350: International Day of Climate Action

Saturday, October 24, 2009

By Lydia Garcia
350: International Day of Climate Action


Climate 350: International Day of Climate Action convened October 24, 2009 at Civic Plaza. Toby Martinez, Chairman of the Solar Committee opened the day’s events.

Two panels were comprised of:
First Panel:
Luis Reyes – CEO Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Luis initiates the dialog)
Carol Miller – Chairwoman of the Solar Finance Committee
Erik Schlenker-Goodrich – Western Environmental Law Center
Bill Brown – The Climate Project
Kate O’Neil – Director UNM-Taos
Commissioner Jason Marks – New Mexico Public Regulation Commission

Second Panel:
Erin Sanborn – Collaborative Green
Scott Evans – UNM Sustainability Program
Ken Hughes– State Energy and Minerals Department
Cathy Hope – Chairwoman of Education/ Policy Solar Committee

The overarching topic was the conversation of direction for New Mexico Cooperatives relative to climate change and Cap-and-Trade Legislations. read more ...

Thursday, October 08, 2009 

Kit Carson Electric Coop to Receive Federal Funds to Conduct Energy Audits for Small Businesses in Taos, Rio Arriba, and Colfax Counties

USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner (right) today announced that Kit Carson Electric Cooperative located in Taos, New Mexico will receive $100,000 to conduct energy audits for some of the businesses it serves.

To celebrate the obligation of the grant funds, State Director Terry Brunner will travel to Taos on Friday, October 9th, to present a ceremonial check to Kit Carson CEO Luis Reyes. The ceremony will take place at 10:00 AM at “The Enchanted Florist” located at 233-C Paseo del Pueblo Sur in Taos, according to a statement released by the agency.

Immediately following the ceremony, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative staff will make a short presentation on energy efficiency and conduct a typical walk through of an energy audit.

In making the announcement Brunner said, “With winter coming, people in Northern New Mexico are starting to think more about their energy costs and how to save money. USDA Rural Development funds will help Kit Carson’s customers assess where they can save on their energy usage.” read more...

 
SUMMARY OF $100,000.00 GRANT

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working to increase the availability of renewable energy, which not only will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but also strengthen our national economy. The funding through USDA is to help expand renewable energy in America, which is a key part of the nation's long-term strategy for continued economic prosperity and energy independence."

KCEC was awarded a $100,000.00 grant through this program that can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies and energy audits. These funds are not part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

KCEC Cooperative, Inc. (KCEC) has evaluated programs and plans to help our member/owners achieve cost effective energy efficiency in their use of electric energy. Based on these evaluations, KCEC will implement the following Energy Efficiency Plan for 2009.

 The purpose of the Energy Efficiency Program and Energy Audit Program is to specify plans, actions and procedures necessary to accomplish the objectives of the policy of this corporation regarding Energy Efficiency. This should include evaluating energy efficiency as part of a consumer energy portfolio, not just kWh, to advance promising electric technologies through deployment and pilot opportunities such as Renewable Energy and to prepare for possible future compliance requirements.

KCEC will make all efforts to assure the energy efficiency is evaluated and adopted at all of its own facilities and in all activities of the cooperative.  The cooperative will, through various methods available, educate and guide its consumers toward the efficient use of energy.

KCEC will engage in training its employees, to assure they are aware of the need for and the best methods available to assure energy efficiency.     

KCEC will make efforts to coordinate its activities concerning energy efficiency with those of other such power suppliers, statewide associations, governmental bodies, building industry, or other organizations that are concerned with the efficient use of energy.

 KCEC will develop and maintain programs and activities designed to promote energy efficiency and to monitor such programs and activities so as to measure their results.

KCEC will consider the energy efficiency program of the cooperative in future contemplated rate changes.

KCEC will allocate resources to be used toward its commitment to promoting energy efficiency.

Job fair to offer career opportunities to Taoseños

 By Matthew van Buren

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Taoseños will have a chance to make their pitch to potential employers or find the notable employee they’ve been seeking at New Mexico Workforce Connection’s job fair Wednesday (Oct. 14).

The Workforce Connection, a governmental agency previously called the Department of Labor, will be hosting the fair for the 16th year.

“Our primary goal in Taos County is to help employers find qualified employees or applicants,” Taos Site Manager Dean Archuleta said.

He said the office also hosts workshops and teaches jobseekers about preparing for job interviews and setting career goals. The Workforce Connection also has aptitude tests to help recruiters find the right people. According to job listings on the organization’s Web site, people can find a wide variety of jobs through Workforce Connection — from 911 communication operators to farm laborers to ski instructors.

He said as many as 500 people have attended the event in the past looking to advance their careers. Although fewer employers are expected this year than at previous fairs, Archuleta expects the tough economic climate to drive more potential employees to the fair.

“This year we’re looking at close to 50 employers,” he said. “I think we’re expecting a higher turnout of job-seekers, definitely.”

Archuleta said high school juniors and seniors are welcome to attend; he said the fair will be a good opportunity to expose young people to the world of work. “We have an open invitation to all Taos County schools,” he said. Besides companies such as Walmart, Taos Mountain Casino, Centinel Bank and the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Archuleta said military recruiters including the National Guard and U.S. Army, and schools including UNM-Taos, Northern New Mexico College and ITT Tech will have booths at the fair.

Kit Carson Electric CEO Luís Reyes said the cooperative has always participated in the job fair; he sees it as a good opportunity for both employers and potential hires.  read more...

Kit Carson funds solar project
UNM-Taos hosts 500-kilowatt solar array.

In a community made famous by its local artists, Taos, N.M., can now lay claim as home to the state’s largest operating solar array, thanks, in large part, to Tri-State member Kit Carson Electric. When the sun is shining, the 3.5-acre, 500-kilowatt system provides all of the electric energy needs of the University of New Mexico’s Taos campus. Any excess generation will be purchased by Kit Carson under a Policy 115 member local renewable project. While the solar plant — with its 2,700 panels that track the sun’s movement across the sky each day — is an impressive sight for any visitor to northern New Mexico, it represents just the first of many steps planned by Kit Carson Electric in educating its consumers to embrace sustainable energy and ultimately help the co-op support its goal of bringing 2,015 solar systems on-line by the year 2015.“The UNM solar plant is our flagship project to show our community that this technology works and can be done,” said Luis Reyes, CEO of Kit Carson Electric. Of course, for an electric co-op to bring a multi-million dollar solar energy project to fruition requires a tenacious and competitive spirit  read more...

CLICK HERE: KCEC COMMAND CENTER 

  Kit Carson Electric - ENGINEERING

KCEC  Engineering has completed its design phase of the Angel Fire Public Improvement District Project (PID). This project will entail providing underground electrical power to approximately 1000 undeveloped lots within several subdivisions in the Angel Fire Resort. It will extend through approximately 19 miles of road and contain approximately 233,000 feet of cable at an estimated cost of over 1.4 million dollars. Albuquerque Underground Inc. will provide the trenching and laying of the conduit and Kit Carson Electric line crews will install the cable and equipment.