Table of Contents
Letter from the Director______2 The Institute______3 Education Numbers______4 International Design Contest at NMSU______5 NMSU EDC Fuels Clean Energy Economy_ ___ 7 First Commercial PV System in Las Cruces_ ___ 9 WERC Founding Father Bids Farewell______11 The Numbers______13 Board of Directors and Administration______14 Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources______15 EIF for Anaerobic Digester ______16 Albuquerque Sunport Goes Solar ______16 CEMRC Director Jim Conca______17 Solar America Cities ______19 NASA Project Award for Wind Research ____ 20 Education Programs ______21 Building Emergency Preparedness______23 Water Security ______24 The Staff______25 Environmental Essay Contest Winners______25 P2 Pollution Prevention______back cover
INSIGHT
Therese Shakra Amanda Orum Melissa Hubbell
Thanks to Reviewers: Brenda Dunn Roseanne Thompson
Left, NM Governor Richardson, Above, Chris Campbell, IEE. Photos by Tom Freelove/IEE
http://iee.nmsu.edu Letter from the Director
Photo by Tom Freelove/IEE
I am pleased to present the inaugural annual report retire last fall. Domenici has not only played a critical for the Institute for Energy and the Environment for role in our nation and New Mexico, but also with the 2007-2008. It documents the activities, research creation and growth of the WERC program. Since and programs that our unified Centers of Excellence, WERC’s inception in 1990, Domenici has played a Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI), fundamental role in helping WERC and CEMRC evolve. Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Without Domenici’s support, the milestones WERC has Center, and WERC, a consortium for technology achieved in education, research, and outreach would development and education, have been able accomplish never have been possible. We all would like to wish as one entity. our longtime friend and supporter a happy retirement As the saying goes, “we are stronger together than and our sincerest and deepest gratitude for all he has apart.” That was my thought when leaders from the contributed to this program. College of Engineering, CEMRC, SWTDI and WERC As we talk about the great difference Senator Domenici came together to discuss the possibility of combining has made for this program, I would like to remind you these unique organizations. When we were done we about the value of each individual. Many people envisioned a force that would utilize the strengths WERC get easily discouraged because they believe that one has in water and the environment, the experience SWTDI person cannot make a substantial difference in some has in renewable energy and combine them with the of the environmental challenges we face. I am here expertise that CEMRC has in nuclear waste-management to tell you that one individual can affect change. We and monitoring. IEE was created. each play a vital role in the health of this planet and its This year has been a tremendous success for IEE. resources, our resources. The integration of WERC, CEMRC and SWTDI has Please enjoy the IEE annual report and as always, your allowed for a more highly-trained workforce and an comments are welcome. enriched capacity to develop solutions to environmental challenges. Detailed in the pages that follow are just a few of the accomplishments that IEE is proud to share Best Regards with you. We are especially grateful to Senator Pete V. Domenici. After 36 years in the U.S. Senate, he decided to Abbas Ghassemi
Left, NM Governor Richardson, Above, Chris Campbell, IEE. Photos by Tom Freelove/IEE The Institute
IEE offices on the main NMSU campus. Photo by Tom Freelove/IEE
The Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) is an integrated multidisciplinary Center of Excellence in the College of Engineering at New Mexico State University. IEE specializes in energy, water, environmental and natural resource development, and serves the Southwest as well as a global audience. The Institute is guided by the following vision: To provide global leadership, expertise, and technology to meet growing energy, water, and related security needs. Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center The Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center is a 26,000 sq. ft. radiochemistry facility in Carlsbad New Mexico. Performance capabilities of the lab include a wide range of environmental and radiochemistry work, monitoring, and feasibility studies in support of nuclear energy issues and issues involving Homeland Security. In particular, work in areas involving radiation dispersal devices (RDDs or dirty bombs). In addition to monitoring the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant or WIPP site, the center specializes in environmental chemistry, field programs, informatics and modeling, internal dosimetry and radiochemistry. The Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) A Renewable Energy R & D Center, SWTDI’s focus is on renewable energy technologies with international course development in 130 countries on seven continents. SWTDI provides contract services for systems analysis, program implementation, business development, feasibility studies, market studies, computer modeling and educational computer kiosks. SWTDI has accumulated extensive domestic and international experience with a variety of renewable energy technologies. WERC: A Consortium for Environmental Education and Technology Development WERC: A Consortium for Environmental Education and Technology Development is comprised of New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Diné College, Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory. WERC’s mission is to develop human resources and technologies to address environmental and human-health related issues focusing on the following: education, public outreach, and technology development and deployment. Other focus areas include: pollution prevention, energy and environmental sustainability, water quality and bio-medical waste management.
