CEMRC • SWTDI • WERC Issue 4 -5 • December 2007/March 2008 CONTENTS From the IEE director

From the IEE director Welcome to the 2008 spring double issue of INSIGHT, published by the Institute for Energy and the Environment College of Engineering update 3 (IEE) through State University’s College of Engineering (COE). As noted by the article on the following page, COE Dean, Steven P. Castillo, was recently appointed to the prestigious Board of the National Science Foundation Insight Newswire 5 and National Academy of Engineering. I extend congratulations to him from everyone at IEE. 18th Annual Environmental Design Contest 6 IEE remains focused on energy solutions including security, economic productivity, and environmental impact issues. A critical part of this spectrum is the growing significance and evolving dimensions of one of our most precious WERC Founding Father to Retire 7 resources, water. The Institute recently received funding from the Office of Naval Research for our project “NMSU Water Security Program (Desalination)” in Alamogordo, NM. NMSU Announces Senator Pete V. Domenici Legacy Project 8 The recent water award marks another highlight of our group’s expertise, leadership, and maturing history of successful partnerships. This issue of INSIGHT features one of those relationships, the joint forces of New Mexico NMSU ready to bring renewable energy to Albuquerque airport 9 Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources and NMSU, the College of Engineering in particular. The three-decade collaboration continues to develop renewable energy projects, detailed in the coming pages. Western States Renewable Energy Workshop 10 In order to continue with the best plan for the future, we must be familiar with our history. On that note, we recognize and extend our gratitude to WERC’s founding father, Senator Pete V. Domenici. We review a snapshot of his A Successful Partnership: NMSU and NM Energy Minerals and Natural Resources 11 phenomenal career and critical contributions to all entities that have recently joined forces to become IEE, WERC, the Southwest Technology Development Institute and the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Resources Center. The 2008 Environmental Art and Essay Contest Winners 13 Senator’s vision and unwavering faith have been paramount in our success and we are excited about NMSU establishing a legacy project in his name as he announced his retirement. IEE Spotlight 15 I hope you enjoy this issue of INSIGHT as you review specific accomplishments of all IEE partners, including first-of-its-kind renewable energy projects, the publication of “Geopolitics of Energy: Achieving and Just and Corey White/Corey Asbill/Luis Estrada Sustainable Energy Distribution by 2040,” and effective outreach programs, ensuring future leaders have the tools they Jim Loya/Phil King need to become good stewards of our planet. In that vein, we welcome you to attend our international flagship event, Karen Mikel/Juan Griego the 18th Annual Environmental Design Contest this April. Finally, “IEE Spotlight” features some of the IEE family sharing success in and outside of the workplace. Media Interns - Melissa Hubbell/Stacey Mathews 20 I hope you enjoy our spring issue. As always, your comments or questions are welcome.

IEE Briefs 21 Warmest Regards, Calendar of Events/Feature Photo Back Cover

INSIGHT The Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) Abbas Ghassemi Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (CEMRC) Therese Shakra Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) Tom Freelove WERC: A Consortium for Environmental Education & Technology Development (WERC)

Media Interns Vision: Stacey Mathews To provide global leadership, expertise, and technology for public policy, technical, and human Melissa Hubbell resource development to meet growing energy and water needs.

A Special Thanks to For more information • Dr. Abbas Ghassemi • IEE Director • 575.646.2038 • INSIGHT Reviewers: 800.523.5996 • iee.nmsu.edu • www.werc.net • www.cemrc.org • www.nmsu.edu/~tdi Brenda Dunn, New Mexico State University * Box 30001, MSC WERC * Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 * E-mail: [email protected] Robert Foster, Nicole Heckathorn, and Roseanne Thompson Cover Photo: The 2007 Universidad de las Américas team from Puebla, Mexico, demonstrate their biodiesel benchscale model. Tom Freelove/IEE Courtesy of COE NMSU Engineering receives $1.5 million to establish water laboratory

The New Mexico State University College of Engineering received a gift of $1.5 million to establish the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Water Quality Laboratory. Engineering dean appointed to The gift was made by the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation. “We are very pleased to be a partner with NMSU to national advisory committees ensure that the academic and research needs of the state and region are met in an effective manner,” said John Galassini, senior vice president, Freeport-McMoRan Americas. “The establishment of this new water quality lab represents new, Castillo will serve on the Committee on Engineering cutting-edge research capability that does not currently exist NMSU Dean of Engineering Steven Castillo, Freeport-McMoRan Senior Vice President John Education, a committee of the National Academy of Engineering within the state or the region. The lab will also be an important Office of the President. The committee “is composed of leaders and Galassini, state Sen. Ben Altamirano and NMSU President Michael Martin celebrate a $1.5 addition to the campus-wide natural resources research cluster million gift to establish the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Water Quality Laboratory at experts from the business, academic and public sectors that have a initiative, which supports the development and implementation NMSU. (NMSU photo by Darren Phillips) demonstrated commitment to the advancement of education issues of strategies that build sustainable water, energy and land in engineering.” resources.” remaining $500,000 will be placed in an endowment with the Current committee projects focus on: The gift will be used for the development of a full- NMSU Foundation with annual earnings used to support and service analytical laboratory at NMSU. The facility will be maintain the laboratory. • Creating an education system that will secure equipped to identify the chemical and colloidal characteristics “This facility will encourage and strengthen world- technological leadership well into the future. of a water/particle system. The college currently houses three class research that will benefit not only the region, the • Responding to and anticipating shifts in small and aging analytical laboratories that are no longer state and Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, but most modern engineering practice. sufficient to support research activities. importantly, play a major role in training high quality • Developing education practices that enhance An estimated $1 million of the request will be used to engineering students,” said College of Engineering Dean the teaching and learning experience, and acquire analytical equipment to support the laboratory. The Steven P. Castillo. educating the public about the engineering profession.

