their staff will not likely move into a higher pay scale with more skills; these are often basic customerservice jobs. Plus, they use their own out-ofstate accounting firms and payroll services, their own marketing departments and all

their own legal departments. They don’t put money back into our communities with local vendors.

Investments can make a difference in small communities. If local governments give incentives to local businesses to expand, those businesses could grow their workforces, pay higher wages and be a force in a community that needs local tax money for facilities and services such as libraries and first responders, and they could contribute more to the local economy by using local vendors.

In Pennsylvania, the Fresh Food Financing Initiative was seeded with $30 million in state money. This loan fund raised more than $120 million in capital to finance over 80 locally owned grocery stores in lowincome urban and rural communities that lacked stores selling fresh food and where conventional bank loans for startup food retailers were hard to come by. All but one of the businesses financed by this program have been successful.

Imagine focusing on our small and local businesses as if they mattered most, with their unique ways of serving communities.

Imagine investing in them, providing them with the incentives and red-carpet treatment we reserve for big companies from out of state. It could be a game changer in our communities. Now, let’s make it happen, New Mexico. i Vicki Pozzebon is a purveyor of all things local.

She is the owner of Prospera Partners, a local economy and business consulting firm. She was a 2010–2012 BALLE Fellow. Read her blog The Local Voice at vickipozzebon.com and follow her on Twitter: @ vickipozzebon.com

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© Genevieve Russell

L

—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microeconomics

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Excerpts from a Statement continued from page

12

Spaceport America, which cost the public about $200 million to construct plus an annual subsidy for operating expenses.

Was this really the best development project we could undertake? Perhaps the money could have been spent better by improving our state parks, museums or genuinely pitiful rest areas. We will never know the answer because the question was never asked.

not be able to provide the needed investment on its own. The state and perhaps the federal government will need to help. There are many other inf rastructure investments that need to be made, and each of us has probably lobbied for our favorites. But lobbying is not the way to get the job done most effectively.

New Mexico’s slow recovery is related to New Mexico’s long-term economic development issues.

Education is a key element. A 21st-century, high-tech and internationalized economy requires a 21st-century workforce. High school dropouts have few opportunities in the 21st-century labor market. New Mexico needs to have education and workforce training that is world-class— or at least as good as what is found in our neighboring states. This will require substantial investment in education, and only the state is capable of doing it. One of my favorite educational goals would be to have every high school graduate be truly bilingual, and I don’t mean passing Spanish 1. New Mexico, in a few years, could be the first state to be able to brag that its workforce is bilingual. The particular language does not matter.

Arabic, French or Chinese would work as well as Spanish.

Inf rastructure investment is obvious.

Broadband everywhere in New Mexico is essential. New Mexico is the least-wired state in the nation—an unacceptable position if we want industry and innovation to thrive. The private sector cannot and will

Personally, I would eliminate all economic tax incentives—expenditures—and use the money for long-term investments in the state economy. In the short term, this is only a small sample of what needs to be done. The main point is that it can be done. Other states and regions have had reasonably successful development strategies; North Carolina, Austin, Texas, and Silicon Valley come to mind. The success stories were not accidental. They were deliberately planned and organized.

New Mexico can do better, but it must change how it approaches economic development. Otherwise, the New Mexico economy 50 years from now will look much like the New Mexico economy today. i Jim Peach, Ph.D., an accomplished economist and author, is a regents pr of essor in the Department of Economics and International Business, College of Business, New Mexico State University.

Albuquerque’s Business Environment

WalletHub has ranked Albuquerque in the bottom 10 among 150 “best places to start a business” cities. The report measured 16 factors in three broad categories: business environment, including number of startups per 100,000 residents and fiveyear survival rate; access to resources such as venture capital and college-educated workforce; and costs such as cost of living and corporate taxes. MarketWatch ranks Albuquerque 92nd out of 100 cities studied for “business friendliness.”

In recent months, Albuquerque fell from 155th place to 179th out of 200 large cities in Milken Institute’s annual index of the best-performing urban economies.

Although construction and manufacturing employment numbers are down, Albuquerque’s job market is growing modestly. At the end of February 2016, private-sector employment grew by 1,400 jobs, or 0.5 percent, over the year before.

Most of that growth was in the healthcare and education sectors.

Vacant, arable land in the metro area is ripe for growers looking to get in on the agriculture boom, especially with large organizations such as Presbyterian Healthcare Services attempting to procure more locally grown produce. Ann Simon, economic programdevelopment manager for the Mid-Region Council of Governments, which launched the online resource, New Mexico LandLink, said, “Think of the production value we could see from these lands. Right now, there’s mostly alfalfa, but what if it was vegetables?”

There are at least six business accelerators now operating in the Albuquerque metro area, working with local entrepreneurs seeking to accelerate the development of new and existing businesses. Innovate ABQ is a joint UNM, City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and private-partner effort to build a seven-acre R&D district near downtown. The project aims to become a center of entrepreneurship.

18

Green Fire Times • July 2016

Entrepreneurship and Innovation continued from page

15

Incubators and accelerators play a key role in this ecosystem. Together, these two synergistic types of entrepreneurial support environments offer the full range of resources needed for startup businesses to survive and thrive, spanning the full early stages of their life cycles.

The Power of Incubators and Accelerators

Business incubation started in the United States in 1959 and slowly started taking hold in the 1960s and 1970s, through the 1980s. By the 1990s, it became clear to communities around the world that attracting and supporting entrepreneurs were strong economic tools for stability and growth. By 2006, more than 1,400 incubators were functioning in North America, with 1,115 in the United States.

Since then, the numbers have increased to over 7,000 worldwide. These statistics explain why the survival rate of incubated businesses almost doubles; that is, only 44 percent of new, non-incubated businesses survive their first four critical years, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. The rate rises to 87 percent when startups are nurtured in business incubators.

New Mexico has capitalized on this value since the mid-1990s, when the City of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce recognized the need for a business incubator in their region. In 1997, the original 10,000-square-foot Santa Fe Business Incubator (SFBI) facility opened. By 2002, it had grown to 30,000 square feet, most recently adding a state-of-the-art BioScience Laboratory.

In 2006, SFBI became the first New

Mexico Certified Business Incubator under the state Economic Development Department’s certification program, which has now certified seven statewide.

As one indicator of the economic benefits these incubators provide, SFBI has served more than 150 businesses since inception, creating over 1,000 jobs generating an average of $27 million in annual direct revenues and increasing the tax base yearly by over $3 million. Statewide, an economic impact study for 2011–2012 showed a favorable cost-benefit ratio for New Mexico’s investment in business incubators of 57 to 1, with total tax revenues generated from the five hubs then in operation over a four-year period exceeding $51 million.

Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales confirmed the importance of incubators when he said, “Santa Fe’s innovative spirit thrives in the long-running success of the Santa Fe Business Incubator.” The same can be said of all of New Mexico’s entrepreneurs, creative innovators in the Land of Enchantment. i Marie Longser re, president & CEO o f t h e S a n ta Fe Business Incubator, w a s ch a i r o f t h e board of the iNBIA, the largest global association for business incubation and innovation.

She represents New Mexico on the Community Development Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Residents Want Businesses to Help Improve the Economy

It can be argued that it is the job of the private sector and entrepreneurs—not just the government—to grow the private-sector economy.

According to a 2016 Garrity Perception Survey conducted by Research & Polling, a diverse representation of New Mexico residents—76 percent—say they think that business owners and executives should be more involved in helping to improve the state’s economy. Seventy-one percent want business owners and executives to be more active in helping solve New Mexico’s social problems. Business leaders have to adapt to the market and decide whether and when to take risks. But 55 percent feel that business owners and executives don’t care how their decisions affect the community.

In addition to providing meaningful financial support to local and small businesses that have room to grow, Tom Garrity, president of the Garrity Group Public Relations, suggests that business leaders become engaged in the community by mentoring young people toward career pathways, improving an aging community facility, providing expertise by volunteering as a board member for a nonprofit and supporting community initiatives.

For more information on the survey, go to www.garrityperceptionsurvey.com

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Green Fire Times • July 2016

19

Op-Ed: Energy Choice That Could Create the Change We Need

Y

ou may have heard that every month of 2016, so far, has broken average global temperature records to date, that they are digging mass graves in India in anticipation of deaths caused by the record-breaking heat waves expected this summer, and that there’s currently a state of disaster declared in 31 counties in Texas due to unprecedented flooding from torrential rains. We are experiencing tripledigit temperatures, and there are fires raging in New Mexico and in the West that are causing people to be evacuated. The costs of damages to property and infrastructure have yet to be assessed, but emergency declarations already have been issued.

New Mexico could be a renewable energy leader and exporter.

You may also have heard that national, regional and local governments across the world are celebrating their recent transition to 100 percent renewable energy (RE).

Portugal provided a glimpse of the future when the entire country ran on 100 percent renewables for four consecutive days last month. Oregon is leading our country with a new law to close all coal-fired energy, and Burlington, VT, is now running on 100 percent renewables. Other municipalities have recently set ambitious targets to achieve 100 percent RE and are taking bold steps to do so, including San José and San Diego, Calif., and Rochester, Minn.

transition to a new energy economy. New Mexico could be an RE leader and exporter.

Why not here, where the vast majority of New Mexicans support RE use, with solar and wind enjoying strong support across the race, age and political spectrums?

Currently, the two major impediments are political will and an influential, self-serving, coddled energy corporation.

Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), is not a “public” company. It is a private corporation that must serve the fiduciary interests of its shareholders. It does. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) was formed in part to regulate electric utilities on behalf of the public. Given the monopoly status of utilities like PNM, which legally prohibits competition from any other energy provider in its service territory, and its ultimate objective to make money for its shareholders, regulation is the only mechanism within the current system to enforce competitive pricing, consumer protections and compliance with New Mexico’s energy goals. The problem is, regulation is not working.