3 College of Engineering Education Numbers Institute for Energy & the Environment
WERC Education Program WERC Courses 1990-2008 Fall 2007 • Students Participating 2,195 WERC 200 Introduction to Environmental Fundamentals • Students Earning Minor 512 WERC 300 Introduction to Pollution Prevention (WebCT) • Students Earning Minor 23% Environmental Management Seminar (of total WERC participants) WERC 350 Introduction to Energy, Environment and Risk Assessment (WebCT) WERC 595 Special Topics
Spring 2008 Education Program Numbers WERC 300 Introduction to Pollution Prevention (WebCT) • Students, Fall 2007 52 Environmental Management Seminar • Students, Spring 2008 52 WERC 455/566 Fuel Cell Technology • Students Earning Minor 7 WERC 595 Special Topics • Students Earning Certificate 3 • Fellowships Awarded 0 • Minority Students 56% • Traditional Courses Presented 10 • Distance Education Courses Presented 2
4 International Design Contest at NMSU
18th Annual Environmental Design Contest 2008 April 6 - 9
College of Engineering
Institute for Energy & the Environment
2008 Environmental Design Contest postcard. Photo by Tom Freelove/IEE. Design by former IEE media student Stacey Mathews.
A Flagship for IEE and the College of Engineering Since 1991 this annual challenge for sustainable environmental solutions has included 4,400 of the best and brightest students from 90 universities around the world. Tasks include food contamination safety, water quality, comprehensive renewable energy development, and more. Through the years, some of the sponsors from the competition exemplify the diversity of interest/support for the event: American Water Works Association Research Foundation, Bechtel Corp., Intel Corp., Los Alamos National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Sandia National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
5 WERC 18th Annual Environmental Design Contest
The Annual Environmental Design Contest continued its 18-year tradition of bringing together industry, government, and academia in the search for improved environmental solutions. Hundreds of college students throughout the United States and around the world gather to collaborate with environmental professionals in this distinctive contest. The student teams work to solve real-world problems and develop fully operational bench-scale solutions that are evaluated by judging panels comprised of experts working in the field. The teams prepare written, oral, poster, and bench-scale model presentations.
1990-2008 Environmental Design Contest Task 1 • Students Participating 4,155 Innovative Technologies for an Existing • U.S. Universities 78 Commercial Building • International Universities 11 Task 2 • High Schools 32 Photovoltaic System Performance Indicator Task 3 Inland Desalination Operation and Disposal in Rural, Isolated Communities 2008 Participation-Environmental Design Contest Task 4 • University Participants 185 Sampling Strategies for Spinach • University Teams 32 Task 5 • Universities 22 Separation of Water from Emulsified Oil
2008 Sponsors • American Water Works Association Research Foundation • Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold • Intel Corp. • National Science Foundation • Oak Ridge Associated Universities • United States Department of Energy • United States Environmental Protection Agency • United States Food and Drug Administration
6 internationalNMSU Environmental Design Contest Participating U.S. Universities 1991- 2006 Fuels Clean Energy Economy
New Mexico State University’s College of Engineering has combined the resources of three programs to create a new institute to address issues related to energy and the environment. The Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) was recently formed to include WERC: A Consortium for Environmental Education and Technology Development, the Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) and the Carlsbad Environmental Disposal in Rural, Isolated Communities, inviting students Monitoring and Research Center (CEMRC). to develop and demonstrate a low-cost, energy The Institute is guided by the following vision: efficient, simple, and reliable system for brackish water reclamation. This task is sponsored by the American Provide dynamic national leadership, expertise and technology for International Teams Include: Water Works Association Research Foundation public policy, and technical and human resource development in order to Budapest Technological University, Hungary / Dalhousie University, Canada / Indian Institute of Tech- (AwwaRF) and is also relevant because IEE recently meet the nation’s growing energy needs. This happens through advance- nology, India / Qingdao University, China / Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, India / United received an award from the Office of Naval Research ments in renewable energy, alternative resources, water quality and Arab Emirate University, United Arab Emirates / Universidad de las Américas, Mexico / University of quantity, natural resource protection, human health, materials science, and Manitoba, Canada / University of Waterloo, Canada to work with General Electric doing similar research at The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination environmental surety. Application Deadline and More Information: www.werc.net Research Facility in the Tularosa Basin in Alamogordo, IEE will utilize the knowledge WERC has in the environment, the New Mexico. strengths SWTDI has in renewable energy and combine them with the The WERC partnership is comprised of New Mexico State University