Mike Eisenfeld

Oct 26 2024

The End of an Era: What’s Next for the Energy Transition in Northern New Mexico

By Mike Eisenfeld Coal, Energy Transition, Press Release No Comments

On August 24, 2024 the 400-foot stacks at the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station in Waterflow, New Mexico were demolished, bringing permanent closure to a facility notorious for being part of the largest single point source of pollution in the…

Sep 06 2024

Reaction to Demolition of Smokestacks at San Juan Generating Station

By Mike Eisenfeld Coal, Energy Transition, Press Release No Comments

Advocates have been working for years to facilitate a transition to clean energy, ending coal’s polluting legacy and the region’s economic over-dependence on fossil fuels Overflight and drone footage of the site and demolition are available for media (see below)…

Apr 29 2024

Renewable Energy transition is Sparking a Renaissance in Four Corners Region

By Mike Eisenfeld Energy Transition, Of Interest, Renewable Energy One Comment

In the wake of coal plant and coal mine retirements in northwestern New Mexico, our community stands at a pivotal moment. The impacts of these closures have reverberated through every aspect of our lives, prompting us to reassess and prepare…

Feb 15 2023

Enchant Energy Update

By Mike Eisenfeld Coal, Energy Transition, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy No Comments

we need YOU to call or email our county commissioners and tell them to not defer to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in Denver, but rather protect our public health by taking local leadership in setting setback…

Feb 08 2022

PRESS RELEASE: Community, conservation groups unified in opposition to fossil gas hydrogen bills

By Mike Eisenfeld Oil & Gas, Press Release No Comments

Prominent community and conservation groups today responded to ongoing legislative maneuvering to promote fossil-fueled hydrogen in New Mexico with taxpayer subsidies The New Mexico House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee tabled the Hydrogen Hub Development Act (HB4) due to…

Jan 11 2022

NM Supreme Court Rules ETA Constitutional

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy No Comments

Environmental, Community, Tribal, Faith Grassroots Groups Celebrate SANTA FE, N.M. (Jan. 10, 2022) — The New Mexico Supreme Court today rejected New Energy Economy’s challenges to the constitutionality of the Energy Transition Act (ETA) and upheld the New Mexico…

Feb 03 2021

Clean Air, Mining Reform, & More: Updates at the New Mexico Legislative Session

By Mike Eisenfeld Energy Transition, Of Interest No Comments

Several bills were heard yesterday in the New Mexico Legislative Session House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee with good outcomes! 1. The Oil and Gas Subdivision Parcels Bill (HB 136) was drafted purportedly to address exemptions to subdividing lands to…

Aug 30 2019

We’re Asking the Courts to Weigh in on Application of the Energy Transition Act

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Coal, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy No Comments

New Mexico recently passed a landmark energy transition bill known as the Energy Transition Act (ETA). The bill was groundbreaking not just for setting an aggressive renewable portfolio standard, but also for creating funding to ensure a just transition for…

May 17 2019

In Wake of Court Ruling, Coalition Calls for Moratorium on Fracking in Greater Chaco Region

By Mike Eisenfeld Oil & Gas No Comments

Photo: Robert Zeigler Earlier this month a federal appeals court granted Greater Chaco a a long-overdue reprieve from unchecked fracking in response to a lawsuit we filed with our partners. The courts decision directly overturned a couple dozen permits, but we…

Apr 18 2019

Greater Chaco Coalition responds to Congressional Visit on Oil and Gas Impacts

By Mike Eisenfeld Oil & Gas No Comments

We were thrilled to welcome members of Congress to Chaco to experience the incredible landscape, learn about the history, and hear from impacted community members firsthand. We are confident they now have a deeper understanding of the issues here and…

Apr 09 2019

Groups Applaud Strengthened Bill to Protect Greater Chaco Landscape

By Mike Eisenfeld Oil & Gas No Comments

More than 92% of Greater Chaco has already been leased. Over the last several years, this leasing has moved forward despite the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) not having a plan in place to protect modern native communities, their history,…

Mar 13 2019

New Mexico Passes Historic Clean Energy Bill!

