Today's intersection: geothermal energy and a proposed transmission line

Update, Public overwhelmingly voices opposition to nuclear lab transmission line project

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In South Dakota’s Black Hills the US Department of Energy, New Mexico's Sandia Labs, Los Alamos National Laboratory, South Dakota School of Mines and others are collaborating on the potential for generating electricity using Enhanced Geothermal Systems. 

Los Alamos County is a member of the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico and the city has been part of Local Governments for Sustainability since this interested party has lived in the state. LANL boasts its electricity needs are 31% carbon pollution-free so the National Nuclear Security Administration wants to erect a transmission line across the Caja del Rio wilderness from a substation that generates some of its power from a photovoltaic array.

However, the project would require amending the recently revised Santa Fe National Forest Management plan to allow for a utility corridor through the Caja. But, as of right now, the impacts to cultural and historical sites are still missing. As it turns out, there are ways to avoid building a new transmission line. This includes establishing a microgrid, upscaling renewable energy and simply updating the lab’s technological capabilities. [Proposed Caja del Rio transmission project near LANL raises concerns]

The Las Conchas Fire started in late June of 2011 when an aspen tree fell onto power lines in the Jemez Mountains then quickly spread into Los Alamos and became one of the most extensive wildland fires in New Mexico history. 

Tritium, a naturally occurring radioactive isotope of hydrogen that can cause birth defects and spontaneous abortions, has been found in groundwater near Los Alamos National Laboratory. Today, Cochiti Reservoir at the confluence of the Rio Grande and Santa Fe River is a radioactive sewer impounding millions of cubic yards of silt contaminated with chromium and the effluent from thousands of upstream septic systems after decades of bomb making at Los Alamos.

The House of Representatives takes a step closer to expanding Geothermal Energy in New Mexico by passing House bill 91 with a vote of 60-5. Over 25 million dollars from the General Fund would be appropriated to support the research and creation of geothermal plants in New Mexico. The Funds would be Managed by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the Energy Conservation and Management Division would distribute the resources to private non- profit public or tribal entities for the expansion of geothermal technology. [Geothermal Heats Up the House]

Naming a dark matter lab 5000 feet below Lead, South Dakota after a lecherous, usurious Republican billionaire sticks in plenty of craws in my home state yet real science is getting done there. The Sanford Underground Research Facility in the former Homestake Mine under Lead represents 8000 feet closer to the geothermal potential capable of powering much of the region.

LANL sits on part the Valles Caldera, a massive geothermal feature.

Learn more at the Santa Fe Reporter.