through experience CEMRC has in nuclear waste-management and monitoring to the College of Engineering, the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Institute This work is particularly important in the Southwest create a crossover of information. This will provide a symbiotic, competitive of Mining and Technology, Diné College and Los Alamos and Sandia National as groundwater is often contaminated with high advantage for innovative development in clean, renewable energy. Laboratories. The Consortium’s mission is to develop the human resources concentrations of salt. The research is anticipated and technologies needed to address environmental issues through education, to create significant knowledge that will improve “Providing inexpensive, clean sources of energy to support continued public outreach and technology development. current desalination processes, reduce costs, and may economic growth is one of the biggest challenges we face in the coming For more information, contact: lead to economically viable technological options years. IEE will be a focal point for NMSU faculty from disparate disciplines for military on-site water purification. “The recent to solve difficult technical problems and support the production of world- Abbas Ghassemi, Executive Director Barbara Valdez, Program Facilitator class engineers in these important areas.” [email protected] [email protected] water award marks another highlight of our group’s 505.646.2038 / 800.523.5996 505.646.7821 DESIGN TASKS ~ Steven Castillo, Dean, College of Engineering, NMSU Do You Have What It Takes? expertise,18th leadership, Annual International and maturing history of successful Roseann Thompson, Project Manager IEE/WERC/NMSU Environmental Design Contest student competitors from partnerships. We are very pleased that our flagship Task 1Challenge Yourself and Find Out! Environmental Design Contest [email protected] PO Box 30001, MSC WERC UniversidadInnovative de Technologies las Américas, for an Existing Commercial of Puebla, Building Mexico. Photo by Research, prioritize, develop and then demonstrate innovative technologies that can be applied to existing commercial event exemplifies the innovative collaboration2008 among 505.646.7854 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Therese buildingsShakra/IEE. to improve efficiency. College of Engineering the public and private sector, academiaCollege of Engineering and industry,” Web: www.werc.net E-mail: [email protected] Task 2 Institute for Energy Institute forPhotovoltaicEnergy System Performance Indicator & the Environment Cover photo: UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS AMÉRICAS, MEXICO the EnvironmentDevelop and demonstrate a system to determine that a residential utility-interactive PV system is operating properly and &IEE leadsthat the developmentac power output is following the solarof power sustainable available to the PV array. solutions to Task 3 environmentalInland Desalination Operation challenges and Disposal in Rural, through Isolated Communities its international Develop and demonstrate a low-cost, energy efficient, simple and reliable system for use in brackish water reclamation. The competitionsystem must be eachable to produce April fresh water at for variousthe sized Pan communities Am throughout Center the Southwest. in Las Task 4 Cruces.Sampling Strategy for Spinach Develop a simple and practical sampling strategy to detect Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli O157:H7 in spinach destined for bagged salad. The strategy must be cost effective and easily implemented by the grower or processor into an existing The highlysystem. competitive 2008 event featured 32 teams from 22Task universities 5 including 185 participants from Separation of Water from Emulsified Oil Separating oil from oil-water emulsions can currently be accomplished using chemical or physical means to break the aroundemulsion the and United dehydrate the oilStates, fraction; however, Bogazici there has been little University efficiency in separating in emulsions Turkey, with low concentrations of oil. Emulsion breaking and dehydrating the resultant oil fraction generally have high operating cost the Universitiesmaking disposal a short-term of Manitoba cost effective decision, butand the life Waterloo cycle cost remains high. in In order Canada, to reduce, reuse and recycle in accordance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, there is a need to develop a technology that can and a effectivelyteam separate from water andUniversidad oil from emulsions to allow de for the las reuse ofAméricas these valuable resources. in Puebla, Mexico. Also featured was the final showcase of National Science Foundation projects undertaken2008 SPONSORS in partnershipAmerican Water with Works three Association universitiesResearch Foundation in Mexico and two in Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold New Mexico.Intel National Science Foundation Oak Ridge Associated Universities This year’sUnited States design Department tasks of Energy were based on real-world April 6 - 9, 2008 United States Environmental Protection Agency Las Cruces, New Mexico environmentalUnited States Food challenges, and Drug Administration focusing on technologies to tackle renewable energy innovation, sustainable 2008 Environmental Design Contest program. 575.646.2038 • http://iee.nmsu.edu • www.werc.net building design, and water issues. Thirteen teams Cover Design by former IEE media student tackled Task 3: Inland Desalination Operation and Stacey Mathews.