Today’s energy mix with PNM is 80 percent coal and nuclear—60 percent coal, 20 percent nuclear—and PNM’s plan in 2018 is to reduce the coal by 10 percent and increase nuclear by the same amount. These resources, if allowed by the PRC in the pending rate case, are not only dangerous for the obvious climate, economic and health-related reasons, but

Protestors at the PRC hearing for PNM’s San Juan Generating Station plan The reality is that the time to act to save our planet and protect our children’s future has arrived, and the clean-energy solutions needed exist and are viable today. In New Mexico, we have abundant, affordable solar and wind energies, and we must lead in the

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© Brian Leddy/ Independent. Courtesy of New Energy Economy

Mariel Nanasi

because these resources will persist for decades and prevent renewables from being adopted in New Mexico in any significant way. We can’t afford RE tokenism; time is running out.

Green Fire Times • July 2016

Solar panel installation at the Crownpoint Chapter House on the Navajo Reservation Even with solar and wind now competitively priced, most cities and counties lack access to clean-energy options and still cannot choose to purchase clean energy because the monopoly energy system can effectively keep renewables out. Why does PNM choose coal and nuclear when solar is cheaper?

1. Profit—When PNM spends more money, it makes more money. This strategy is the opposite of the dynamic in the competitive market, where the less a business spends the more it keeps for profit.

2. Return on assets—Investing in 50-year-old coal plants and 28-yearold nuclear plants makes PNM more money than shiny new wind turbines and solar panels that are often guaranteed in terms of maintenance and price. This is true because those older, traditional energy plants require frequent and costly capital expenditures just to keep the behemoths running, and pollution controls are required.

When they spend capital dollars to either acquire assets or fix things that break, PNM makes a guaranteed “return on assets”—an additional 11.4 percent on top of the reimbursement for the actual costs—all of which comes out of ratepayers’ pockets.

3. T e m p o r a r y a v o i d a n c e o f decommissioning and reclamation costs—If PNM continues to supply the public with energy from these coal and nuclear plants, then current PNM executives will have moved on or retired before the bill for cleanup costs comes due. Experts and some states are worried that the cleanup costs will be

of such magnitude that the companies will abandon their responsibilities, go bankrupt or pursue bailouts from the government to cover these costs, and the public will be stuck with the toxic mess. The more the utilities can move the ownership of these assets into the rate base, the easier it will be for them to pass the bill onto consumers and skirt their responsibility. Essentially, PNM wants to kick the can down the road and offload cleanup cost risks onto the public.

We might win small victories here and there, within the constraints of the current regulatory system, but, in general, we cannot align our energy preference with our energy system because 80 percent coal and nuclear meets PNM shareholder quarterly targets.

In fact, PNM just submitted its RE filing on June 1 and told the PRC that it “did not need” any more renewables on the system and that 2 percent solar is just fine for them.

So, what can we do? Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) has been adopted by six states and has had greater impact on RE penetration than any other policy solution out there. CCA allows a community, through its city or county authority, to produce or purchase, or both, electric services for its residents. The municipality then makes its choice, aligned with its values, through a local decision-making process as to what energy mix it wants.

Cost savings and RE choices can be achieved through the aggregation of customer energy needs, allowing the municipality to negotiate bulk purchasing rates and energy sources. CCA requires a statewide network of support to pass state legislation that would create the shift we need and open up our energy markets continued on page 35

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Gary Goodman’s Big Idea:

Reboot New Mexico as World Water and Energy Expert Goodman Realty Group’s green redevelopment projects—award-winning Hotel Andaluz and Winrock Mall—set state and national standards for water and energy conservation.

Interview by Tami Brunk

G

ary Goodman has a big idea for New Mexico. In Goodman’s vision, New Mexico steps up as the global leader in resource management and technologies—beginning with water.

“The path forward,” he says, “is for the six New Mexico communities—business, notfor-profit, tribal, educational, research and political—to sit at the same table and work together toward that aim.”

Goodman is hardly just an “idea man”— he’s walking his talk in big way. As CEO of Goodman Realty Group, his firm is setting state, national and global standards for energy and water management. The firm’s redesign of Hotel Andaluz included the installation of the state’s largest privately installed solar-thermal water-heating system, reduced the hotel’s water use by 66 percent and integrated an awardwinning energy-management system.

Consequently, the hotel gained status as one of just two Gold LEED-certified historic hotels across the nation.

A pathway toward a vibrant economy based on the industry of sustainable resource management

Goodman’s massive makeover of Winrock Mall will integrate photovoltaic (PV ) panels on every rooftop to fuel a portion of the energy needs for the Winrock Town Center, including an electric trolley. He hired a farmer in place of a landscaper to grow

produce for an onsite farm store that will serve 1,000-plus community residents.

The center’s worldclass water-capture and -recycling system will irrigate 30 acres of orchards, gardens and a vineyard, and— if all goes according to plan—two nearby parks now irrigated by aquifer.

The number one growth industry in the world is water management.

Brunk: Do you think New Mexicans know about the research happening here?

Goodman: No,our problem is largely self-perception.

There is so much happening in this While he describes state that nobody himself as an eternal optimist, Goodman "The number one growth industry k n o w s a b o u t . is not wearing rose- in the world is water management." Spend a day at Los colored glasses. In –Gary Goodman Alamos National Laborator y. Go our interview, he drills down into what visit the consortium between the University holds New Mexico back and proposes a of New Mexico (UNM) and the labs. The pathway toward a vibrant economy based work they are doing is groundbreaking. on the industry of sustainable resource management.

Brunk: You’ve said you think New Mexico needs to be “about something,” and that something should be water resource management. Tell me more about that.

Goodman: We believe New Mexico should be a center of excellence for water technology. The reason we say that is because our laboratories and universities are doing more terrific water research than any other place in the country.

When we’re getting together and talking about how to deal with the droughts we’re having, the meetings should be held in Albuquerque. We should lead our region.

When California wants to solve their water problems, they should come to Albuquerque.

We went to New Mexico State University and told them, “We’d like to do some waterresearch projects. Do you have any waterresearch projects you could show us?” They gave us a letter saying, “Here are a dozen water projects we’re working on. If none is to your liking, we’ll send you a dozen more.”

The scope of these projects blew us away.

The truth is that incredible stuff is happening here. There are many waterrelated businesses and patents based on work that has been done in New Mexico.

The newspapers don’t talk about it, and the public doesn’t identify with it. We’re a rich state. We’ve got billions that we invest outside the state. We’ve got to start investing in ourselves.

Brunk: What do you think about New Mexico leading in solar-energy technologies as well?

Goodman: I’d like to see us as experts on the management of all resources because it’s a tremendous growth area. But we have the state Legislature trying to reduce the renewable-energy standards for the state, so they’re zigging while we’re zagging.

Renewable energy is profitable, and it’s the direction in which we should be moving.

The writing is on the wall. We have more sun, more space, and more energy and water concerns than anyone. If we could solve our own problems, we could solve the problems of the world.

Brunk: Winrock is generating a lot of buzz in its cutting-edge green design, and I know you want it to model your “big idea.” How are you modeling water conservation at Winrock?

Goodman: We’re attempting to use only the aquifer for hygiene and cooking. The water will be used three times before leaving the property. Toilets and water features are second use; third use is irrigation. The system we’re putting in could bring the rainwater we collect up to drinking quality.

We’re actually reprocessing all sewage, nearly up to drinking standards, and using it for irrigation.

Brunk: In addition to PV panels on all rooftops, how will you address energy conservation on the property?

Goodman: We will be using groundcoupled heat-pump systems, so the cool temperature of the earth will enable air conditioning. We’ll have some type of biomass digester that will take our organic stuff f rom farming and turn continued on page 35

Renderings of Goodman Realty Group’s Winrock Town Center in Albuquerque

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Green Fire Times • July 2016

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Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation NHF Facilitates Tech Transfer from Government to the Private Sector Dale Gannaway

I

nnovation and entrepreneurship have always played an important role in the development of our nation’s economy, particularly in the 20th century, which was just getting started when New Mexico achieved statehood in 1912. During the past 100 years, the economies of our nation and state have undergone continual change, along with stages of growth and contraction.

With the advent and rapid development of the knowledge-based global economy, rural regions have struggled to gain access to the same resources to which most large metropolitan cities and regions have a ready connection. Because of this, rural communities, entrepreneurs and companies find it much more difficult to generate ongoing economic vitality, diversification and growth for their regions.

Many times, unrealistic expectations and demands are placed on research universities and their associated resources when they are charged with providing knowledge-based economic-development opportunities for large rural regions. These efforts have commonly centered around university- and state-related county extension agents and other initiatives.

But these models often struggle to provide access to the kind of knowledge-based resources that entrepreneurs and companies need.

New models of technology commercialization

It is therefore increasingly important to create innovative initiatives and organizations that can provide resources, such as applied research and technology commercialization, to facilitate organic economic growth and diversification.

New Horizons Foundation (NHF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Lea County, New Mexico, is one such organization. NHF is a partnership between the county and New Mexico Junior College. The foundation was established in 2011 to help create good-paying jobs for well-trained workers, thereby offsetting economic hardships of the boom-and-bust oil cycles that always hit rural communities in energy-based regions.

NHF has signed agreements with the Department of Defense (DoD) that provide access to DoD’s resources. These include two Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), a license agreement for a DoD sound-suppression technology, and a Partnership Intermediary Agreement with DoD labs that gives NHF clients unprecedented access to more than 8,000 researchers, as well as most research facilities within the DoD network of laboratories.

