Letters to the Editor (Nov. 10)

New Mexicans are at risk

Editor:

Politicians have put New Mexico at risk of electrical power blackouts and higher utility bills.

The  San Juan Generating Station, a primary power source for New Mexico for the past half century, is being forced to close by politicians who want to replace it with windmills and solar panels.

Politicians falsely claim that carbon dioxide is “dirty” and causes bad things to happen. Objections to CO-2 vary with the news headlines, such as heat waves, snow storms, hurricanes, forest fires, drought and floods.

Carbon dioxide is colorless, odorless and essential for life. The climate has been changing for millions of years and is strongly influenced by natural cosmological variables.

Science, engineering and economics have been displaced by a “renewable energy” religion known as either global warming or climate change depending on the season of the year. Renewable energy zealots preach a theology requiring replacement of fossil fuel plants with unreliable and expensive windmills and solar panels.

New Mexicans have been needlessly put at risk of much higher utility bills if not freezing to death in the dark. The wretched New Mexico energy situation is self inflicted. It is no coincidence that New Mexico has a miserable ranking in education.

It appears that the most abundant renewable resources in New Mexico are ignorance and stupidity.

 

John J. Schinkle

Los Lunas

 

Thanks for the support

Editor:

We would like to thank all who helped make the 15th annual Capt. Tamara Long-Archuleta Memorial Open Karate Championships Tournament, held Oct. 22, 2022, at Belen High School gymnasium, a resounding success.

The local business community was very generous with their support of the show through donations for the tournament program. We thank Mark Peter with Ranchero Builders Supply, Pavlos and Nikki Panagopoulos with Cetera Financial Network, Frank’s Septic Pumping, Gene and JoAnn Carrillo with Gene’s Tax Service, All Occasions Catering, Delora Silva with Delora’s Hair & Nails Salon.

Felipe Silva with Professional Contracting Builders, The Honorable and Mrs. James and Melissa Sánchez, Sisneros Bros. Mfg., attorney Michael S. Sánchez, Robert Noblin with Noblin Funeral Service and Crematory, Terrace Grove Mortuary Services, Terrace Grove Pet Services, Noblin Engraving; Grace K. and Yvonne M. Sánchez with Rio Grande Financial Network.

Jocelyn Wilson with Off Post Sew Shop and Supply El Paso Texas, Richard Brower of Buckland Pharmacy, William and Neata Matturro, Cole and Melanie McMahan, Belen Moose Family Center Lodge 1680, TRINSEO Manufacturer of Avonite Solid Surfaces, and Able & Willies One Stop Shop.

We also thank Pastor Robert Browning, of Church of the Redeemer, for delivering our opening prayer, the Women Veteran Warriors and American Legion Post 73 for the Color Guard, and Eliana Pisena for singing the National Anthem.

The Belen Consolidated School District and Belen High School Athletic Department were fantastic in supporting the tournament and allowing our use of the high school gymnasium. The tournament wouldn’t be possible without the support of the families and students of Belen Goju Ryu Karate.

There were 175 total competitors representing 12 martial arts schools for a great day of competition. Due to the success of this tournament we will be putting $6,000 into the scholarship fund to be awarded next year to student’s who graduated in Valencia County and are attending UNM-VC or UNM Main.

This tournament and funding of the scholarship program is our effort to take the tragedy of our daughter’s death serving our country in Afghanistan and turn it into a positive by helping others achieve their goals and dreams.

 

Richard and Cindy Long

Belen Goju Ryu Karate

 

Our water, their profits

Editor:

We are writing about a water issue that impacts the lives and livelihoods of all people in Valencia County.

As you know, five years ago the village of Los Lunas entered into an agreement with Niagara Bottling. The agreement was for Niagara to pump 285 acre-feet/year of water from the aquifer through village wells. That 285 acre-feet equals almost 93 million gallons/year of water from our aquifer.

New Mexico is the most water-stressed state in the USA. Water is being extracted from our aquifers at an unsustainable rate. This water agreement between Los Lunas and Niagara is the kind of shell game that plays out in the state all the time. Niagara leased water rights on paper from PNM, then transferred those “paper water rights” to the village. Let’s be very clear — “paper water rights” are not the same as actual “wet water” in the ground.

Valencia Water Watchers formed in January 2020 when we learned Niagara was planning to ask the village council for even more of our water — 650 acre-feet, or 212 million gallons, per year. We’re a group of Valencia County residents who believe taking too much water from the aquifer is a bad idea for the rest of us. Niagara didn’t go forward with their request that time (because the pandemic hit).

But Niagara came back in February 2021, once again requesting an increase to 650 acre-feet/year of our water. VWW organized a protest rally of community members opposed to this taking of our water; at the last minute Niagara withdrew their request.

Then Niagara returned to the village council in June, requesting an increase of the water they take to 700 acre-feet/year. That’s 228 million gallons of water/year —more than 1.14 billion gallons of water over the next five years.

Over three successive meetings, the village council tabled the request, because of a missing report from their water experts. On July 28, the village council tabled the Niagara request “indefinitely.”

Now Niagara is coming back a fourth time, with a renewed request to take over 228 million gallons/year of our water from the Albuquerque aquifer, which lies under all of Valencia County.

We, at VWW, think this is a terrible idea, and we want the people of Valencia County to be fully informed about what’s happening to our water — your water.

There is no “Los Lunas aquifer.” The Albuquerque aquifer sustains all people and all living things in Valencia County, and in the entire Rio Grande basin, which stretches from Cochiti to northern Socorro County.

What can you do?

Contact the Los Lunas Village Council and tell them: In the middle of the desert, in the middle of a drought, our water is for people, not for profits.

If you can, attend the village council meeting when Niagara’s request will be considered. We will be there, and hope to see you.

Visit our website ValenciaWaterWatchers.com for more details (such as meeting date/time, contact info for village councilors and more).

 

K.A. McCord

Valencia Water Watchers

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