7 The Universidad de las Américas team from Puebla, Mexico, demonstrate their biodiesel bench scale model. Photo by Therese Shakra/IEE. said Abbas Ghassemi, IEE Executive Director. Two other tasks very popular among the engineering teams included the following: Task 1: Innovative Technologies for an Existing Building, to improve efficiency, performance, and sustainable site development; and Task 5: Separation of Water from Emulsified Oil, to reduce, reuse and recycle manufacturing by-products and improve general processes in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Intel Corp. sponsored Task 1 and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold sponsored task 5. Environmental engineering students presented a poster and oral presentation, a written report and a bench- scale demonstration to a subset of 38 judges. Teams had the chance to win cash prizes, academic and professional recognition, as well as Intel’s Environmental Innovation Award and the newly developed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Travel Award. Sponsors for the 2008 event included AwwaRF, Intel Corporation, National Science Foundation, Oak Ridge KRWG TV Web site featuring Katis Chakhova, an Environmental Design Contest student from the Associated Universities, U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Waterloo in Canada. Aggie Almanac U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the EPA. is produced by Gary Worth.
8 Dedication of First Commercial PV System in Las Cruces
“We have to wean ourselves away from petroleum and fossil fuels,” Richardson said. “This project is reinforcing why New Mexico is a clean- energy state.”
typical amount needed to power two average homes
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson features the downtown for one year. Power generated by the system will feed solar demonstration project solar panels. Photo by into the El Paso Electric (EPE) distribution system. Tom Freelove/IEE. The system, owned by NMSU, is net-metered and grid-tied to EPE’s distribution network, which means The Institute for Energy and the Environment and no batteries are needed and any excess power is fed The Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC) held a back to EPE. In addition, SWEC has entered into a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 16 of this year to 20-year agreement with EPE to provide the utility with inaugurate a new 6-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) Renewable Energy Credits generated by the system, system installed SWEC’s rooftop on the Las Cruces one of the first such agreements negotiated to help Downtown Mall, the first commercial PV system EPE meet New Mexico’s renewable energy portfolio online in Las Cruces. requirements. The demonstration project is a partnership between SWEC hosts visitors and is open to educate the SWEC and IEE funded by the New Mexico Legislature. general public about renewable energy, solar energy The Southwest Environmental Center is a nonprofit in particular, as well as energy conservation. EPE organization that works to protect and restore is underwriting much of the cost of the educational native wildlife and their habitat in the Southwestern exhibit that includes the real time performance of the borderlands. IEE staff and five student interns installed PV system, as well as educational materials about the system to generate renewable, clean electricity from renewable energy. Plans are for the joint SWEC- the sun without contributing to global warming. NMSU-EPE educational renewable energy display The PV array consists of thirty-three 180-watt panels, to be up for at least five years. In addition, SWEC which translates into about 950 kW hours a month, a will sponsor educational programs including lectures 9 and workshops. NMSU professors and students will contribute to these lectures and workshops as appropriate. This state-funded project will provide continued benefits to NMSU, SWEC and the local community. Speakers at the renewable energy celebration included New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagashima, NMSU Provost Waded Cruzado-Salas, IEE Director Abbas Ghassemi, SWEC Executive Director Kevin Bixby, NM Representative Antonio Lujan, and City Councilors Miguel Silva and Nathan Small.
NMSU Provost and current NMSU Interim President, Waded Cruzado-Salas, addresses the crowd at the SWEC project. According to Robert Foster, IEE Installation Team Leader, the PV system will eliminate more than 17,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide annually. Photo by Tom Freelove/IEE.