The challenging part is already accomplished

With NHF playing an intermediary role, one of the most difficult and risky parts for any tech startup—discovering and/or developing technologies—has already been accomplished.

Typically, these technologies, originally developed for military applications, are made available

NMSU Plans High-Tech Industrial Hub

Funded by a $488,000 grant from the U.S. Commerce Department, New Mexico State University has completed a new master plan to develop a high-tech industrial hub on its campus in Las Cruces. The plan includes three industry clusters in healthcare, aerospace and digital media at the Arrowhead Research Park, 175 acres between Interstates 10 and 25. Groundbreaking is planned for this summer for a $15 million, 64,000-square-foot building that will house NMSU’s technology transfer and entrepreneurship programs, plus startup companies and established businesses that want to co-locate there. It is expected to open in mid-2017.

A 39,000-square-foot, privately owned, three-building office center is currently housed on the site. General Dynamics, a communications technology company, and the U.S. Geological Service are located there, as well as two early-college high schools—one focused on science, technology, engineering and math; and the other on medical training. Additionally, the private Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine will open an 80,000-square-foot building at the park in August.

Arrowhead will also pursue an aerospace-industry cluster to take advantage of the university’s expertise in that area and the park’s proximity to Spaceport America and the White Sands Missile Range. NMSU hopes its digital media programs— animation, virtual reality, game development, computer science and big data management—will attract the film industry and create a partnership with the City of Las Cruces on a film studio.

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March 2016 New Horizons technology expedition to the Army Research Laboratories in Aberdeen, Maryland through NHF to the private sector for diverse applications across a range of industries.

NHF has an innovative approach for moving discoveries and new technologies into the marketplace. Unlike the more traditional process that many research institutions use, NHF’s agreements with the DoD allow companies to access “de-risked” discoveries and expertise that have been funded by Congress. These technologies at federal research labs are ready for private-sector investment to solve a specific problem or create a new business venture. This is the ultimate in what is commonly called “applied research.”

Pull versus push: discoveries ready to go

The typical tech transfer process requires entities to attempt to push their discoveries into the marketplace. NHF’s process allows available research and cutting-edge technologies to be pulled out of federal labs and into the marketplace by inviting rural business owners to visit labs to see technologies already in use by the military that may have great application for their company and industry.

“I visited several Army labs with NHF representatives,” said PEMCO of New Mexico CEO and president, Garry Buie. “At the time, I had no idea what an Army research lab could offer oilfield companies. I discovered several technologies that could potentially benefit the oilfield manufacturing or oilfield service industries.”One of these—cold-spray technology that PEMCO is utilizing in its Hobbs, New Mexico, facility—will significantly reduce costs for PEMCO’s oilfield equipment-repair business. Other possible applications include repair of rotating shafts, cracked parts, injection molds, extrusion dies, containers or obsolete parts—from airplanes to tugboats. PEMCO is now able to work directly with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory on joint applications for the technology via NHF’s Test Services Agreement. PEMCO has also licensed a DoD sound-reduction technology to develop a more effective muffler, which will be useful for big equipment like drilling rigs, as well as smaller, motor-powered equipment.

Connections, prototyping and field-testing

NHF also provides entrepreneurs access to technology adaptation, engineering, prototyping, testing capabilities, design expertise, prototyping, manufacturing and fieldtesting capabilities through the federal labs.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department, Office of Science and Technology, has launched the Innovate New Mexico initiative to assist regional micro-economies across New Mexico in these kinds of efforts. Providing New Mexico communities with resources and capabilities to leverage the infrastructure that the State of New Mexico has already put in place is a very important, visionary direction for the state’s economic future. New Horizons Foundation, Lea County and New Mexico Junior College have taken such a step to leverage these resources, and it is already beginning to provide great dividends for southeastern New Mexico. i New Horizons Foundation’s executive director, Dale Gannaway, works closely with the board of directors and staff to utilize the foundation’s business model to provide unique technology-commercialization capabilities for Lea County, New Mexico, and the Permian Basin. http://nhfoundation.net/wp/

Green Fire Times • July 2016

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Green Fire Times • July 2016

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Key Opportunities along New Mexico’s Southern Border

Ken Miyagishima

A

t the center of one of our state’s many microeconomies, Las Cruces enjoys important advantages. We are located at the intersection of two interstate highways and less than an hour from an international airport. We are home to a major research university and adjacent to well-established aerospace and national defense installations, all engaged in cutting-edge research and innovation. Our region is rich in the energy resources that will power our future: solar, geothermal and wind.

I could go on about the many other favorable aspects of our region, like our productive farmland and beautiful landscape, as well as our public lands that attract visitors f rom around the world. We hope to preserve the many qualities that make people want to live here: a clean environment and outdoor recreation opportunities, a diverse and welcoming community, and an active cultural and public life.

How do we best integrate ourselves with a rapidly expanding industrial and transportation sector?

All of this comes into sharper focus when we consider the challenges provided by a rapidly expanding industrial and transportation sector at our county’s southern doorstep, along the border with México. How we integrate ourselves with this other rapidly expanding microeconomy has critical implications not just for the city of Las Cruces but for the state as a whole.

It’s important to understand something of how the border economy has evolved.

For many decades, México has been building a strong industrial base in Ciudad Juárez and northern Chihuahua. In the process, it has created an experienced workforce and the ability to manage large-scale production facilities in major industries like computer and automotiveparts manufacturing.

Historically, much of this production has been concentrated around the cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, where increasing congestion in rail and highway transport began to cause difficulty in moving products to U.S. markets. This congestion

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is one of the key reasons Union Pacific decided to build its new $400 million intermodal rail facility in southern New Mexico, near the Santa Teresa border crossing into México.

This investment in rail transport continues a binational pattern of economic activity that has developed over the years, whereby the industrial facilities themselves are located in México, while warehousing, transportation, logistics and financial services are located in the United States.

Now much of this United States-based economic activity may be moving to New Mexico. There is also an increasing pace of industrialization in northern Chihuahua, especially in the automotive industry. Both of these factors have led to rapid growth in economic activity along New Mexico’s southern border.

In addition, there exists a real possibility that a Chinese-financed railway will be built from one of México’s Pacific ports to the Santa Teresa crossing in order to avoid the congestion at U.S. Pacific ports.

If this happens, there are those who predict that Santa Teresa could become the largest inland port in the United States, with rail access spreading out from southern New Mexico to serve all of North America.

The challenges this kind of rapid growth poses for the city of Las Cruces are considerable. Under the best-case scenario, Las Cruces will have an opportunity to define itself within the region as a prosperous center for education, economic opportunity and quality of life. At the same time Doña Ana County is faced with the enormous challenge of building and managing the infrastructure this kind of growth would entail, struggling to keep up as new support facilities spill out of planned industrial parks to overwhelm the small communities and current roadways that serve the area.

It’s significant that these changes occurring along the border have been driven by forces that, for the most part, are based outside of New Mexico. For that reason, these forces have little relation to traditional New Mexican centers of commerce or political power and may be unaware of, or indifferent to, the effects of this development on our state.

This is why our understanding of the value of interconnected microeconomies is so important, especially for those charged with guiding our state’s future. If properly managed, the expansion of economic

activity along the b o r d e r can be an economic miracle for the entire state, providing an enormous influx of national and international L-R: El Paso Mayor John Cook, Juárez Mayor Hector Murguía, Las Cruces investment Mayor Ken Miyagishima at a time of respect for those who actually occupy when the state as a whole seems mired in the border region and an insistence that economic doldrums. they, too, benefit from the gains that occur.

Like any large-scale opportunity, successful development will require a substantial investment of attention and resources by the state and other public entities. It will also require an understanding that, while the geographical center of this particular opportunity belongs uniquely to southern New Mexico, the entire state will benefit if its microeconomies are effectively nurtured and meshed. This will require a new level

In any case, it’s hard to imagine a better opportunity to reinvigorate our state economy, as we allow developments along the border to contribute to a wider and more general prosperity, not just for southern New Mexico but for the state as a whole. i Ken Miyagishima is the mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Las Cruces Approves Urban Agriculture Plan The importance of innovative food production and processing to regional economic development, including the expansion of employment opportunities, training and education, and ensuring access to healthy food, cannot be overstated. This is particularly true in Doña Ana County, where lack of employment, childhood hunger, access to healthy food and diet-related diseases are at high levels.

Las Cruces, the urban center of Doña Ana County, is now poised to make good use of the area’s rich agricultural, culinary and cultural heritage to become an innovator in urban agriculture. On June 6, the City Council passed a resolution adopting Las Cruces Urban Agriculture and Food Policy Plan, touted as the first of its kind in New Mexico. La Semilla Food Center and the Urban Agriculture Working Group of the Mesilla Valley Food Policy Council (MVFPC) generated the plan with community input, assistance from the city’s Community Development staff and former City Councilor Nathan Small.

“This plan lays out support and incentives to generate social, health and economic benefits,” said Krysten Aguilar, food planning and policy specialist at La Semilla.

“It deals with things like growing and processing food, community gardens and kitchens—everything from seed to table. It’s a great way to build community and create new economic opportunities. Plus, people who garden are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables.”

City money is not yet tied to the plan’s projects, but the plan establishes goals as priorities for city planning. City Councilor Greg Smith said, “I think there are all kinds of innovative ways that this can grow.” The MVFPC will now work with city staff to begin prioritizing and implementing goals for the city, which include educational activities, policies and programs. They will create a community guide to urban agriculture detailing relevant ordinances, necessary permits and other information.