Castillo was also appointed to serve on the NSF Directorate for Engineering Advisory Committee. The committee advises the directorate on: College of Engineering offers renewable energy technologies minor • How the directorate’s mission, programs, and goals can best serve the community. The engineering technology and surveying department • Important issues in institutional a lack of trained and skilled workforce to meet the growing in the College of Engineering at New Mexico State University is administration and policy. demand in this area,” Jenkins said. working with the Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) • How the directorate can promote quality Currently, a concentration in renewable energy is to meet a growing demand for engineers skilled with renewable graduate and undergraduate education in available for electrical engineering technology and mechanical energy technologies such as solar power, wind power and engineering. engineering technology majors. The new minor program will hydroelectricity through a newly approved minor program. • Priority investment areas in engineering be offered in the spring 2008 semester. “We thought that the “Renewable energies could have a significant impact research. engineering technology department, which is composed of on global warming and climate change. There are a lot of social, • Government Performance and Results Act. mechanical, civil and electronics and computer engineering engineering, environmental, and political issues. Most of these technology, was uniquely placed to develop the workforce to point to some type of required renewable energy development Castillo was appointed to serve on NSF’s Advisory work in this area,” Jenkins said. within the United States to solve the crisis that we’re in,” said Tom Freelove/IEE Committee for Cyber infrastructure (ACCI) in the spring of 2006. The A required course will offer a broad overview of Thomas Jenkins, professor of engineering technology. Jenkins ACCI advises the NSF’s Office of Cyber infrastructure (OCI) on the technologies, including solar, wind, biomass, hydro (tides, prepared the proposal for the new minor in the subject that was acquisition and development of state-of-the-art cyber infrastructure hydroelectric, ocean currents), geothermal, hydrogen fuel Steven P. Castillo, Dean of the College approved during the summer. resources, tools and services needed to support the nation’s science cell, etc. Coursework will include cost/benefit and economic of Engineering at New Mexico State “So far we see very few solutions for meeting future analysis of the various technologies on large and small-scale and engineering research and education. needs unless we start doing something about it, and educating Castillo received a bachelor’s degree in electrical applications. Students can also take courses from a list that University, has been appointed by the the students to meet this growing demand from industry. includes classes on solar energy, wind energy and green engineering from NMSU and master’s and doctoral degrees in Educating them about some of the environmental, political and electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana, where building design. Students also choose from a senior internship, National Science Foundation (NSF) and social concepts is also part of our mandate,” Jenkins said. design and project management, design or project course he conducted research in electromagnetic analysis of high-speed Jenkins said expansion in the use of renewable energy the National Academy of Engineering digital circuits. related to a renewable energy application. technologies (RET) will create job growth nationally and locally. Faculty are in the process of developing more classes to serve on committees related to Castillo joined the NMSU faculty in 1987 and was head It is estimated that construction of a typical 100 megawatt of the university’s Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer for the minor in RET. “If this proves as successful as we hope wind farm can produce more than 419,000 man-hours of the next logical step would obviously be a degree program in engineering education and research. Engineering from 1998 until 2004, when he became dean of employment for local economies. engineering. He won the NSF Presidential Young Investigator award this area. That’s a little far down the line. That requires a lot of “The interest, the money, the research, all of that is work and a lot of administrative support,” Jenkins said. in 1991 and was named as an NMSU Regents Professor in 2004. growing at a really phenomenal rate, and what we saw was

3 4 Insight Newswire - Domestic and International Environmental Headlines 18th Annual International Environmental Design Contest 2008

Nuclear Energy Revs Up World Leaders Fortify Commitments to Environment “Nuclear power hit an important milestone late last month as Economic, scientific, and political leaders and entertainers pledged Task 1 NRG Energy, based in Princeton, NJ, filed a licensing application hundreds of millions of dollars and moral support to environmental April 6-9 Innovative Technologies for an Existing Commercial to build a new nuclear reactor. It is the first such filing in the causes ranging from clean water and climate change to a modern Building United States since 1978. There is good reason to anticipate green farming revolution as the World Economic Forum wound up Research, prioritize, develop and then demonstrate more: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), in Washington, its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. innovative technologies that can be applied to existing DC, expects to receive four more applications this year to build commercial buildings to improve efficiency. and operate nuclear reactors, and another fifteen in 2008.” More than 2,500 participants from 88 countries attended this www.technologyreview.com year’s annual forum, including 27 heads of state or government. Task 2 - October 9, 2007 By Peter Fairley Around 60 percent of the participants are business leaders drawn Photovoltaic System Performance Indicator from the Forum’s members - 1,000 large companies from around Develop and demonstrate a system to determine that a residential utility-interactive PV system is operating Bingaman, Domenici Introduce Bipartisan SECURE Water Act the world and across all economic sectors. www.ens-news.com properly and that the ac power output is following the “Sen. Jeff Bingaman, joined by Senators. Pete Domenici, Maria - January 29, 2008 Environmental News Service solar power available to the PV array. Cantwell and Tim Johnson, has introduced legislation to address some of the serious water-related challenges facing this country. A Sense of Urgency- Heroes of the Environment Task 3 Inland Desalination Operation and Disposal in Rural, S. 2156, The SECURE Water Act aims to improve water management Isolated Communities and increase the acquisition and analysis of water-related data to For 2007, TIME’s annual celebration of heroes spotlights the most Develop and demonstrate a low-cost, energy efficient, assess the long-term availability of water resources, particularly innovative and influential protectors of the planet. The list includes simple and reliable system for use in brackish water in parts of the country where water is scarce.” 43 individuals or groups who have substantially contributed to http://energy.senate.gov the preservation of the environment, and is divided into four reclamation. The system must be able to produce fresh categories: Leaders & Visionaries, Activists, Scientists & Innovators, water for various sized communities throughout the - October 10, 2007 U. S. Committee on Energy & Natural Resources 2008 Environmental Design Contest postcard. Stacey Mathews/IEE and Moguls & Entrepreneurs. Some of the named heroes include southwest. recent Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore, the Toyota Prius design U.S. Mayors Seek Federal Help to Protect Climate team, former Soviet Union leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, actor Robert Task 4 Redford and Prince Charles. Sampling Strategy for Spinach “Mayors of the nation’s largest cities are leading a climate www.time.com Develop a simple and practical sampling strategy to protection movement that seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions - May 14, 2007 TIME Magazine 2008 Sponsors detect Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in 80 percent by 2050 but say they cannot do it alone. At the Seattle spinach destined for bagged salad. The strategy must Climate Protection Summit Friday, more than 100 mayors stressed EPA Announces 2008 Renewable Fuels Standard be cost effective and easily implemented by the grower the importance of forming a federal partnership to boost energy American Water Works Association Research or processor into an existing system. independence and avert the worst impacts of global warming.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 27 set a new www.ens-newswire.com renewable fuels standard (RFS) of 4.66 percent to meet the 2005 Task 5 - November 5, 2007 Environmental News Service Foundation Energy Policy Act’s mandate that at least 5.4 billion gallons of Separation of Water from Emulsified Oil renewable fuels be blended into transportation gasoline in 2008. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Separating oil from oil-water emulsions can currently Governor Richardson Signs Executive Order be accomplished using chemical or physical means to Establishing Water Cabinet Based on the standard, each party determines the minimum Intel break the emulsion and dehydrate the oil fraction; volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its motor however, there has been little efficiency in separating “Governor has signed an executive order, creating vehicle fuel. The standard for 2007 is 4.02 percent, equating to National Science Foundation emulsions with low concentrations of oil. Emulsion a Water Cabinet to unify the direction of all executive agencies breaking and dehydrating the resultant oil fraction roughly 4.7 billion gallons. The overall volume target increases Oak Ridge Associated Universities with responsibilities for New Mexico’s most precious basic every year, reaching 7.5 billion gallons in 2012. The Energy Policy generally have high operating cost making disposal a resource. The Water Cabinet will align the State Water Plan with Act requires EPA to annually determine the standard -- which United States Department of Energy short-term cost effective decision, but the life cycle water and wastewater infrastructure development, environmental applies to refiners, importers and non-oxygenate blenders of cost remains high. In order to reduce, reuse and regulations, and existing planning documents, such as the State gasoline -- by Nov. 30 for the following year. United States Environmental Protection Agency recycle in accordance with Resource Conservation and Forest and Watershed Health Plan and the Comprehensive Wildlife Recovery Act, there is a need to develop a technology Conservation Strategy for New Mexico.” The RFS program, which formally began last September, creates United States Food and Drug Administration that can effectively separate water and oil from www.governor.state.nm.us new markets for farm products, increases energy security, and emulsions to allow for the reuse of these valuable