IEE Executive Director Abbas Ghassemi, IEE Program Manager Robert Foster, IEE Specialists Martin Gomez and Luis Estrada look on as the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the first commercial PV system (6-kilowat KW) is celebrated on the downtown mall. Photo by Therese Shakra/IEE. 10 WERC Founding Father Bids Farewell
Senator Pete Domenici, 75, announced in October 2007 that he would not seek re-election in 2008 and will retire from the Senate. Domenici has served 36 years and six terms in the U.S. Senate. The WERC Consortium was established through Domenici’s efforts in 1990 and has received annual funding from the Department of Energy to develop environmental expertise in the work force and identify new and cost-effective technologies to address environmental and human-health-related issues. “Seventeen years ago, I had an idea that tapping into the brightest young minds could give us fresh, new ideas on how to solve some of the most pressing environmental problems facing the country. The result was WERC, which has been a tremendous success,” Domenici said. “Through WERC, we have made great strides in our quest to develop the next generation so that they will be equipped to deal with environmental, waste, energy, New Mexico Senator Pete V. Domenici. human health and other problems.” Photo courtesy of Domenici staff.
Senator Domenici and the IEE/WERC staff. Photo by Ricardo Rel/NMSU.
11 New Mexico State University has established the Pete “As our longest-serving senator in the V. Domenici Legacy, a multifaceted effort to honor the history of New Mexico, Pete Domenici senator’s impact on public policy and his contributions to the State of New Mexico and the country. has earned a position of great respect Pete V. Domenici Legacy activities include housing in our state and Washington. He Domenici archives at the NMSU Library; the Domenici continues to represent New Mexico with Legacy on Public Policy Conference; the planning and great effectiveness and vigor. I look construction of a building and adjoining garden on the NMSU campus to honor the senator and his wife, Nancy; forward to working with him on efforts and the formation of the Domenici Institute for Public to help our state and nation during the Policy at NMSU. The university also plans to commission remainder of this Congress. I consider a book chronicling Domenici’s time in the Senate. him a good friend and greatly admire The conference is meant to be a recurring event at the beginning of each fall semester at NMSU. his public service to the people of New Mexico.” - Senator Jeff Bingaman
“He’s an iconic figure here in New Mexico. He’s probably the most popular politician in its history. He had a great run, and he’ll be sorely missed from the delegation.” -Paul Kennedy, former state Supreme Court justice
“Senator Pete Domenici is a man of deep conviction and the highest integrity whose dedication to this country and the people of New Mexico is legendary. He has spent nearly four decades in the Senate as a devoted public servant and statesman and his contributions in that body will not soon IEE staff members Pat Pines and Nicole Heckathorn look on as Tom be forgotten. Freelove/IEE, films Senator Domenici presenting an endowment to WERC during his tenure. Photo by Therese Shakra/IEE. -Representative Steve Pearce
12 The Numbers IEE $10.73 M
13 2007-2008 Board of Directors and Administration IEE/WERC
14 Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department and New Mexico State University
New Mexico is a leader in our nation’s clean energy economy. The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) is helping to position our state to become a powerhouse in the rapidly evolving clean energy economy of the 21st century. EMNRD, through its Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECMD), works to promote environmental and economic sustainability to benefit all of our state’s citizens. Accomplishment of its mission is furthered through partnership with New Mexico State University—a collaboration that has spanned three decades. Since the 1970s, EMNRD and NMSU have collaborated on various projects including establishing a fuel testing laboratory, as well as solar and geothermal energy projects. In partnership with EMNRD, NMSU’s fuel testing laboratory was built to ensure that quality fuel fermentation unit to reduce dairy waste. The process is delivered to New Mexicans. EMNRD and NMSU produces methane gas to power a 40-kilowatt engine/ continue to collaborate on the introduction and quality generator, and compost for soil amendments and use at control of renewable fuels into the state. a commercial greenhouse operation, thereby alleviating air and water pollution problems. In addition, this New Mexico has world-class solar energy, ranking project received a state Energy Innovation Fund award second in the nation. EMNRD and NMSU put the state’s to address the increasing number of confined animal abundant sunshine to good use through a solar energy operations along the New Mexico-Texas border and to project partnership in 2007. A state clean energy support gas production from dairy manure in an existing project grant and NMSU’s Southwest Technology unit operating in Chamberino. Please see ECMD’s Web Development Institute provided funding for NMSU’s site at CleanEnergyNM.org and click on Multimedia to 18-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) parking structure for its view a brief