To read the full plan, visit www.las-cruces.org/…/current-proje…/urbanagriculture. For more information, email krysten@lasemillafoodcenter.org

Green Fire Times • July 2016

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Heirloom Corn Could Make a Comeback in New Mexico

Biochar Conserves Water and Increases Agricultural Yields

As a taste for higher-quality tortillas and gourmet Mexican food has spread, Masienda, a California-based company, is building a market in the United States and Europe for corn grown from heirloom landrace seeds on small farms in México. Landrace refers to open-pollinated cultivars that have been carefully selected through seed saving to excel in a specific environment.

According to Gordon West, it is not a replacement for compost and actually needs to be “charged with compost or compost tea, which adds nutrients to get microbial life thriving underground.” West says that biochar only needs to be added to the soil once and that its effects can last at least a thousand years. University trials have shown increased crop yields by as much as 800 percent. West says it increases water retention by a factor of four.

With the popularity of organic and farm-to-table foods, there is a rapidly expanding market for produce grown from heirloom seeds on small farms. Heirloom fruits and vegetables have been making their way out of farmers’ markets and into mainstream grocery stores and restaurants, commanding higher premiums for growers. Buyers, distributors and investors are seeking out local suppliers, as heirloom ingredients are incorporated into “value-added” products.

Biochar, partially combusted wood or woody biomass such as pecan or peanut shells, can greatly increase agricultural yields. Because the pores of the material are opened during the charring process, when incorporated into soil those tiny spaces hold water, nutrients and beneficial microorganisms that increase the soil’s fertility.

This is in contrast with the cheap Yellow No. 2 commodity corn from Monsanto, Pioneer or Dow that most U.S. consumers have grown accustomed to.

The appetite for native maize, which some think could take off the way the popular Andean seed-grain quinoa has, offers hope to small farmers such as those in New Mexico who have been virtually driven out of business by government subsidies for industrial corn and free trade. The market demand could also give some young people an incentive to farm and could save varieties that would otherwise disappear.

Spirulina (and Algae) Have Industry Potential in New Mexico

By Nicholas Petrovic

As we know all too well, New Mexico’s economy has been stumbling along since the Great Recession of 2008. We need to be looking at alternatives beyond business-as-usual models.

New Mexico is in the top three nationally in large-scale algae production.

Commercially grown algae have a variety of uses, including for energy and food.

Spirulina algae microfarming could become an important part of this type of agriculture in the state.

Spirulina is considered a “super-food,” because it provides a concentrated source of protein (approximately 65 percent), antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients.

The United Nations, with the aid of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), has been successfully utilizing spirulina to fight malnutrition worldwide for the last 30 years. About 15 years ago, France established a cottage industry around smallscale spirulina farms, which vary in size from 250 square feet to 7,500 square feet.

At that time, there were about half a dozen farms. That number is now nearing 200, and the initiative is spreading to neighboring countries, creating livelihoods and good-paying jobs.

Biochar can increase crop yields by as much as 800 percent.

Biochar is actually an ancient concept used by native people in many locations, particularly in tropical rain forests prior to the European invasion.

Scientists studying those societies only recently rediscovered the practice. It is similar to activated charcoal, so it can also be used for air or water filters or to neutralize acid mine tailings and absorb toxic heavy metals from mining operations.

West says that because it can be made with the lowest-quality wood, biochar has the capacity to provide profits and

Folks may scoff at the idea of spirulina algae farms in a desert climate. Extreme water use! Actually, the opposite is true. Spirulina is grown in greenhouses to minimize evaporation. Consider this: 277 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of protein from spirulina; that same pound of protein from soybeans takes 1,188 gallons of water; and 1,650 gallons are required for corn. To cultivate spirulina, large, fertile parcels of land are not needed. Any relatively flat surface with access to water and electricity will do.

The model that has been successfully demonstrated in France could be replicated here with a few tweaks for our local needs. This could be one viable step in helping New Mexico increase its food security and diversify its economy.

Flames leap from Gordon West’s pyrolyzer as biochar is processed

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jobs. West’s company, Gila WoodNet, in Santa Clara, near Silver City, New Mexico, is one of several operations in the state that produce and sell biochar.

Gabe Jiménez’s Gila Wood Products is another. Bill Knaus of Columbus, New Mexico, working with the nonprofit group Border Partners, assists people in improving their quality of life, including growing some of their own food. Knaus manufactures biomass-burning stoves that heat homes. The three companies are working together.

To produce biochar, West fills a “pyrolizer,” a 500-gallon tank updraft burner that holds 70 cubic feet and burns down about one foot per hour, reducing the material to about half its original volume. “The burner heats the wood just enough to drive the gases out and leave the carbon behind,” West said. He is investigating ways to capture the gases, which could be used for various purposes.

West says, “A pound of woody biomass can produce a half-pound of biochar and 60,000 BTUs of thermal energy.

If the energy released during pyrolysis is utilized—displacing an equivalent amount of fossil fuel—and the biochar goes into the soil, for every pound of biomass used, 3.8 pounds of carbon dioxide will be removed from the atmosphere.” West says that biochar “is the only geo-engineering opportunity that could be of sufficient scale to reverse global warming.” For more information, call West at 575.537.3689.

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Gloria Castillo

The passage of SB 3, the Research on Industrial Hemp bill, during the 2015 legislative session, was a short-lived victory when Gov. Susana Martínez vetoed it. SB 3 was written with cooperation from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and met federal guidelines that allow hemp research under the 2014 Farm Bill. The failure of the Legislature to override the governor’s veto hampers the state from participating in opportunities alongside the 28 states that currently have laws allowing hemp cultivation.

Lew Seebinger, owner of Seebinger Hemp in Albuquerque, had presented Gov. Martínez with a large gift basket of “made in New Mexico” products that he hoped would demonstrate the difference between products that can be legally manufactured from hemp, in contrast to its popular and well-known cousin, marijuana. Seebinger’s company makes body products from hemp extracts. Seebinger Hemp was one of four enterprises adopted by a business class at the Anderson School of Management.

Several graduate students did an in-depth analysis of the enterprise and reviewed Seebinger’s business model. Their report, Crossing the Chasm with Seebinger Hemp, focused in part on the political obstacles that must be overcome for the industry to thrive.

In spite of the absence of rules or regulations, some existing academic institutions, including New Mexico State University, Santa Fe Community College and the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management, have expressed interest in studies ranging from seed research, food and nutraceuticals, to

co

© Anna C. Hansen

I

ndustrial hemp proponents p ro m o t e h e m p f o r e c o n o m i c development, citing its more than 10,000 industrial applications, along with New Mexico’s favorable climate for growing the hardy plant and with its water-conservation benefits.

NEW MEXICO HEMP

I

Op-Ed: Industrial Hemp and New Mexico

Santa Fe Hemp, a local downtown business pharmaceutical grade CBD—a compound found in hemp—for potential epilepsy and cancer medicines.

525, which would remove hemp from Schedule 1, where it is classified in the same category as marijuana. i

The pro-hemp community continues to work toward legalization. Hope hangs on passage of state legislation in 2017 or passage at the federal level of S.B. 134 and its companion bill, H.R.

Gloria Castillo is a member of the New Mexico Industrial Hemp Coalition, the National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association and the New Mexico Farmers Union. gcastil7@yahoo.com

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San Juan Mountain Range near the Brazos Š Anna Christine Hansen

James H. Auerbach, MD and Staff support Green Fire Times in its efforts to bring about a better world by focusing on the people, enterprises and initiatives that are transforming New Mexico into a diverse and sustainable economy.

Some of the topics Green fire times showcases: Green: Building, Products, Services, Entrepreneurship, Investing and Jobs; Renewable Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, Regional Cuisine, Ecotourism, Climate Adaptation, Natural Resource Stewardship, Arts & Culture, Health & Wellness, Regional History, Community Development, Educational Opportunities James H. Auerbach, MD provides dermatology services in Santa Fe, NM (Sorry, we are no longer accepting new clients.)

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Op-Ed: The Demographic Revolution Turning Challenges into Viable Economic-Development Opportunities

I

t’s been said we are entering a time in history unlike any before. The all-too-real implications of climate change, a still-fragile world economy and a divisive U.S. political environment that blocks even modest attempts to address these and other challenges are pretty much writing the story of our time. To compound matters, there is another game changer that will continue to impact our individual lives and the well-being of our cities for the first 75 years of this century. Unfortunately, in our youth-obsessed and age-averse culture, this game changer doesn’t even make most people’s list of major challenges.

It is called the Demographic Revolution, and over the next several decades it will

our ability to create the kind of future we all want? The first thing to understand is that the Demographic Revolution is being driven by three primary factors: increased longevity, decreasing birth rate and a shrinking tax base. As a result, one of the most consequential things happening is that the number of aging citizens in Santa Fe, when combined with the number of children, adults who lack the skills to qualify for jobs in the new information/ service economy, and those who are at risk because of health or other factors, will soon make the “dependent” side of the economic equation much larger. This means that young and middle-aged workers will become the primary income generators and will find themselves trying to pay for the services and needs of all other segments of the population from a shrinking tax base. This, as you can imagine, will be a daunting task.

As serious a scenario as this is, however, there is some good news. While some in our city seem inclined to just talk about the future and hope that the City Different will somehow magically avoid these and other challenges, some of us have begun to suggest a more proactive approach.

Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales spoke at the first Santa Fe We suggest that we come Dialogue. Listening are George Cappannelli and Alan Webber. together as a community in a new way, roll up our result in approximately 50 percent of the sleeves and actually begin implementing U.S. population and in most industrial real solutions to our systemic challenges— countries being 50 years of age or older— education, poverty, crime, ethnic/cultural at the same time—for the first time in and religious divides, and more. We history. In Santa Fe, the percentage of older suggest that we finally admit what has been citizens is even higher. Our city’s average obvious for a while; that is, government age is 18 percent ahead of the rest of New alone cannot do all that needs to be done Mexico, and some studies suggest that to meet the needs of the people, and that, approximately 62 percent of our population as a well-known national talk show host is already 50 and over. reminds us, “Democracy is not a spectator sport.” And, of course, we think that it Of course, anyone who spends even a single would be especially wise to get to work afternoon in the City Different is aware turning some of the challenges arising that a lot of folks walking around our from the Demographic Revolution into beautiful streets, dining in our many good new economic-development opportunities. restaurants, shopping in our distinctive stores and attending our wonderful, diverse And now for more good news: The cultural events are clearly representatives of majority of these economic-development the second-half-of-life crowd. opportunities are right in front of us.

Indeed, if we take our cue from Lao Tzu’s But what does this actually mean, and counsel and remember that, “The journey of how does this age-related trend impact a thousand miles begins with a single step,”

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© Seth Roffman (3)

George Cappannelli

A discussion about civic engagement. The dialogue, hosted by AgeNation and 1 New Mexico, was held at Sunrise Springs in La Ciénega. and if we make this next step focusing at least some of our attention and energy on these opportunities, we can begin to support our city in moving into a new period of economic, social, artistic and cultural vitality that can contribute to the quality of life of all of our citizens.

you want to know “theIffuture, invent it! ” – Peter Drucker

What are some of these opportunities?

First, we would be smart to pay attention to the wisdom passed down to us from Seneca the Younger, who lived from 4 B.C. to 65 A.D. “If you don’t know the harbor you are heading for,” he said, “no wind is the right wind.” So let’s make sure we get really clear about our destination.

Let’s craft a new, empowering vision, mission and set of core values to guide us forward. Let’s also read the writing on the wall that tells us that we need to create a new public/private sector model

of collaboration and cooperation—more nimble and responsive—that will allow us to follow management expert Peter Drucker’s sound advice: “If you want to know the future, invent it!”

This future, of course, should include a focus on all of our systemic issues. Due to the limits of this article, however, I have narrowed the focus here to some of the opportunities that relate directly to the Demographic Revolution. Doing so does not imply that I believe the list of things we can and should do is limited.

Instead, the list should be expanded to include ways to improve all areas of our lives. It should, actually, be as limitless as our imaginations and as real as our resolve and our willingness to truly improve life in our city.

A few other things we can do to succeed in the Demographic Revolution: We can stop denying the demographic shift and start acknowledging the truth that is staring us right in the face. Our aging citizens are continued on page 30

Green Fire Times • July 2016

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The Demographic Revolution 29

© Anna C. Hansen

continued from page

Sedena and George Cappanelli in front of boards full of ideas generated at the Santa Fe Dialogue

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not liabilities; they are valuable assets. Yes, instead of treating aging as some kind of unnatural disease or malfunction that we can avoid, mask or cure with an infusion of young people, let’s embrace our shifting demographics, turn them into a powerful and viable economic, social, artistic, cultural and ecological enhancement vehicle, and use this vehicle to actually keep and attract young and talented people to Santa Fe.

So what do you say? Are we ready to invest some of our limitless imagination, contribute some of our natural optimism, our demonstrated ability to innovate, put in at least a few shovels full of genuine compassion and understanding, a good dose of love, plus our sizeable stash of experience and wisdom to help this city that we all love take its next steps toward creating a new future in which we can all thrive and inherit our dreams? If you are, visit www.agenation. com/thesantafeinitiative.

Although still in its infanc y, in the next few weeks you’ll be able to explore the results generated by the first Santa Fe Dialogue, held June 16. The event was hosted by AgeNation and 1 New Mexico and sponsored by Sunrise Springs Resort.

Then, in the next few months you will learn more about some of the terrific things already being done in our city by some really wonderful and committed folks and organizations. Lastly, you’ll be able to track some next steps we can take—individually and together—to invent the future. i

Our aging citizens are not liabilities; they are valuable assets.

Let’s also stop spending so much of our precious time and energy thinking, talking and procrastinating about things and, instead, let’s actually start doing more of the practical things that will help us to gain greater momentum. Let’s also stop waiting for government to issue a regulation or give us permission to make our city better. Instead, let’s make necessary and effective changes in our businesses, organizations and institutions, in the way we participate in government and, most especially, in the way we “show up” in our individual lives.

If we do these things, plus introduce innovation in healthcare, housing, transportation, careers, civic engagement and more, we will not only contribute to the economic viability of our city; we will finally and actually begin to attract that whole new generation of skilled and talented young professionals and their families who can and will support our aging population and also lay the foundation for a new and even more vibrant future. We will also attract more financially stable individuals who are looking for the best place to live out the new third chapter of their lives, who will not draw down on city services. They will instead bring new energies, new ideas and new dollars to spend in our city.

George Cappannelli is an executive coach who has worked with hundreds of organizations in both the private and public sectors. With his wife, Sedena, Cappannelli cofounded the company AgeNation. The Cappannellis co-authored Do Not Go Quietly,A Guide to Living the Life You Were Born to Live for People Who Weren’t Born Yesterday, winner of nine national book awards.

They also co-founded Empower New Mexico, a 501(c)(3) that supports organizations serving our aging population. George@AgeNation.com, www.agenation.com/thesantafeinitiative

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Op-Ed: Energy Choice continued from page

20

Gary Goodman’s Big Idea continued from page

21

it into a combination of energy and fertilizer. We’d like to have some form of biodiesel. We’re talking to UNM and Sandia National Laboratories about creating a hybrid biodiesel car. We want to see what ecosystems we can create in an urban environment.

Brunk: Returning to the topic of how New Mexico can move forward as a leader in the areas you propose, what needs to happen to make that a reality?

The coal-fired San Juan Generating Station in the midst of the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico is primarily owned and operated by Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). so local communities could choose our energy futures.

Currently, 17 million people live in communities that have or are launching or exploring CCA in California. Of the total eligible population, 60 percent will potentially be served by CCA by 2020.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the state’s largest utility monopoly, with 5.4 million electricity customers, has 370,000 CCA customers in its territory. That number could increase rapidly because San Francisco recently adopted CCA and is already providing 7,400 commercial customers with an energy demand of 30 megawatts (MW) and expects to add 20 MW—enough to serve up to 48,000 residential customers— in 2016. San Francisco is offering two options to customers: 35 percent RE and

Community Choice Aggregation has been adopted by six states.

gas, as well as a 100 percent renewable choice. These are impressive numbers that actually move the needle on climate, create a hedge against rising electricity rates and create jobs in a clean-energy economy.

This policy and market mechanism have contributed significantly to California’s success in reaching targets to achieve 33 percent renewables by 2020 and 50 percent renewables by 2040. Other states

that have implemented CCA are enjoying similar success in making the transition.

For example, Illinois has 91 communities that are providing 100 percent renewable electricity to their residents—a total of 1.7 million people. These examples show the power of letting communities choose their electricity supply.

In addition to the ability for municipalities to purchase wholesale renewables, the CCA option can drive further solar rooftop adoption and offer attractive financing for larger-scale local installations. These are other measures that municipalities can undertake to ensure consumer protection and significant renewable penetration.

Without access to the energy market,most towns and cities cannot meet their climate-reduction targets and sustainability goals in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Santa Fe has committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, but under the current PNM monopoly regime, there is absolutely no way it can achieve that goal. We must pursue avenues that put the power in our hands as a community to choose. This is a big lift, no question, but CCA is the kind of policy mechanism that can bridge grassroots activism and needed legislative decision making. CCA is a proven strategy that will enhance consumer choice and local control,facilitate RE penetration and local economic development, and accelerate progress toward achieving our communities’ environmental goals. Communities across New Mexico will have to work together to make it happen and drive the adoption of CCA legislation in the Legislature. But together we can do it. We can create the energy solutions we need and transform New Mexico from an energy colony to a model of energy democracy.

To be part of this budding statewide movement please visit NewEnergyEconomy.org i Mariel Nanasi is the executive director of New Energy Economy.

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Goodman: Fifty to 60 percent of what we need to be doing is a matter of PR, just to let the world know what we’re doing. When you come into the airport, what do you see? There’s a big sign that says, “Bernalillo County, we’re more than you think.” That says everything.

Now think, what if it said, “Welcome to Albuquerque. Bring us your Water Problems. We’ll Solve Them.” The sign we currently have is saying, “We’re not quite as crappy as you think we are.” Our version says, “This is what we excel at.”

Brunk: When you talk about low selfperception, it makes me think of how many times a big public or private project is handed over to an out-of-state firm.

Goodman: We’ve got this mistaken idea: “If you need somebody bright, you’ve got to go outside of the state.” We’ve got to start saying, “We’re not trolls here; we’re really bright, capable people.”

In our development at Winrock, not one contractor, subcontractor, consultant or engineer lives outside of New Mexico, and very few live outside of Albuquerque. And we’re doing work that is groundbreaking.

Brunk: What are some challenges beyond self-perception?

Goodman: The challenge is getting everyone together to look at the big picture and say, “This is something we’re going to promote and publicize.” We don’t have a unified vision. It doesn’t happen because we’re not all pulling in the same direction.

It’s going to take enlightened leadership that really embraces the big idea.

I firmly believe we’ve got the talent here.

It’s a wonderful place to live. We’ve got wonderful people, talented people. We’ve got all the ingredients to be successful except getting everyone on the same page.

Gary Goodman explains sustainable design plans to Tami Brunk.

Mexico and declare it a center for water excellence. Village Capital is going to pick 12 of the top water startups in the nation and bring them to Albuquerque for mentoring. Our goal is to get some of those companies to move here. Village Capital will take the top two companies that they find and start investing capital.