- November 2, 2007 Office of Governor Bill Richardson promotes the development of advanced technologies that would 2008 for Design Contest Tasks resources. greatly expand renewable and alternative fuels. It also serves as one of the many pieces to help inform the greenhouse gas regulation that EPA and federal partners are developing under an executive order issues by President Bush in May. www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels - December 3, 2007 Environmental Protection Agency

5 6 NMSU Announces Senator Pete V. Domenici Legacy Project Courtesy of Steve Ramirez, Las Cruces Sun News

New Mexico State University has established the Pete V. Domenici Legacy – a multifaceted effort to honor the senator’s impact on public policy and his contributions to the State of New Mexico and the country during his historic tenure in the U.S. Senate. “Senator Domenici’s importance to New Mexico and New Mexico State University cannot be overstated. This project will let us celebrate WERC Founding Father to Retire the senator’s remarkable career,” said NMSU President Michael Martin. The university has named the Domenici Legacy Committee to help steer the project’s various components. This committee will be led by Garrey Carruthers, former New Mexico governor and current NMSU business dean, Gov. Bill Richardson, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman and former Thirty-six years in the U.S. Senate is apparently long enough U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan. A number of business and community leaders for Sen. Pete Domenici. from across New Mexico will also serve on the Legacy Committee. Domenici, 75, announced in early October that he will not Committee members from the Albuquerque area include Mike seek re-election in 2008 and will retire from the Senate. Domenici has Anaya, Moriarty; Carla Aragon, Los Ranchos; Gov. Robert Benavides, Isleta served 36 years and six terms in the U.S. Senate, longer than any New Pueblo; Don Chalmers, Rio Rancho; Floyd Correa, Albuquerque; Phil Eaton, Albuquerque; Viola Florez, Albuquerque; William B. Keleher, Albuquerque; Mexican. Rose Martinez, Albuquerque; Sherman McCorkle, Albuquerque; Agnes “This is an earthquake,” said Larry Furrow, White Sands Missile Noonan, Albuquerque; and Van Romero, Socorro. Range spokesman. “This is more significant to the people of New Committee members from the Santa Fe area include Reed Mexico and the nation than they will ever know.” Dasenbrock, Santa Fe; Bob Gallagher, Santa Fe; Matt Martinez, Las Vegas; Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said Domenici will continue to be Denise Ramonas, Santa Fe; and Larry Stolarczyk, Raton. a strong and influential leader in the time he has left in the Senate. Committee members from northwestern New Mexico include “As our longest-serving senator in the history of New Mexico, Greg Anesi, Farmington; Karen Bayless, Farmington; Ben Heikkinen, Pete Domenici has earned a position of great respect in our state and Farmington; and Chili Yazzie, Shiprock. Washington,” Bingaman said. “He continues to represent New Mexico Committee members from eastern New Mexico include Blake with great effectiveness and vigor. I look forward to working with him Curtis, Clovis; Bob Forrest, Carlsbad; Jim Maddox, Hobbs; Mark Murphy, Roswell; and Peyton Yates, Artesia. on efforts to help our state and nation during the remainder of this Other committee members include Steve Bell, Washington, D.C.; Congress. Stan Fulton, Las Vegas, Nev.; Charles Gentry, Kerrville, Texas; and Danny “I consider him a good friend and greatly admire his public Villanueva, Pasadena, Calif. service to the people of New Mexico.” Pete V. Domenici Legacy activities will include housing Domenici Domenici, a Republican, was first elected to the Senate in 1972 when archives at the NMSU Library; the Domenici Legacy on Public Policy New Mexico was still a reliably Democratic state. Conference to be held at New Mexico State University Aug. 21 and 22, “For more than three decades, Senator Domenici has been a 2008; the planning and construction of a building and adjoining garden respected and powerful champion for New Mexico’s interests in the on the NMSU campus to honor the senator and his wife, Nancy; and U.S. Senate,” Gov. Bill Richardson said. “As Senator Domenici nears the formation of the for Public Policy at NMSU. The the end of a remarkable career, his departure will close a important university also plans to commission a book chronicling Domenici’s time in the Senate. chapter in our state’s history and leave a legacy of dedicated public “We are delighted to take part in this kind of effort,” said service.” Carruthers. “I believe this is a project in which both the Senator and the Domenici’s long Senate career has been highlighted by university can be very proud.” involvement in budget issues. He was the longtime chairman of the The library will hire a political papers archivist and additional Budget Committee dating back to President Reagan’s first term. He is staff to process and later display the Domenici archive collections, Photo Courtesy of Senator Domenici currently the top Republican on the Energy Committee. which include memorabilia, print and digital material. The documents, He was a principle architect of a 1997 balanced budget bill when processed, will be made available for scholars wishing to research negotiated with former President Clinton, and has been a major player Domenici’s career. Senator Pete Domenici has made on national energy legislation, pushing for nuclear power and opening The library plans to eventually house portions of the archives the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. and memorabilia in a new four-story Domenici building, currently in the abundant opportunities possible planning and design phase, that would be located between the Business “Senator Pete Domenici is a man of deep conviction and the Complex and University Avenue. It would have a garden named for Nancy through the creation and support of, highest integrity whose dedication to this country and the people Domenici linking the common area between the new building and the of New Mexico is legendary,” said Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. “He has existing Business Complex and College of Health and Social Services and unwavering faith in WERC and spent nearly four decades in the Senate as a devoted public servant building. all IEE entities. The stories that will be and statesman and his contributions in that body will not soon be The Domenici Legacy Conference in August at NMSU