video documenting the project, “Converting Student Health Center. Converting the sun’s energy Dairy Manure into Useful Energy.” into electricity, this PV system powers the lights for the structure and provides over 15 percent of the Geothermal resources in New Mexico have been used electricity used by the Student Health Center while commercially for more than 100 years, originally with reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by more spas and resorts. In the last 25 years, geothermal than 111 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 77 pounds of applications were utilized for a broader range of direct sulphur dioxide, and 52,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. use developments for water and space heating. During EMNRD-NMSU’s collaborative solar efforts have also this time, EMNRD and NMSU collaborated on a number included research-oriented projects to assist the private of geothermal development projects. NMSU constructed sector and solar industry in developing solar hardware a geothermal research and business incubator plant and improving safety. to host greenhouse and aquaculture facilities. As a direct result of these efforts, New Mexico leads the In addition to more than 350 sunny days per year, New nation with more than 50 acres of geothermally-heated Mexico also has plenty of dairy manure from dairies commercial greenhouses and also has one of the largest that produce more than 1.1 million tons annually. The geothermal aquaculture facilities. potential of converting this into affordable renewable energy is an appealing way to reduce waste and The State of New Mexico is working to benefit all of greenhouse gas emissions, and avoid groundwater its citizens by securing our clean energy future and by contamination. For a dairy biomass project that will finding new ways to make conventional energy sources create a model for replication throughout the region, cleaner and reduce the amount of climate-changing NMSU received federal funds from the National greenhouse gases they produce. This collaboration Association of State Energy Officials’ State Technologies between EMNRD and NMSU is an example of one of Advancement Collaborative solicitation managed the paths taken to accomplish these important goals. by ECMD to construct a two-stage anaerobic bio- 15 Energy Innovation Fund for Albuquerque Sunport Anaerobic Digester Goes Solar
IEE received $120,000 through Gov. Bill Richardson’s Energy Innovation Fund in Solar Energy and Biofuel Production. The funds are for the continued support of an anaerobic bio-digester that converts cow manure into methane used to generate electricity. IEE is among the first five awardees to receive the Energy Innovation Fund grants. “These first five grantees have presented ingenious biofuel and solar power projects that will push the envelope of innovation,” The Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) Governor Richardson said. “These public/private received $330,000 to implement a “Solar Combined partnerships help share the cost of innovation, but our Heat and Power” (SCHP) project at the City of hope is that each project can yield powerful benefits to Albuquerque’s Sunport. The Sunport is New Mexico’s our state.” largest airport facility, averaging almost 7 million Luz-Elena Mimbela, IEE project manager and passengers annually. environmental engineering doctoral candidate, wrote “This renewable energy project represents the cutting the proposal resulting in the grant. The project is titled edge of solar energy technologies to provide power “Optimizing an Existing Two-Stage Biofermentation to the Albuquerque Sunport. It puts New Mexico Facility for Methane Rich Biogas Production.” front and center for innovative, international solar This two-phase anaerobic (without oxygen) facility, energy development and application,” said Dr. Abbas located at Sierra Vista Growers in La Mesa, N.M., Ghassemi, executive director of IEE. converts the carbon in dairy manure, donated by When completed, the Sunport SCHP system will Gonzalez Dairy in neighboring Mesquite, to a methane- provide energy to a 30-ton chiller for cooling within rich biogas that can be used in an engine generator the car rental offices. At the same time, it will also for electricity generation. In addition, the resulting solid deliver about 11 kW of electrical power for lighting byproduct is a beneficial soil amendment, superior to and other uses. Overall, the SCHP system will provide existing organic compost, according to Kent Holla, owner roughly one-third of the 575,000 square foot facility’s of Sierra Vista Growers. peak cooling load. This technology will be an asset to New Mexico, which is A key benefit of SCHP technology is that it consumes ranked seventh in the nation in milk production. The New no water in the production of power. Other benefits Mexico Dairy Industry has an annual production of seven include low-cost and zero-carbon emissions. “The billion pounds of milk support of the State of New Mexico and the City and $900 million in gross of Albuquerque for this project will further the receipt tax. However, the development of both new jobs and a solar energy state’s dairy industry is industry for New Mexico,” said Anders Jepsen, a also a source of concern founder and Director of HelioDynamics, Ltd., providing with 328,000 milk cows the technology behind this solar power system. generating 1.2 millions tons of solid waste a year.