We’re trying to set up a program where we’ll match everything that Village Capital does on the condition that they’ll move to Innovate ABQ. We’re campaigning to be part of the development team for that, and we would want these water companies to anchor Innovate ABQ. Brunk: What are other positive trends you see in Albuquerque and New Mexico?

Goodman: There’s a lot happening right now in the city with entrepreneurship that we’re very excited about. The Kaufman Foundation has decided to work in Albuquerque to foster entrepreneurship.

Up to now, they’ve only worked out of Kansas City. They are one of the largest entrepreneurial not-for-profit foundations in the world, and they believe Albuquerque is the next major center for innovation. The Kellogg Foundation is also very active here.

Elon Musk’s solar company [SolarCity] has opened offices in New Mexico; he has an incredible program going. We have a lot of incredible things happening here.

I think it’s a happening place. We’re our own best-kept secret. i

Brunk: Despite the obstacles, you’ve shared your optimism that something is shifting, that we’ve turned a corner. Tell me about that.

Albuquerque-based Tami Brunk writes about sustainable projects and ecovisionaries whose w o r k o pe n s n e w paradigms and possibilities.

Goodman: I think it’s starting to happen.

I give a lot of credit to Mayor Berry. He recruited Village Capital to come to New

A version of this article was originally published in Construction Reporter.

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NEWSBITEs Bilingualism: One of New Mexico’s Competitive Advantages

New Mexico is the state with the highest percentage of Hispanos and Native American tribes. Many intact multigenerational families speak English in addition to Spanish or indigenous languages, making bilingualism a way of life. New Mexico’s bilingual culture is protected under the state’s Constitution.

The state’s history of bilingualism uniquely positions New Mexico to lead the country in dual-language early-childhood education. “Our multilingualism is a valuable asset, which we risk losing unless we invest boldly in building a bilingual teaching force and a dual-language early-childhood education system,” says Adrián Pedroza, a member of the president’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. “New economies recognize that speaking, reading and writing in more than one language makes us more competitive and opens global career opportunities.

New Mexico should leverage one of our people’s greatest assets, our bilingualism, to become the national leader in dual-language early-childhood education.”

Innovate New Mexico

Innovate New Mexico is a new umbrella group set up to collectively coordinate technology commercialization efforts statewide. In April, the group started bringing together research universities and national laboratories to showcase innovations from around the state in a single forum. About 200 investors, entrepreneurs and technology-transfer professionals attended the first event, where they heard panel discussions and pitches from researchers from the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute for Mining and Technology, as well as from scientists at Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Technologies ranged from new medical devices and processes to inventions in water treatment, consumer electronics and optics and photonics. Researchers from UNM discussed a new method for killing disease-carrying mosquito larvae with essential plant oils. New Mexico Tech showcased a novel water-desalination process that could mean lower costs for the oil and gas industry to clean “produced” water. Sandia Labs showcased a noninvasive detection device that could potentially identify pathogens in a person’s breath rather than through blood or urine. More than a dozen startups showed off products and services in trade booths.

New Mexico’s Film Industry

The film industry pumped nearly $290 million into New Mexico’s economy in 2015.

The state attracted 77 productions, 25 of which had budgets of more than $1 million.

In 2015, MovieMaker Magazine, for the first time, ranked Albuquerque and Santa Fe among the top-10 best cities and towns to be a filmmaker. The magazine’s 2016 list ranks Albuquerque fifth among big cities and Santa Fe fourth among small cities and towns.

The magazine credits the state’s film-incentive program, which offers a 25 percent to 30 percent refundable tax credit, and the state’s Film Crew Advancement Program, which helps with on-the-job training.

The film industry offers opportunities for trained, dependable New Mexico entrepreneurs to prosper if they’re willing to accommodate the industry’s nontraditional needs and long hours.

Venture Acceleration Fund Awards

Five firms have been named winners of this year’s Venture Acceleration Fund awards.

Administered by the Regional Development Corp, the fund is primarily from Los Alamos National Security LLC. The awards are promoted as a collaborative investment with a goal of adding jobs and revenue to northern New Mexico.

The 2016 awardees represent a diverse array of industries based in five of the seven counties that were invited to apply: Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval, Río Arriba, Taos, San Miguel and Mora. The companies selected are as follows: EcoPesticides, a Santa Fe based manufacturer of biologically based, environmentally friendly pest controls; Mora Valley Woodworking, of Mora, a manufacturer of environmentally friendly cremation urns that utilize northern New Mexico materials; Southwest PPE Services of Española, a commercial cleaning service transitioning to Personal Protective Ensembles for firefighters and first responders; Taos Mesa Brewing, of Taos, a microbrewery collaborating with area farmers to develop local barley for brewing and establishing a regional craft malting facility; Tibbar Plasma Technologies, of Los Alamos, developer of a prototype device to support new technology for high-voltage, direct-current transmission.

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Canadian Firm Invests in New Mexico Wind Farm

Fengate Capital Management, a Canadian firm that manages nearly $2 billion in assets, announced that it is acquiring a 25 percent equity interest in the San Juan Mesa Wind Project, located in Roosevelt County in southeast New Mexico. A large part of Fengate’s business is public-private markets. The company is also developing deals for gas-fired generation, solar, and other wind projects in the region. San Juan Mesa, which already has 120 MW of capacity, sells the energy it produces to Southwestern Public Service Company, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy.

Gila River Diversion Plans Scaled Down

Last month, the New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity (NMCAPE), the agency in charge of building a controversial diversion on the Gila River, directed its engineering contractor to continue evaluating only those elements of the project that would cost $80 million to $100 million, the amount the federal government is obligated to provide. An earlier, larger-scale plan had been estimated at $1 billion.

An estimated $10 million to $15 million has already been spent or committed to engineering contractors, attorneys, salaries and studies.

Many unanswered questions remain regarding the location and scale of the diversion, where the water would be stored and its potential environmental impacts. It is also unclear where funding for the diversion’s pumping operation and management would come from and how much the state has available to put into the project. NMCAPE works in conjunction with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the members of which are appointed by the governor. The commission voted to pursue the diversion in 2015.

Leading California IT Company Expanding into New Mexico

Gov. Susana Martínez has announced that PCM, a leading California Internet technology (IT) company, will expand its operations into Río Rancho, New Mexico, creating 224 high-paying sales positions. The governor credited the company’s decision to her administration’s tax cuts for businesses and her trip to California earlier this year with business executives, touting New Mexico’s business environment.

PCM provides technology solutions and support to clients throughout North America, including the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, Sea World, Wendy’s, General Electric and many other international organizations.

New Mexico will invest $700,000 in Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) funding for infrastructure improvements to accommodate PCM’s expansion.

According to a press release, in recent months the governor announced more than 1,000 jobs throughout the state in high-tech and traditional manufacturing, healthcare, IT and finance.

Mobile Farmers’ Market Begins Second Season

The Healthy Here Mobile Farmers’ Market has begun delivery of organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables to six locations in Albuquerque, increasing access to healthy foods for Hispanic/Latino and Native American families. The farmers’ market on wheels will operate through Oct. 25. It will accept all forms of payment, including SNAP/EBT, Double Up Food Bucks and WIC. The mobile market also offers nutrition education. Three nonprofits—AgriCultura Network, Kids Cook and Street Food Institute—will offer food tastings and share recipes. The market is funded through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) cooperative agreement, as well as through Bernalillo County and other funders.

The mobile market will deliver to specified locations as follows: Mondays, in the International District: 9:30 to 11 a.m., at the UNM Southeast Heights Clinic, 8200 Central SE Noon to 1:30 p.m., at First Nations Community Healthsource, 5608 Zuni SE 2:30 to 4 p.m., at Van Buren Middle School, 700 Louisiana SE Tuesdays, the market will be in the South Valley: 9 to 10:30 a.m., at Presbyterian Medical Group, 3436 Isleta SW Noon to 1:30 p.m., at Los Padilla Community Center, 2117 Los Padillas SW 3 to 4:30 p.m., at First Choice Community Healthcare, 2001 El Centro Familiar SW

Green Fire Times • July 2016

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What's Going On! Events / Announcements Saturdays through August Summer Family Fun Days Bachechi Open Space 9521 Río Grande NW

ALBUQUERQUE July 9, 10 am–12 pm ABQ Citizens' Climate Lobby

Learn about climate change solutions that bridge the partisan divide, such as a carbon fee/ dividend that gives revenue back to households.

Meets the 2nd Sat. of every month. Location: lisas.ccl@gmail.com, citizensclimatelobby.org/ chapters/NM_Albuquerque/, www.facebook. com/ccl.newmexico

July 13, 8–10 am NM Incentive Programs for Small Businesses Sandoval Economic Alliance, 1201 Rio Rancho Blvd., Rio Rancho

Educational workshop by Jami Grindatto, Bob Preble and Patrick Gannon for local business owners. Light breakfast and course materials provided. Fee: $39. Peer-oriented roundtables meet every 2nd Weds. through 11/9. Presented by the SEA and the Dynamic Growth Business Resource Center. 505.238.3004, http://dgbrc. com/locations/sandoval-economic-alliance/

July 13, 20, 27 Home Composting Workshops Highland Senior Center

Improve desert garden soil. Learn different methods. Free and open to the public. Two-hour workshop starts at 9 or 10 am. Registration: 505.767.5216. Sponsored by nmcomposters.org

July 21, 9 am start Santolina Master Plan Hearings City/County Government Building 1 Civic Plaza NW Conclusion

July 26, 6–7:30 pm NM Solar Energy Assn. Meeting REI, 1550 Mercantile NE

Meets fourth Tuesday every other month.