will focus forgotten. on areas important to the senator during his time in Congress, including shared in upcoming INSIGHT issues The son of Italian immigrants, Domenici graduated in 1954 economic development, energy, mental health and budgetary and fiscal from the University of New Mexico, where he starred as a pitcher on matters. Dignitaries and friends of Sen. Domenici will be invited to speak would not have been possible without the Lobos baseball team. during the conference. The conference is meant to be a recurring event at He received his law degree from Denver University in 1958, the beginning of each fall semester at NMSU. the foresight and extraordinary The public is welcome and encouraged to participate in and opened a law office in Albuquerque. Domenici Legacy activities. The university plans to release additional vision of WERC’s founding father. “He’s an iconic figure here in New Mexico,” said Paul Kennedy, details throughout the year. a former state supreme court justice and a longtime Republican. “He’s We all thank you Senator and wish probably the most popular politician in its history. He had a great run, you and your family the best. and he’ll be sorely missed from the delegation. Courtesy of UCOMM Top to bottom, Sen. Pete Domenici and Abbas Ghassemi. COE dean Steve Castillo and Sen. Domenici. Sen. Domenici. Top photo Courtesy DOE, other photos, Therese Shakra/IEE 7 8 NMSU ready to bring renewable WESTERN STATES energy to Albuquerque airport Renewable Energy Workshop

The Institute for Energy and the Environment technology. These collectors use a combination of solar The 2007 Joint Western Public Utility Commissions (IEE) in the College of Engineering at New Mexico State thermal receivers, reflectors and heliostats. A heliostat Renewable Energy Workshop was held in Santa Fe, New University has received $330,000 to implement a Solar is a device that tracks the movement of the sun and Mexico at the State Capitol Building in September. Combined Heat and Power (SCHP) project at the City of orients a mirror to reflect sunlight onto the target- The day-long workshop was the third in a series Albuquerque’s Sunport. The Sunport is New Mexico’s receiver. The receiver heats circulating fluid and reaches aimed at alleviating harmful impacts of global climate largest airport facility, averaging almost 7 million temperatures capable of boiling water. The receiver also change. Public utilities commissions from California, passengers annually. includes photovoltaic (PV) cells capable of producing Oregon, Washington and New Mexico hosted the event The majority of the project’s funding will come electricity directly from sunlight. The combined effect which brought together government and private industry from the Energy Innovation Fund (EIF) administered by for this technology is the delivery of thermal energy energy experts, policy analysts, investors, scientists and the State of New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural that can be used for either space heating or cooling and, public citizens who have an interest in the challenges and Resources Department. The EIF was implemented by in addition, PV-generated electricity. solutions of renewable energy. Gov. Bill Richardson as part of his commitment to When completed, the Sunport SCHP system will Ten speakers addressed the audience over the New Mexico’s leadership as “The Clean Energy State.” provide energy to a 30-ton chiller for cooling within the course of the day, including Governor Richardson and the The City of Albuquerque Aviation Department is also car rental offices. At the same time, it will also deliver former Chair of the New Mexico Public Service Commission providing funding for some of the hardware cost and about 11 kW of electrical power for lighting and other and current Commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory through in-kind facility construction upgrades. uses. Overall, the SCHP system will provide roughly one- Commission, Suedeen G. Kelly. “This renewable energy project represents the third of the 575,000 square-foot facility’ annual energy Presentations included promising renewable cutting edge of solar energy technologies to provide load. technologies and potential storage alternatives, technical, power to the Albuquerque Sunport. It puts New Mexico “This project is part of Mayor Martin J. Chavez’s utility and financial perspectives of renewable development front and center for innovative, international solar citywide effort and dovetails perfectly with the Aviation and what is needed to develop and maximize wind and solar energy development and application,” said Dr. Abbas Department’s effort to be the leader for sustainability energy projects. Ghassemi, executive director of IEE. in the airport industry. We recognize that New Mexico The workshop was part of the Western Public Utility The technology behind this solar power system is an incubator for leading edge technology and feel it Commissions’ Joint Action Framework on Climate Change will come from HelioDynamics, Ltd., a company based in gives us an advantage in exploring sustainable ways to – an initiative to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas England with offices in California. The HelioDynamics do business,” said Jim Hinde, planning manager for the emissions through developing regional policies. HD16.c solar collectors that will be used at the Sunport Aviation Department. IEE Executive Director, Dr. Abbas Ghassemi, IEE represent the second generation of the company’s SCHP A key benefit of SCHP technology is that it Media Specialist Therese Shakra, and Program Manager Chris consumes no water in the production of power. Other Parabolic reflector image courtesy of DOE/NREL Campbell represented IEE at the workshop and promoted benefits include low-cost and zero-carbon emissions. IEE’s energy and environmental programs including courses “The support of the State of New Mexico and the and research on renewables, environmental education, and City of Albuquerque for this project will further the pollution prevention outreach. development of both new jobs and a solar energy industry for New Mexico,” said Anders Jepsen, a founder and Director of HelioDynamics, Ltd. NREL helps deliver clean, The joint energy project is just entering the Concentrating Solar Power Resource Map design phase, with construction slated for fall of 2008 solar electricity to thousands and projected operation to begin by October. The Institute for Energy and the Environment will monitor in the desert Southwest the long-term performance of the system.