16 CEMRC Director Jim Conca
of the book is the necessity for nuclear power to increase several-fold worldwide in order to have any chance of addressing the looming global environmental and economic crises. Q: How did you get the idea to write a book? A: Before I even arrived at WIPP, I thought that no one outside the DOE really knew anything about the repository. That’s where the idea for the book came from. When the facts are presented well, there is no doubt that the world needs nuclear power. Nuclear gets a bad rap primarily because of its association with weapons. When I talk with people, even educated ones, I realize that most of them have no idea that nuclear fuel cannot go off like a nuclear bomb. With serious information gaps like that, we realized that we needed to write a book to address energy-related Jim Conca, CEMRC Director, leads a safety discussion for the Texas issues. National Guard Civil Support Team/Weapons of Mass Destruction (CST/WMD). The on-site training at WIPP in Carlsbad, NM, was Q: The book also has a sociopolitical bent to it. part of a three-day dirty bomb exercise. Photo by Therese Shakra. A: That’s right. No one else has talked about how The Q and A article below features excerpts from an intertwined science and sociopolitical issues are—and interview with James Conca, CEMRC Director, from I think this is unique to our book. One example: In NUCLEAR NEWS, February 2008. order to basically solve war, poverty, and terrorism, the world needs to provide about 3000 kilowatt- CEMRC, located in Carlsbad, N.M., constantly hours (kWh) per person each year to all humans. monitors the environment around the Department Can this be done? It certainly will be difficult and of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the world’s will involve a concerted global political effort unlike only operating deep underground geologic nuclear anything seen before. In the United States, for repository. At WIPP, defense-related transuranic example, we’re at 16,000 kWh per person per year, radioactive waste is placed in rooms excavated while Pakistan and India are at 500 kWh per person 2150 feet underground in a 2000-ft-thick salt per year. If the United States, Canada, Japan, and formation that has been stable for more than 200 the other industrialized nations get back to about million years. Because the salt is somewhat plastic, 6000 kWh per year per person, which is close to it flows to seal any cracks that develop. WIPP began operating in March 1999, and operations are expected to continue beyond 2020, with active monitoring continuing for another 100 years. The site is managed by Washington TRU Solutions, with Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories providing technical assistance. Recently, Doctors Jim Conca and Judith Wright collaborated to write a book, The GeoPolitics of Energy: Achieving a Just and Sustainable Energy Distribution by 2040. The objective of the book is to raise awareness of the global issues surrounding energy availability and cost, the environmental NMSU’s Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research effects of CO2 emissions, and the politics that drive Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Photo courtesy of CEMRC. energy production and consumption. A key conclusion 17 18 if someone is an extreme sports person from the increased potassium-40 in their muscles, or a smoker, because of the increased uranium and cesium-137 from tobacco that get deposited in the lungs from smoking. We monitor everything in the environment within a 100-mile radius of WIPP, and have been doing so from before WIPP opened, up to the present day, nine years after WIPP’s opening. WIPP is merely the best repository for anything that exists, including nuclear waste. The repository consists of bedded salt, more massive than almost any other salt deposit in the world. From a geologic standpoint, the area is tectonically quiet, there are no fractures or folds in its structure, and there would be nothing of Jim Conca and three members of the CST/WMD team examine consequence that could happen there for 200 million 225 million-year-old Permian Age Salt from the Waste Isolation years. Pilot Plant, 2150 feet underground in Carlsbad, NM. Photo by Therese Shakra. Q: What makes WIPP so stable? A: It’s the creeping salt. When waste is put into WIPP, where England is now, it would save a few trillion kWh the salt creep-closes slowly, embedding it in a system per year overall. For the roughly 9 billion people that that has almost zero permeability or diffusivity over will be alive in 2040, however, raising 7 billion of millions of years. The salt creep-closes several inches them up to a reasonable standard of living—which is per year, depending upon the shape of the opening. 