J.desjardin@hotmail.com

Aug. 30–Sept. 1 Wind Turbine Blade Workshop Embassy Suites Hotel

Biannual workshop presented by Sandia National Laboratories Wind Energy Technologies Dept. sandia.eom@public. govdelivery.com

Daily, 10 am–6 pm Wildlife West 87 N. Frontage Rd., Edgewood (just east of ABQ)

122-acre park/attraction with educational programs dedicated to native wildlife and ecology. $7/$6/$4/children under 5 free. www.wildlifewest.org

Daily Our Land, Our Culture, Our Story Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 2401 12th St. NW

Historical overview of the Pueblo world and contemporary artwork and craftsmanship of each of the 19 pueblos; Weekend Native dances. 866.855.7902, www.indianpueblo.org

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July: Arid Adaptation – Adopt a plant while learning survival strategies for life in the desert.

View the wetlands along the bosque. August: Why is (isn’t) it raining? – Explore Bachechi before and after monsoon storms and help predict the weather. Free. No registration required. 505.314.0398, bernco.gov

First Sundays New Mexico Museum of Natural History 1801 Mountain Road

Museum admission is free to NM residents on the first Sunday of every month.

505.841.2800

Through 2016 Las Huertas Farming Training Courses Bernalillo County Ext. Office 1510 Menaul New Mexico

Intro to Horticulture in Aridlands covers basics of farming in NM’s varied climate and seasons. Other classes offered include Growing Techniques, Summer Growing Season (farm visits), Business management and planning. sean@riograndefarm.org, http://riograndefarm.org/farmer-trainingfarm-incubator/

ABQ 2030 District

A voluntary collaboration of commercial property tenants, building managers, property owners and developers; real estate, energy, and building sector professionals, lenders, utility companies; and public stakeholders such as government agencies, nonprofits, community groups and grassroots organizers. Property partners share anonymous utility data and best practices. Professional partners provide expertise and services. Public partners support the initiative as it overlaps with their own missions. Info: albuquerque@2030districts.org

SANTA FE

July 4, 7:30–9:30 am Pancake Breakfast La Plancha Grill at La Tienda Eldorado, NM

Parade, food, entertainment organized by the Eldorado Residents Assoc. and Eldorado/285 Recycles. $6. Kids under six free. Eldorado285recycles@gmail.com

July 4, 23, 24 SF Concert Band Concerts

7/4, 8 am: Pancake breakfast performance on the Plaza; 7/23, 7 pm: Rodeo Rd. Plaza block party; 7/24, 2 pm: Federal Park (downtown). Sfcb1865@gmail.com, http:// santafeconcertband.org

July 5, 3–6 pm: Kickoff Event SF Farmers’ Market – Southside SF Place Mall, 4250 Cerrillos Rd. (NW parking lot near Sports Authority)

Music & dance performances, bounce house and kids activities, cooking demos, photo exhibit, raffles for free groceries, food trucks. Southside Market takes place on Tuesdays through Sept. 27, 3–6 pm.

SNAP doubling program in partnership with the NM Farmers Marketing Assn. and Fair Food Network. 505.550.3728, lani@ santafefarmersmarket.com

Green Fire Times • July 2016

July 5–7 Motor Maids Convention/Parade

76th anniversary of women’s motorcycling organization. 7/6, 6 pm: public parade of over 300 uniformed women leave the Drury Plaza Hotel area, take a right on Paseo de Peralta to Guadalupe and Hwy. 285 North, to exit 168 to the frontage road, to Cam. Encantado to Bishop’s Lodge Rd. and back to the Drury Plaza Hotel.

July 6, 7 pm The Evolution of Native Cinema NM History Museum 113 Lincoln Ave.

Honoring Wes Studi, Chris Eyre, Gary Farmer and others. ($75). 5:30 pm: Private reception at Sherwood Gallery ($125). Tickets: 505.820.0552, silverbulletproductions.com

July 7, 9–11 am Compost Workshop SF County Fairgrounds

Grow more and better food in your garden, sequester carbon in the soil. Free event.

Compost bins available. 505.983.6896, info@ earthcarenm.org, www.earthcarenm.org

July 7–10 ART Santa Fe SF Convention Center

Contemporary art show. 7/7, 5–9 pm: preview party ($100/couple). Show hours: 11 am–8 pm; One-day pass: $20; 3-day pass: $25. Discounts available. Artsantafe.com

July 8–10 Intl. Folk Art Market Museum Hill, Cam. Lejo

7/8, 6:30–9 pm: Opening night party: $225; 7/9, 7:30–9 am: Early bird showing: $75, 9 am–5 pm: $20, 16 & under free; 7/10, 9 am–5 pm: $15, 16 & under free. 505.992.7600, www.folkartalliance.org

July 9, 8 am–4 pm ECO Campus Landscaping No. side of W. Zia Rd. Half mile west of St. Francis

Students, parents and community volunteers needed for Early College Opportunities campus cleanup and landscaping. Continues on 7/10 at 8 am if needed. Water, coffee, food, tools and supplies provided. Look for black metal picket fence, take 2nd entry and look for signs. earlycollege@sfps.k12.nm.us, kendallmccumber@gmail.com

July 9, 10 am–12 pm SF Citizens' Climate Lobby La Montañita Co-op Community Rm. 913 W. Alameda

Learn about solutions that can bridge the partisan divide, such as the carbon fee and dividend, which gives revenue back to households. www.facebook.com/ccl.newmexico

July 9, 10 am–mid-afternoon Horse Show & Adoption Event SF Rodeo Grounds, 3237 Rodeo Rd.

Rescued horses. Food & merchandise vendors. No admission charge. Proceeds benefit The Horse Shelter. 505.471.6179, thehorseshelter.org

July 10, 2 pm start Folk & Blues Fest Oscar Huber Memorial Ballpark, Madrid, NM

Featuring Hot Tuna, The Family Lotus, Boris

McCutcheon and the Salt Licks. Dancing, arts & crafts, food. Tickets: http:madridfest. bpt.mc, www.heathconcerts.us

July 16, 7–10 pm SF Community Foundation 35th Anniversary SF Convention Center Roof

Festivities include dancing under the stars to benefit the foundation’s Community Leadership Fund. $175 per person ($75 tax deductible). 505.988.9715, jegan@santafecf. org, www.santafecf.org/guesswho

July 17, 1–4 pm Opening Into the Future: Culture Power in Native American Art MIAC, 710 Cam. Lejo, Museum Hill

Exhibit ranging from traditional clothing and jewelry to comic-book art; free public opening. Through Oct. 22, 2017.

Indianartsandculture.org

July 20, 6–7:30 pm NM Solar Energy Assn. Meeting Amenergy Office, 1202 Parkway Dr.

Meets 3rd Weds. every month. The mission of the Santa Fe Sustainable Everything Advocates, an NMSEA Chapter, is to make living sustainably the accepted norm. claudia@solarlogicllc.com

July 22, 10 am NM Acequia Commission Meeting Bataan Memorial Bldg., Rm. 238, corner, Don Gaspar & So. Capitol

Agendas: 505.603.2879 or www.nmacequia commission.state.nm.us, info: 505.603.2879, molinodelasisla@gmail.com

July 24–31 2016 UNM Summer Writers’ Conference Drury Plaza Hotel

18th annual gathering. Formerly held in Taos.

Named as one of the top ten writers’ conferences in the U.S. Weeklong and weekend workshops in fiction, poetry, nonfiction and more.

Agents, editors and publishing professionals consult with participants.

Keynote reading by Sandra Cisneros. 505.277.5572, https://unmwritersconf.unm.edu

July 25, 6 pm Drought and Social Dynamics in the Ancient Southwest Hotel Santa Fe

SW Seminars lecture by author Dr. R. Kyle Bocinsky, archaeologist and director, sponsored projects, Crow Canyon Archaeolgical Center. $12. 505.466.2775, southwest seminar@aol.com, SouthwestSeminars.org

July 25–31 ¡Viva La Cultura!

Local Venues and the Plaza The Spanish Colonial Arts Society presents lectures, tours and films, culminating with the annual Traditional Spanish Market.

505.982.2226, spanishcolonial.org

July 30–31 Traditional Spanish Market SF Plaza

65th annual. Booths, live entertainment, food court.

505.982.2226, spanishcolonial.org

www.GreenFireTimes.com

July 30–31 Contemporary Hispanic Market Lincoln Ave. 505.331.2113

Aug. 3–7 Transformation and Healing Conference New Earth Institute of Southwestern College

“At the Crossroads of Human Potential” 35th annual conference. CEUs available.

Keynote by Gregg Braden. 505.471.5756, info@swc.edu, www.swc.edu

Aug. 5, 10 am–1 pm Free Legal Clinics First Judicial Court 225 Montezuma Ave.

For low-income New Mexicans. First Friday every other month. Attorneys provide free legal advice on civil matters only (no family or criminal law) on a first come, first serve basis limited to the first 25 people.

Bring relevant paperwork. NM Legal Aid’s Volunteer Attorney Program. 505.814.5033, ajab@nmlegalaid.org

Aug. 6, 9 am–5:30 pm Greg Braden Program James A. Little Theater 1060 Cerrillos Rd.

“Human by Design: The Power to Thrive in Life’s Extremes” In conjunction with Southwestern College’s Transformation and Healing Conference. Info/cost: 505.471.5756, info@swc.edu, www.swc.edu

Aug. 6, 10 am–4 pm Annual Art Show Benefit Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary, 3749–A Hwy. 14

Art sale amidst barns benefits sanctuary for senior dogs, horses and poultry. Educational talks and demos by wellness caregivers.