The Western Governors’ Association develops and advocates policy for secure, reliable, diverse, affordable and environmentally sound energy for the western United States. It is currently collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) on the Southwest Concentrating Solar Power 1000-MW Initiative. NREL, working through SunLab, supports DOE’s goal to install 1,000 megawatts (MW) of new concentrating solar power systems in the southwestern United States by 2010. This level of deployment, combined with research and development to reduce technology component costs, could help reduce concentrating solar power electricity costs to These direct normal solar radiation maps—filtered by solar resource and land availability—identify the most economically suitable lands available $0.07/kilowatt-hour. At this cost, concentrating solar power for the deployment of large-scale concentrating solar power plants in the can compete effectively in the Southwest’s energy markets. southwestern United States. Courtesy of Gretchen Menand and NREL The HD16.c, the next generation of cost-effective solar energy for buildings and processes Parabolic reflector image courtesy of DOE/NREL including power, heating and cooling, will be used in the Albuquerque Sunport’s renewable energy project. Photo Courtesy of HelioDynamics, Ltd. 9 10 A Successful Partnership New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and New Mexico State University

New Mexico is a leader in our nation’s New Mexico has world-class solar energy, clean energy economy. The Energy, Minerals and ranking second in the nation. EMNRD and NMSU put Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) is helping the state’s abundant sunshine to good use through to position our state to become a powerhouse in the a solar energy project partnership in 2007. A state rapidly evolving clean energy economy of the 21st clean energy project grant and NMSU’s Southwest century. EMNRD, through its Energy Conservation Technology Development Institute provided and Management Division (ECMD), works to promote funding for NMSU’s 18-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) environmental and economic sustainability to benefit parking structure for its Student Health Center. all of our state’s citizens. Accomplishment of its Converting the sun’s energy into electricity, this mission is furthered through partnership with New PV system powers the lights for the structure and Mexico State University—a collaboration that has provides over 15 percent of the electricity used by spanned three decades. the Student Health Center while reducing annual Since the 1970s, EMNRD and NMSU greenhouse gas emissions by more than 111 pounds have collaborated on various projects including of nitrogen oxides, 77 pounds of sulphur dioxide, establishing a fuel testing laboratory, as well as solar and 52,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. EMNRD- and geothermal energy projects. In partnership with NMSU’s collaborative solar efforts have also included EMNRD, NMSU’s fuel testing laboratory was built to research-oriented projects to assist the private sector ensure that quality fuel is delivered to New Mexicans. and solar industry in developing solar hardware and EMNRD and NMSU continue to collaborate on the improving safety. introduction and quality control of renewable fuels In addition to more than 350 sunny days per into the state. year, New Mexico also has plenty of dairy manure from dairies that produce more than 1.1 million tons annually. The potential of converting this into EMNRD provided funding for this 18-kilowatt photovolaic parking structure that provides some of the Student Health Center electricity, reduces harmful emissions and provides shade for vehicles. Tom Freelove/IEE affordable renewable energy is an appealing way to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, Geothermal resources in New Mexico have and avoid groundwater contamination. For a been used commercially for more than 100 years, dairy biomass project that will create a model for originally with spas and resorts. In the last 25 years, replication throughout the region, NMSU received geothermal applications were utilized for a broader federal funds from the National Association of State range of direct use developments for water and Energy Officials’ State Technologies Advancement space heating. During this time, EMNRD and NMSU Collaborative solicitation managed by ECMD to collaborated on a number of geothermal development construct a two-stage anaerobic bio-fermentation projects. NMSU constructed a geothermal research unit to reduce dairy waste. The process produces and business incubator plant to host greenhouse methane gas to power a 40-kilowatt engine/ and aquaculture facilities. As a direct result of these generator, and compost for soil amendments and efforts, New Mexico leads the nation with more use at a commercial greenhouse operation, thereby than 50 acres of geothermally-heated commercial alleviating air and water pollution problems. In greenhouses and also has one of the largest addition, this project received a state Energy geothermal aquaculture facilities. Innovation Fund award to address the increasing The State of New Mexico is working to number of confined animal operations along the New benefit all of its citizens by securing our clean energy Mexico-Texas border and to support gas production future and by finding new ways to make conventional from dairy manure in an existing unit operating energy sources cleaner and reduce the amount of in Chamberino. Please see ECMD’s Web site at climate-changing greenhouse gases they produce. CleanEnergyNM.org and click on Multimedia to view This collaboration between EMNRD and NMSU is an Top photo clockwise: Masson Geothermal Greenhouse, Radium Springs, New Mexico. Geothermal plate and frame crossflow a brief video documenting the project, “Converting example of one of the paths taken to accomplish heat exchanger in the Business Incubator Greenhouse at NMSU. Aerial view of Masson Geothermal Greenhouse, containing Dairy biomass conversion site contractor review the anaerobic digester in Dairy Manure into Useful Energy.” these important goals. agriculture and aquaculture facilities, processing energy saving products that are safe and profitable. Photos courtesy of Vado, New Mexico. Tom Freelove/IEE NMSU. 11 12 2008Environmental Art Contest Winners 2008Environmental Essay Contest Winners

