Energy

Heinrich, Top Committee Leaders Press DOE Secretary For Answers On Detrimental Policies, Unlawful Funding Freeze

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Congressional News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, alongside other top Democrats in Congress with oversight over the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), sent a letter Tuesday to Energy Secretary Chris Wright pressing for information the Department has thus far failed to provide about its suspension of critical energy programs, cancellation of awards and contracts, mass reductions in force, and other detrimental actions.

In their letter, Heinrich, alongside U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Read More

How Los Alamos National Laboratory Helped Bring Hydrogen Power To Northern New Mexico

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Rendering of components at the planned Kit Carson Electric microgrid project. Image by Kore Power/Courtesy KCEC.

LANL News:

  • When a small electric cooperative needed assistance getting its new energy product off the ground, Los Alamos National Laboratory was there to help

When the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) was granted a federal award to build a hydrogen microgrid — the first of its kind in the nation — the small Northern New Mexico utility won widespread praise.

Awarded in January, the funds will help the electrical co-op serve its 30,000 customers around Questa, New Mexico, with Read More

State’s Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program Awards $3.3 Million To Support New Mexico’s Advanced Energy Industry

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The Firescape team at the Advanced Energy Award Pitch Event. Courtesy/EDD

The Spiritus Technologies facility. Courtesy/EDD

EDD News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announced that five advanced energy companies were awarded $3.3 million through the state’s Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program to support innovation and commercialization.

The competitive state-funded grant is awarded through EDD’s Office of Strategy, Science & Technology (OSST).

Applications from 24 companies were evaluated by the state’s Technology Research Collaborative Read More

County Flips Switch On Community-Wide EV Charging Study

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A EV charger outside the Los Alamos County Municipal Building. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net

Government-owned electric vehicles aren’t a novel thing in Los Alamos; nor are the stations to charge them. But what if all the vehicles owned by Los Alamos County were electric and charging stations were located throughout the County?

To answer that question, the County hired a contractor, Stantec, to help assist in a Fleet Conversion and Community-wide EV (Electric Vehicle) Charging Read More

Scenes From Los Alamos County Earth Day Event

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From left, Bee City Los Alamos member KokHeong McNaughton and Coordinator Britton Donharl take part in Los Alamos County Earth Day festivities held Tuesday at the Municipal Building. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net

From left, County Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule and Los Alamos Sustainability Alliance member Sue Barns take part in Los Alamos County Earth Day festivities held Tuesday at the Municipal Building. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net

Environmental Services Manager Armando Gabaldon speaks to an attendee at Los Alamos Read More

UbiQD Secures $20M In Series B Funding To Scale Quantum Dot Technology Across Industries

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UbiQD Founder and CEO Hunter McDaniel marveling at the glowing quantum dots outside the company’s headquarters in Los Alamos. Courtesy/UbiQD, Inc.

UbiQD Founder and CEO Hunter McDaniel, far right, and the UbiQD team outside the company’s headquarters in Los Alamos. UbiQD is a global leader in quantum dot manufacturing and technology. Courtesy/UbiQD, Inc.

UbiQD News:

  • Investment to Expand Manufacturing, Accelerate R&D, and Strengthen U.S. Leadership in Next-Generation Nano Materials

UbiQD®, a global leader in quantum dot (QD) technology, today announced the close of its $20 million Read More

County DPU Seeks Focus Group Volunteers

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COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU), in partnership with the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University, is seeking volunteers for two focus groups to discuss the pathway to zero natural gas usage.

The groups will meet noon-1 p.m. over Zoom on April 24, May 1 and May 8.  Participants must be natural gas customers of DPU.

Anyone who is interested in participating should send name, email address and street address to catherine.danna@lacnm.us. Volunteers will be randomly selected and notified by email. Read More

Deadline Approaching For Los Alamos Department Of Public Utilities Essay Contest

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COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is conducting an essay contest for high school students as part of an effort organized by Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS).

A local student may receive sponsorship to attend a summer leadership camp and scholarship program in Idaho called the ICUA Youth Rally, but only if they get their essay submitted no later than May 2.

UAMPS will select four students from among its member organizations to send to the rally. Each one will also receive a $500 scholarship for college. DPU is a member of UAMPS so high school sophomores Read More

Los Alamos Chemist Jeffrey Pietryga Named AAAS Fellow

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AAAS Fellow Jeffrey Pietryga

LANL News:

Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Jeffrey Pietryga has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Members of the world’s largest professional society — scientists, engineers and innovators from across disciplines — are named fellows in recognition of their lifetime efforts to advance science or its applications.

A longtime chemist at the Laboratory, Pietryga was recognized by the AAAS “for formative contributions to the synthetic chemistry of advanced nanocrystal quantum dots,” as well as “enthusiastic Read More

Gibson: Inflation Squeezes Utilities, Too

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By Robert Gibson
Chair
Los Alamos County
Board of Public Utilities

There’s no way to sugar coat this. Utility rates will be going up. 

The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and then County Council will soon be considering several utility rate increase proposals from the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Why?

Inflation is the underlying driver. Most utility costs increase at least as fast as general inflation. Some costs, particularly construction materials and electrical distribution equipment, have gone up much more than the familiar Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Water rates are already Read More