505.471.5366, kindredspiritsnm@earthlink. net, www.kindredspiritsnm.org

Aug. 8, 6 pm David Grant Noble Hotel Santa Fe

Lecture on Ute history by the archaeological writer/photographer. $12. southwestseminar@aol.com, SouthwestSeminars.org

Aug. 26–28 Startup Weekend Santa Fe SF Business Incubator 3900 Paseo del Sol

Entrepreneurial event where ideas are pitched, teams formed, markets validated and startups started. Details: 505.424.1140, www.sfbi.net

Sundays, 10 am-4 pm Railyard Artisan Market Farmers’ Market Pavilion, 1607 Paseo de Peralta

Local artists, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, live music. 505.983.4098, Francesca@santafefarmersmarket.com, artmarketsantafe.com

1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 5:30-7 pm Design Lab for Sustainable Neighborhoods Higher Education Center 1950 Siringo Rd., Rm. 139

Affordable living in SF? Join in to design and build mixed-use Santa Fe infill. Topics examples: Flexible 350 micro-units, clusters with shared facilities, cooperative ownership. Info/RSVP: http:// bit.ly/1ibd3LN

www.GreenFireTimes.com

Tues. & Sats., 7 am-1 pm SF Farmers’ Market 1607 Paseo de Peralta (& Guadalupe)

Northern NM farmers & ranchers offer fresh greenhouse tomatoes, greens, root veggies, cheese, teas, herbs, spices, honey, baked goods, body care products and much more. www.santafefarmersmarket.com

Sundays, 11 am Journey Santa Fe Conversations Collected Works, 202 Galisteo

7/3: Attorney Mariel Nanasi, exec. dir. of New Energy Economy; 7/10: Greg Mello, exec. dir., Los Alamos Study Group in conversation about policy analysis, environmental analysis and more with attorney Denise Fort; 7/17: Creativity for Peace with exec. dir. Francis Salas on Bringing Palestinian and Israeli students together; 7/24: Banking on New Mexico with Alan Webber: the benefits of a public bank for Santa Fe; 7/31: A look at the Academy for the Love of Learning with exec. dir. Aaron Stern. Moderators: Alan Webber, Bill and Ellen Dupuy. Free. www.journeysantafe.com

Sundays, 1:30–2:30 pm Essential Oils Classes Yoga Santa Fe, 1505 Llano St.

Free classes. Learn about essential oils, address health goals, supplement your income. 434.944.5489, jenisabelfriend@ gmail.com, www.SantaFeEssentialOils.com

Through July, 10 am–12 pm Community Workshop Series Railyard Park Community Room behind Site SF

Learn relevant gardening techniques from a team of experts. All ages welcome. Free. 7/9: Home mushroom cultivation with Chris Kerns of the NM Mycological Society. 7/16: Medicinal Mushrooms 101 with Harmony West; 7/30: Intro to Fermented Foods with Pat Block of Barrio Brinery. 505.316.3596, linda@ railyardpark.org, www.railyardpark.org

Through July Lloyd Kiva New: Art, Design and Influence Museum of Contemporary Native Arts 108 Cathedral Pl.

Exhibition honoring the late Cherokee artist/educator/IAIA director and his work.

(North Gallery continues through Sept. 11) 505.983.1666, www.iaia.edu/museum.

Through Dec. 30 A New Century: The Life and Legacy of Lloyd Kiva New Museum of Indian Arts and Culture 710 Cam. Lejo

Fashion designs, art, photos and archival documents. 505.476.1269, indianartsand culture.org

Through March 5, 2017 Lowriders, Hoppers and Hot Rods NM History Museum 113 Lincoln Ave.

Car Culture of Northern NM. 505.476.5019, www.nmhistorymuseum.org

Become a Site Steward Santa Fe National Forest

Monitor archeological and historical sites on a regular basis for evidence of natural deterioration or vandalism. www. sfnfsitestewards.org

Santa Fe Creative Tourism Workshops, Classes and Experiences

http://santafecreativetourism.org/

Borrow a Kill-A-Watt Device Main Library and Southside Branch

Electricity Measuring Devices may be checked out for 28 days www.santafelibrary. org or call any reference desk.

Santa Fe Recycling

Make 2016 the year to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as you can. City residential curbside customers can recycle at no additional cost, and drop by 1142 Siler Road, Building A, to pick up free recycling bins. For more information, visit http://www.santafenm.gov/trash_ and_rec yc ling or call 505.955.2200 (city); 505.992.3010 (county); 505.424.1850 (SF Solid Waste Management Agency).

Sustainable Growth Management Plan for SF County

Hard copies $70, CDs $2. Contact Melissa Holmes, 505.995.2717 or msholmes@ santafecounty.org. The SGMP is also available on the county website: www. santafecounty.org/growth_management/ sgmp and can be reviewed at SF Public libraries and the County Administrative Building, 102 Grant Ave.

TAOS

July 1-17 Storytellers: Teaching Heritage through Song and Story Millicent Rogers Museum 1503 Millicent Rogers Rd.

Textiles, paintings, traditional ceramic storytellers.

By museum admission: $10/discounts.

575.758.2462, www.millicentrogers.com

July 3–4, 10 am–5 pm Taos Veterans Creative Arts Festival Kit Carson Park

Active duty military, veterans and Gold Star families will show and sell their own paintings, jewelry, carving, lawn art, etc. Food vendors. 575.224.1503, don@ notforgottenoutreach.org

July 11-14 Integrative Medicine Professionals Symposium Sagebrush Inn

7th biennial symposium on integrative health featuring many distinguished speakers and local practitioners. Presented by the UNM School of Medicine’s Section of Integrative Medicine, Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and Gaples Institute for Integrative Cardiology.

505.272.3942, http://som.unm.edu/cme

Third Weds. Monthly Taos Entrepreneurial Network Taos County Courthouse Mural Room, Taos Plaza

Networking, presentations and discussion. Free.

Through Sept. 11 Mabel Dodge Lujan & Company Harwood Museum of Art 238 Ledoux St.

“American Moderns and the West,” an exhibit detailing Lujan’s impact on the art, writings and activism of 20thcentury modernists Dorothy Brett, D.H. Lawrence, Marsden Hartley and others. Closed Mondays. 575.758.9826, Harwoodmuseum.org

Ongoing Holy Cross Hospital Health Support HCH Community Wellness Center (lower entrance), 1397 Weimer Rd.

HERE & THERE

July 2, 9, 16, 17, 30 Summer Sundays Coronado Historic Site Hwy. 550 and Kuaua Rd., Bernalillo

Demonstrations begin at 10 am. 7/2: Ancient Pueblo Pottery Day; 7/9: Prairie Dog Day; 7/16: Bird Day; 7/17: Wolf Day: 7/30: Reptile Day. Admission: $3 adults, kids 16 & under free. Kuaua.com

July 9-10, 10 am–5 pm Lavender in the Valley Festival Hwy. 84, Abiquiú, NM (btwn. mile markers 210 and 211)

3rd annual celebration celebrates Abiquiú businesses, artists, artisans and community.

Music by flautist Ron Roybal and multiinstr umentalist Ryan Domínguez.

505.685.0082, www.purplelavenderfarm.com

July 11–13 ASES Solar Conference Intercontinental Hotel, San Francisco, CA

For solar enthusiasts and professionals.

Plenary sessions and forums on the advancement of renewable energy in the US. Held in conjunction with the Intersolar North America trade show. 303.443.3130, www.ases.org/solar-2016/

July 16, 7 am–3 pm Uranium Tailings Spill Commemoration 12 miles north of Red Rock State Park, Hwy. 566 near Churchrock, NM

The largest tailings spill in the U.S. occurred in 1979. Community education, food, auction.

505.577.8438, www.swuraniumimpacts.org

July 16–21 Heart of Mindfulness Retreat Vallecitos Mountain Center, NM

Retreat outside of Taos offers training in the fundamentals of mindfulness meditation.

Taught by Grove Burnett and Erin Treat. www.vallecitos.org

Wednesdays, 10 am Green Hour Hikes Los Alamos Nature Center Los Alamos, NM

Kid-centered hikes. Free. Losalamosnature.org

Weds., 6-8 pm Gallup Solar Community Meetings 113 E. Logan Ave., Gallup, NM

The nonprofit Gallup Solar hosts educational presentations and potential solutions for all things solar. Questions, ideas and expertise are welcome. 505.728.9246, gallupsolar@ gmail.com, www.gallupsolar.org

Friday-Wednesday Pajarito Environmental Education Center 2600 Canyon Rd., Los Alamos, NM

Nature center and outdoor education programs. Exhibits of flora and fauna of the Pajarito Plateau; herbarium, live amphibians, butterfly and xeric gardens.

505.662.0460, www.losalamosnature.org

LANL Foundation

Educational outreach small grants up to $1,500 monthly for school districts and nonprofits with programs to strengthen teaching and learning in Los Alamos, Mora, Río Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe and Taos counties. 505.753.8890, sally@ lanlfoundation.org

575.751.8909, mariam@taoshospital.com, TaosHealth.com

Green Fire Times • July 2016

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2016 SEASON JULY 1 to AUGUST 27

THE SANTA FE OPERA 60TH ANNIVERSARY

The Girl of the Golden West Roméo et Juliette

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GOUNOD

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PUCCINI

Capriccio

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Don Giovanni R. STRAUSS

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MOZART

Vanessa

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BARBER

First-Time Buyers who are NM Residents

SAVE 40% Call for details!

SantaFeOpera.org

Enjoy tailgating with a stunning sunset and incredible mountain views.

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800-280-4654 Photos: Robert Godwin, theater; Kate Russell, tailgate

OPENING NIGHTS SPONSOR

855-674-5401 www.fourseasons.com/santafe

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Green Fire Times • July 2016

Ask about a special offer for Opera guests.

800-378-7946 www.druryplazasantafe.com

800-727-5531 www.innatloretto.com

800-955-4455 www.eldoradohotel.com

www.GreenFireTimes.com