First Place - Expert Division “Most citizens of the Westernized world expect water to instantaneously flow from installed pipes in their homes. We as people of a developed nation become anxious when it slowly trickles from the tap and frustrated when it has a peculiar taste or odor. Yet, few can appreciate the journey one drop of water takes to reach American households, clean and clear.” – The Fragility of America’s Drinking Water: Investigating Sources of Water Contamination

Download the 2008 Muira Art Contest Calendar@ Hilton Head Island High School iee.nmsu.edu Hilton Head Island, SC

First Place - Novice Division “Whether one agrees with the concept of global warming or not, one cannot “The black swan symbolizes the tainting of nature and the ignore the fact that humans are largely responsible for all existing problems environment, which has occurred through the various pollutants dealing with the environment. We are the ones that cut down trees from the we humans have carelessly forced upon the innocent wild life and rainforest and create unnecessary forest fires, killing or displacing billions of surroundings.” animals from their natural habitat, and we are the ones that are using most of our water, energy, and food sources…” – Overpopulation

Kaixi Las Cruces High School Las Cruces, NM

Honorable Mention “Recycling is something that we can do as individuals that can cost very little money. Taking our resusable resources may cost less than you would pay to dump those waste materials at a landfill. It will help preserve the precious natural resources which the world’s population has to share. I believe that recycling will have an effect on America’s economy, and the levels of waste in our landfills. – Recycling

Brandon Chaparral Middle School Chaparral, NM

Global warming ... Recycling ... FragileGlobal warming water ... Recycling resources 14 Luis Estrada

IEE Spotlight Luis Estrada • Research Engineer • IEE/SWTDI

Luis Estrada graduated from NMSU with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. Working at the Institute for Energy & Environment, Luis is a research engineer promoting renewable energy for a clean future and as a tool for economic development. He began his career in the oil industry working in South America, Central America, and North Africa doing field engineering relating to seismological studies. Estrada has been involved with numerous solar and wind projects on behalf of governments, multilaterals, nongovernmental organizations, and industry, and has many conference publications on renewable energy. He has worked on a variety of technical tasks including technology assessment, design and deployment of solar energy and data acquisition systems, as well as systems testing. Corey White Estrada has conducted dozens of solar and wind energy workshops in the U.S. and in Latin America. He Tom Freelove/IEE also teaches electronics courses at the Doña Ana Branch Community College. Corey White • Environmental Scientist • IEE/CEMRC Estrada has implemented renewable energy projects in Brazil, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. He is currently providing technical support to the Department Corey White has been a part of the Carlsbad Corey Asbill of Energy Solar America Initiative. He is fluent in English, White said that he hopes to run 2 hours and 30 Environmental Monitoring and Research Center for a Spanish, and Portuguese. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, minutes and to finish within the first 100 runners during the little more than a year, but has already proven himself swimming, and sailing. extraordinary. 26-mile Boston Marathon in April. Corey Asbill • Research Engineer • IEE/SWTDI White competed in the Rio Grande Marathon in Las Cruces in October alongside several hundred competitors. He finished the 26-mile-race with a time of 2:43.07, 21 Corey Asbill is a native New Mexican who graduated minutes ahead of the next closest competitor, and 27 from Cloudcroft High School in 1993. He was hired as a minutes ahead of the previous year’s winner. student employee at the Southwest Technology Development In addition to winning the marathon, White Institute in 2000. In 2002, Asbill graduated from New qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon this spring. To Mexico State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical qualify, White needed to cross the finish line in 3 hours and Engineering where he focused his studies in the field of 10 minutes. electro-optics. He is a research engineer at the IEE Solar “It’s the marathon everyone wants to get into,” he Research Facility on the NMSU campus. said. Asbill has installed and instrumented a number of A runner since high school, it has been a life-long photovoltaic (PV) systems both on and off the NMSU campus. goal of White’s to one day run the Boston Marathon, the Asbill and fellow engineer Gaby Cisneros served together as world’s oldest annual marathon boasting more than 20,000 co-principal investigators for the recently installed 18 kilo- participants in 2007. watt photovoltaic shaded parking structure. The structure, in “I’m just going to keep on running,” White said. “I front of the Student Health Center on the NMSU campus, is am going to try to get up to 90 to 100 miles a week.” White the second largest photovoltaic system in New Mexico. said he was running up to 85 miles a week before the Rio Asbill was certified by the North American Board Grande Marathon. of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) as a photovoltaic White grew up in Minnesota and graduated from system installer in 2005. He is currently one of only 16 Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN in 2004 with a B.S. NABCEP certified PV system installers in New Mexico and the in chemistry. He received an M.S. in analytical chemistry only certified installer located south of Albuquerque. from New Mexico State University in 2006. He has worked His future plans are to continue his work in the at CEMRC since January 2007 as an environmental scientist. rapidly expanding field of renewable energy technology and “I have always been interested in the sciences. I to continue his support for IEE and NMSU in his capacity as a had a good chemistry teacher in high school,” White said. Corey White at the Rio Grande Marathon in Las Cruces, NM, where he finished 21 minutes ahead of his closest competitor. Photo Courtesy of Corey White. “renewable” engineer. Tom Freelove/IEE

15 16 IEE Spotlight

Jim Loya Dr. J. Phil King Dr. J. Phil King • Associate Professor/Department Head • NMSU College of Engineering Jim Loya • Project Manager • IEE/WERC

