The WestSouth Journal

New Mexico’s Energy Future Part 1: New Mexican Sun Leap Year (2/29) Snowpack had been reduced significantly due to a powerful February sun. This February the New Mexican snowpack got annihilated by the sun. In fact, in New Mexico the sun is often associated with dwindling water supplies, disappearing range resources, and heat.  New Mexico’s state symbol, the Zia, is a sun.  It is a part of the state's cultural heritage. With 278 sunny days in Albuquerque annually (that’s 76% of the year) 1 , New Mexicans should ask, “Where is all of that energy going?” The short answer is, mostly nowhere. Both government and private industry are beginning to notice the bright side of New Mexico’s solar abundance.   And, with climate change heating things up, solar energy is a growing piece of New Mexico's energy future.  Below is a map put out by the State of New Mexico showing current renewable installations around the state. Solar capacity in...

No Fracking in Sandoval’s Precious Lands On March 23 rd the Sandoval County Commission should deny the Sand Ridge solicitation to frack within Sandoval County. Take one look at the New Mexico Environment Department’s ‘sensitive aquifer map’ of Sandoval County and it is clear.  Fracking would be a catastrophic and irreversible disaster for the water that the people and economy of this region depend upon.  The majority of the below map is coded as highly or moderately sensitive aquifer.  (Source: https://www.env.nm.gov/fod/LiquidWaste/mapping.html ) It should be considered that fracking requires water, and public paid-for roads to transport that water.  Indeed, as reported by Gasland, “The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation estimates each well, per frack, will require 2.4 to 7.8 million gallons of water. This translates into roughly 400 to 600 tanker truckloads of liquids to the well, and 200 to 300...

Silverton is NOT unique. Silverton, CO,  (Source: southwestbackcountry photo) You may wonder what the hell is going on in Sliverton. I f you attend Silverton's February skijoring competition, you may gain a little insight.  Horseback riders pull skiers down main street as they attempt to jump snow ramps, and grab hanging rings for the win. Families cheer, the costumes, prizes, and laughter resemble a rodeo;  and -snow or shine- it's on. Silverton loves snow.  They had better. It snows a lot there, and the San Juan storms (especially in an El Nino year) are frequent. If both passes close due to avalanches (which does happen), Silverton is completely cut off from the outside world. There's a single grocer, a liquor store, and a ski hill (one and a half really), and community events are the lifeblood of the valley in the cold months. Initially, Silverton may appear unique, alone, even one of a kind.  But, it isn't.   Not even close.   There ar...

Why doesn't anyone ever go to the Westsouth? Instead, they only go to the Southwest. They don't know better. Medeski, Martin, and Wood -the jazz trio- have a song in which they ask this.  'Where is the WestSouth,' you might ask.  They infer that its where we delve deeper rather than just following the paradigm normally given to us...  The beat poem/song voices an element missing from the be-bop love songs for which jazz is known.  Their song takes the normal jazz, and sets it to a new pattern.  It weighs in with a tenacious yet steady tone. The song is a theme telling us to dig, to break down the old walls and visit reality as its happening on the ground. We all should question things, explore, and get the full story.  Not just for our own wondering or amusement, but for informing decisions, actions, and lifestyles. Here, WestSouth Reports builds a foundation of stories that should provide some new answers, and create more questions. The topic...