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Coal, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy No Comments

New Mexico just passed one of the most progressive energy transition bills in the country! The Energy Transition Act (ETA), which just passed the house and now heads to the Governor's desk, paves the way for a just transition to…

Mar 12 2019

Senator’s filibuster over Energy Transition Act a stunt

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Renewable Energy No Comments

I watched the nearly four-hour filibuster from Senator Bill Sharer on the Energy Transition Act from my home in Farmington on Wednesday. The bill passed overwhelmingly, 32-9, with strong bipartisan support. This stunt by Senator Sharer actually provides a window…

Mar 04 2019

Opinion: Back the Energy Transition Act

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Coal, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy No Comments

San Juan Citizens Alliance is actively working to move New Mexico forward to a sustainable energy economy. We believe an important step towards this desired future, especially for us in Northwestern New Mexico, is the passage of Senate Bill 489,…

Feb 20 2019

Stephanie Richards Garcia speaking at NM Public Lands Rally

Federal, State, Tribal Leaders and Allies Call for Protection From Fracking

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Lands Protection, Oil & Gas No Comments

It is completely indefensible to continue to lease parcels in Greater Chaco to oil and gas without having a plan in place to ensure protections for air, water, public health, and the rich history embedded in the landscape. TheBureau of…

Oct 29 2018

aerial view of oil and gas in New Mexico

The truth about double drilling

By Mike Eisenfeld Oil & Gas One Comment

Photo: Ecoflight As a longtime resident of Farmington, where the impacts of oil and gas are felt daily, I am writing to set the record straight concerning a double drilling rule change that Houston-based Hilcorp Energy is proposing before the…

Mar 11 2018

Photo of San Juan Generating Station with gas pump

Progress is being made on the Four Corners area

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Coal, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy No Comments

Photo: Ted Wood Storey Group In December and January, intense negotiations were ongoing over a Public Service Company of New Mexico-backed bill relating to the closure of the San Juan Generating Station, the coal-fired power plant near Farmington. This piece…

Jan 29 2018

PNM must do right by Four Corner communities, citizens and workers

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Coal, Renewable Energy No Comments

A major tenet of our work over the past decade has been that coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners region have exerted an enormous toll on human public health and natural systems (air, water, land). It is now apparent…

Feb 03 2017

The Plight of Solar in Farmington

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change One Comment

By Mike Eisenfeld, Energy & Climate Programs Director Last week, I attended the full, four-hour Farmington, NM City Council meeting. The Farmington Electric Utility System (FEUS) and their consultant, NewGen, presented to the Council. The City hired NewGen for 200,000…

Nov 10 2015

Four Corners Methane Forum

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Oil & Gas No Comments

What’s going on with the infamous Four Corners methane hotspot? Over a hundred people joined us on October 28th to hear Jonathan Thompson, Journalist and Senior Editor for High Country News, deliver the Four Corner’s Methane Forum’s featured presentation. The…

Apr 14 2015

Methane and the Four Corners Hotspot

By Mike Eisenfeld Oil & Gas No Comments

By now I’m sure you’ve heard the news. The Four Corners region is the “methane hot spot” of the country. To help the public better understand the science behind this unfortunate designation, The Four Corners Public Science Forum on Methane…

Mar 07 2015

Time to move beyond Coal

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Coal, Renewable Energy No Comments

Over the past few weeks, one thing has become clear here in New Mexico: coal is a bad investment. Today, Public Service of New Mexico is charging ahead with a plan to continue burning coal at the nearby San Juan…

Oct 12 2014

Methane Hot Spot Over Four Corners

By Mike Eisenfeld Climate Change, Coal, Oil & Gas No Comments

There has been a lot of press in the last week about a newly discovered methane hot-spot over the Four Corners. No surprise here at the Alliance. We’ve been fighting coal mines and working to highlight the problems with methane…

The End of an Era: What’s Next for the Energy Transition in Northern New Mexico

Reaction to Demolition of Smokestacks at San Juan Generating Station

Renewable Energy transition is Sparking a Renaissance in Four Corners Region

Enchant Energy Update

PRESS RELEASE: Community, conservation groups unified in opposition to fossil gas hydrogen bills

NM Supreme Court Rules ETA Constitutional

Clean Air, Mining Reform, & More: Updates at the New Mexico Legislative Session

We’re Asking the Courts to Weigh in on Application of the Energy Transition Act

In Wake of Court Ruling, Coalition Calls for Moratorium on Fracking in Greater Chaco Region

Greater Chaco Coalition responds to Congressional Visit on Oil and Gas Impacts

Groups Applaud Strengthened Bill to Protect Greater Chaco Landscape

New Mexico Passes Historic Clean Energy Bill!

Senator’s filibuster over Energy Transition Act a stunt

Opinion: Back the Energy Transition Act

Federal, State, Tribal Leaders and Allies Call for Protection From Fracking

The truth about double drilling

Progress is being made on the Four Corners area

PNM must do right by Four Corner communities, citizens and workers

The Plight of Solar in Farmington

Four Corners Methane Forum

Methane and the Four Corners Hotspot

Time to move beyond Coal

Methane Hot Spot Over Four Corners

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