Dr. James Phil King, associate department head and associate professor of the Civil Engineering Department serves as a director for the Leasburg Mutual Domestic Water Jim Loya is a disabled veteran and self-proclaimed Consumers Association, as a supervisor for the La Union Soil at NMSU, has been a part of the university since 1991. He product of WERC. After release from the U.S. Army as a and Water Conservation District, and he is Governor Bill was appointed Associate Director of the Institute for Energy Captain with disabilities limiting his employment prospects, Richardson’s designee on the New Mexico Soil and Water & the Environment in early 2008. He will bring a broad the WERC program gave him the opportunity to remold Conservation Commission. emphasis in water resources to the Institute. himself. King and his wife Rita, whom he met while in He earned his Master’s degree in Environmental “Dr. King has been involved in various water- related issues for many years and will bring significant Malawi, have been married for 24 years. They have two Engineering, a degree program created through WERC. As daughters, Kisa and Towela. a graduate student he began employment for WERC in expertise to the Institute, augmenting our current capability 1993. Upon graduation he became a project manager and in this area,” said Dr. Abbas Ghassemi, IEE executive director. has been evolving in that position ever since. King received a bachelor’s degree in civil Loya has a deep conviction that all of his engineering in 1982 from the University of California at accomplishments have been possible through the Grace of Berkeley, an M.S. and Ph.D. in agricultural engineering God. He is most proud of his four sons, his efforts in the from Colorado State University, and an M.B.A. in 2003 from Army and the many goals he has achieved with WERC. NMSU. “I have been blessed by Senator Pete V. Domenici, After completing his undergraduate degree, King who had the foresight to believe in and support the WERC joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer engineer in Malawi, program, and Dr. Abbas Ghassemi who had faith in my Africa. During this time, he designed irrigation systems abilities to successfully accomplish almost anything that is for two research stations, taught two training courses worthwhile,” Loya said. for extension agents and other Corps volunteers and was He has been the program manager for diverse chosen as Peace Corps Volunteer of the Year in 1984. projects including the Tri-City, Tri-State, Bi-National Water King was recently honored with the Donald C. Festival, which included more that 30,000 students and Rousch award for excellence in teaching. His research has 3,000 adults. Loya has also completed two PEER Reviews included irrigation, hydrology, and water quality studies for the Mixed Waste Land Fill at Sandia National Lab, of the Rio Grande and related groundwater systems. He Contaminates of Concern such as MTBE, Perchlorate, has worked with Elephant Butte Irrigation District since Uranium and others for water in NM, technology testing 1991 in the development of flow monitoring systems for MTBE removal, applied research for Abandoned Mine and organizational infrastructure to allow the District to Land closures, and desalination research and development. manage its water supply more effectively, and he provides Loya and his wife, Mindy, love to travel, technical support for dispute resolution on area-water- participate in their church’s programs and activities, issues, including the recent landmark settlement between garden, and raise tropical and saltwater fish. Recently they Tom Freelove/IEE New Mexico and Texas on the Rio Grande. have been blessed with a granddaughter, Jaden, who has Dr. King has worked with irrigators, municipalities, prompted a shift in leisure priorities and frequent visits to Native American tribes, and the World Wildlife Fund to Mesa, Arizona. develop new approaches to water management, including intersectoral transfers and reuse among agricultural, municipal and industrial, and environmental interests. He Tom Freelove/IEE

17 18 IEE Media Students

IEE Spotlight Melissa Hubbell

Melissa Hubbell Media Student IEE/WERC

New Mexico State University senior, Melissa Karen Mikel Hubbell, has been an IEE/WERC employee since January 2006. She works with the WERC media department and assists in creating newsletters and writing articles. Karen Mikel • Project Manager • IEE/WERC Melissa, a journalism major, became interested in writing while working as an editor at her high school newspaper. Since then, she has written pieces for NMSU Karen Mikel, project manager, has been a member student publications, and The Merge. of the WERC family for over seven years. She has been a During the summer of 2007, she was an intern at the part of a variety of programs including water festivals, Valencia County News-Bulletin in Belen, New Mexico. research projects, the Environmental Design Contest, During her spare time, Melissa is a volunteer industrial affiliate relations, and conference development at the Doña Ana County Humane Society and loves and implementation. Her latest responsibilities involve spending time with animals, especially the five that she the Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP) and the has at home. She also enjoys reading vampire romance Southwestern New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair. novels, Sylvia Plath poetry and watching movies adapted Mikel was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia from Jane Austin novels. but is a self-proclaimed Aggie. She and her husband, Harry, After graduating, Melissa hopes to get a Tom Freelove/IEE have been married for 14 years and own a pistachio farm. Master’s in Journalism, live in Ireland in a house with In her spare time, Mikel likes to ride in all-terrain vehicles glass doorknobs and dance the lead in the Nutcracker, Tom Freelove/IEE with Harry. not necessarily in that order.

Juan Griego day travel to Southern Spain, London, Scotland and New Zealand. “The future is wide open,” Griego said. “There are Juan R. Griego • Environmental Specialist • Former WERC Student so many possibilities and directions to choose from within environmental management.” Stacey Mathews

Juan R. Griego is giving back to WERC. He was born in San Diego, California but raised in Albuquerque, Stacey Mathews • Media Student • IEE/WERC New Mexico. He attended the University of New Mexico and received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, where he first became aware of the WERC program. Graphic Design senior, Stacey Mathews, has In 1998, Griego participated in a WERC conference attended New Mexico State University since August of in Albuquerque and presented a paper on removing 2005 after receiving her associate’s degree at El Paso radioactive strontium from wastewater using a synthetic Community College in May of 2005. Stacey will be zeolite map. graduating this spring with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts. She Griego went on to receive an M.S. in chemical hopes to work in advertising doing graphic design for a engineering and a graduate minor in environmental global corporation like Coca-cola or Target. management through the WERC program. Born into a military family, Stacey has lived Griego now works as a building manager and all over the United States as well as Germany. Coming environmental specialist in Brownsville, Texas, for the U.S. from a family that is commonly packing up and moving, General Services Administration Border Service Center. Stacey enjoys traveling and seeing the world. Her latest In April of 2005, Griego began contributing to the destination was Hawaii’s island of Oahu. WERC foundation at his Alma Mater. He said that giving Stacey has worked as a media intern at IEE since back to WERC is a way of saying thank you for everything September of 2006. In her free time she volunteers at that the WERC program gave him. the Doña Ana County Humane Society walking dogs and When he’s not busy at work, Griego likes to participating in cat socialization. golf, travel, and attend sporting events. He hopes to one Tom Freelove/IEE 19 Photo Courtesy of Juan Griego 20 IEE Briefs December 6, 2007–Albuquerque, NM IEE/WERC Program Manager Chris Campbell presented a summary of the course “Air Quality 101” to members of the NM Environmental Health Coordinating Council including NM Environment Secretary Curry IEE/WERC September, 2007 – NMSU and Health Secretary Vigil. The course, originally presented at the NM Environmental Health Conference in October, is used as an important The Food & Drug Administration awarded WERC funding for a project environmental outreach tool for city leaders, county commissions, state entitled “Improving the Safety of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables. A WERC legislators, and environmental professionals. Design Contest Approach.” The $106,002 will be used to support the 2008 Environmental Design Contest and related task research and IEE/WERC December 7, 2007–Las Cruces, NM development. IEE/WERC Training Coordinator Bryan Swain presented outreach programs

to southwest New Mexico Regional middle- and high-school MESA (Math, IEE/CEMRC September 20-21, 2007 – Carlsbad, NM Engineering, Science Advisor) advisors. Twenty-five teachers/MESA CEMRC hosted the New Mexico State Legislative Committee meeting advisors participated. Swain provided information on upcoming spring 2008 activities with the Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP), the on Radioactive and Hazardous waste, chaired by Representative John IEE/WERC Program Manager Chris Campbell. Tom Freelove/IEE Heaton. Subjects discussed included the status of the Waste Isolation International Science and Engineering Fair, and the WERC sponsored New Mexico Project WET program. Pilot Project (WIPP), the deep geologic nuclear waste repository in

Carlsbad, NM that has been operating safely since 1999. IEE/WERC December 15, 2007–Las Cruces, NM

IEE/WERC October 19, 2007– Los Alamos, NM Two NMSU fellowship students completed requirements for the WERC minor: Arturo Leyva, minor in Environmental Science and Cessna M. Baca, Program Facilitator Barbara Valdez represented IEE/WERC in presenting minor in Chemical Engineering. Jon Hawthorne completed requirements the 2007 “Make a Splash with Project WET” Water Education Festival for a certificate in Environmental Science. at the University of New Mexico campus in Los Alamos. WERC joined educators, teachers, and students from Los Alamos Public Schools and IEE/WERC December 20, 2007 – Las Cruces, NM the San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Day Schools to explore various water To date, 26 universities have registered for the 2008 International concepts with the theme “Why Water Matters.” Almost 250 fourth Environmental Design Contest including 40 teams. Five international grade students, 14 teachers and 25 agency educators and community teams will be attending the contest: Bogazici University (Istanbul), volunteers enjoyed the event, which represented New Mexico as part of Budapest University of Tech. & Economics (Hungary), University of the largest nationwide day of water education in the world. Manitoba, University of Waterloo, and Universidad de las Américas.

IEE/CEMRC November 2007—Carlsbad, NM IEE/SWTDI November 2007—NMSU

James Conca and Judith Wright published a general audience science A research paper entitled, Operational Results of Russian-Built primer for the public and decision-makers on energy issues. GeoPolitics Photovoltaic Alternative Energy Powered Lighthouses in Extreme Climates, of Energy: Achieving a Just and Sustainable Energy Distribution by has been accepted for oral presentation at the American Solar Energy 2040, contains the following premise: We need a worldwide energy Society’s Solar 2008 Conference. Authors include Luis Estrada and distribution that is about a third fossil fuel, a third renewable and a Andrew Rosenthal. The paper describes the performance of Russian-built, third nuclear by 2040 of the 30 trillion kW hrs/year required at that PV-powered lighthouses now being deployed above the Arctic Circle. point. These lighthouses replace radioactive thermoelectric generators with solar Photovoltaic alternative energy powered lighthouse now being energy as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s program to remove deployed above the Arctic Circle. Photo courtesy of Andy these hazardous materials from former Soviet Union countries. Rosenthal/IEE/SWTDI

21 22 CALENDAR OF EVENTS DATE EVENT LOCATION INFORMATION

April 4-5 NM State Science/ Engineering Fair NMSU-Las Cruces Karen Mikel April 6-9 Environmental Design Contest NMSU-Las Cruces Rose Thompson April 22 New World Biomass Conference Albuquerque, NM Abbas Ghassemi May 11-16 Intel Int’l Science & Eng. Fair Atlanta, GA Karen Mikel June 9-13 Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP) NMSU-Las Cruces Karen Mikel April 9 WERC Executive Board Mtg. NMSU-Las Cruces Brenda Dunn 800.523.5996 • 575.646.2038 • E-mail: [email protected]

10th Annual Make a Splash With Project WET IEE Co-Sponsor of Largest Nationwide Day of Water Education in the World

Dana Vackar Strang from the State Land office presents the Rolling Rivers Water Education model to Los Alamos elementary students during the October 2007 Make a Splash With Project WET water festival. The day of learning was hosted by the Los Alamos County Utilities on the University of New Mexico’s Los Alamos campus.

IEE’s Bryan Swain coordinated the annual water festival, funded in part by the Department of Public Utilities, Los Alamos County; New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Services, Los Alamos County; Nestlé Waters North America; PNM Resources Foundation; and state hosts of New Mexico Project WET, New Mexico State University College of Engineering- Institute for Energy and the Environment/WERC. Photo by Julie Williams-Hill, Media Relations, Los http://iee.nmsu.edu Alamos County Utilities.