3000 kWh per person per year—will require about In 15 years, the rooms with the waste packages are 21 trillion kWh per year. Adopting conservation closed. In 1000 years, they are completely sealed measures and increasing energy efficiencies in the back to the properties of the undisturbed salt. WIPP developed world could bring the 1 billion people is perfect for any waste as long as the goal is to now above 8000 kWh per person per year down to get rid of it for good. As long as we do not recycle; 6000 kWh per person per year, or about 6 trillion however, any repository for spent fuel has to have a kWh per year total. If the remaining 1 billion stay at retrievability option, and that locks us into a hard- about 3000 kWh per person per year, then the total rock repository for spent fuel. To address our energy power consumption would be leveled at 30 trillion future, recycling must occur, and the law has to be kWh per year, a little lower than what most projections changed so that the United States can recycle. The predict based on simple demographics. This is a lot recycled waste could then go into WIPP, as it is quite of energy—twice what the world uses now, three similar to the remote-handled waste presently going times the amount that fossil fuel produces today—and into WIPP. Right now there is an arbitrary designation most of it will come from fossil fuel unless we are very that WIPP can accept only defense-related waste. proactive and innovative. These larger issues are what There needs to be a large political change going need to be understood. forward, hand-in-hand with the adoption of nuclear power as a major energy source for the future. Q: Could you talk about CEMRC’s relationship with WIPP? A: The funding for CEMRC comes from a DOE grant, and we act as the independent environmental monitor of WIPP. We monitor air, water, soil, and people. CEMRC has some of the best radiological monitoring capabilities in the world. Using our whole- body counter, we can statistically see, for example, 18 Solar America Cities
the United States could provide more energy than the country’s annual fossil fuel use. If less than 0.1% of the earth’s land surface were devoted to solar electric power systems, enough energy to satisfy the global electricity needs of the modern world could be generated. The Solar America Initiative was formed to help cities speed up their adoption of solar technology. Cities selected as Solar America Cities (SAC) in June 2007 received DOE funding plus hands-on support, which New Mexico State University’s Institute for Energy NMSU helped provide, in their plans to integrate solar and the Environment has joined with industry, energy into city energy planning, zoning, and facilities. universities, and state and local governments Initial funding provided $400k per city, and future across the U.S. in a strategic partnership with the funding is subject to congressional approval. Department of Energy (DOE) in The Solar America Initiative. IEE researchers Andrew Rosenthal, John The thirteen cities selected are Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, Wiles, and Robert Foster have been working to help TX; Berkeley, CA; Boston, MA; Madison, WI; New the DOE meet its goal of making solar technologies Orleans, LA; New York City, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; cost-competitive with traditional forms of energy by Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; San 2015. Francisco, CA, and Tucson, AZ. Each city committed to working toward a comprehensive, citywide approach Some solar energy experts estimate that as few as to make mainstream adoption of solar energy easier. 40 minutes of sunlight striking the land surface of SACs will provide models for other cities to follow.
“The College of Engineering has a long history of supporting the Nation’s drive toward energy independence. IEE projects have been building relationships with legislators, energy offices, and others to enable far-reaching, progressive solar technology adoption,” said Dr. Abbas Ghassemi, IEE Executive Director.
19 NASA Project Award for Wind Research
The Institute for Energy and Environment was awarded a $40,000 contract to assist the NASA White Sands Test Facility with renewable energy project development. IEE will collect solar and wind resource data at WSTF for solar and windfarm development potential. Measurement parameters include wind speed, wind direction, solar irradiance and temperature. IEE will also conduct a feasibility assessment for the potential of flowing Lithium Bromine batteries for electric peak shaving opportunities.
Luis Estrada, IEE specialist, inspects the NASA WSTF wind data acquisition system on a 40-meter met tower on Quartzite Mountain. Photo courtesy of Robert Foster/IEE.
Robert Foster, IEE Program Manager is atop a test wind turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory/National Wind Test Center near Boulder Colorado. Photo courtesy of Robert Foster/IEE.
20 Education Programs: PREP and the Environmental Art Contest El Paso 4th, 5th and 6th Graders Learn About Water
The Environmental Art Contest was created in 2000 by WERC and the Department of Energy for students in grades 3-5 and 6-8. The artwork must have an environmental theme in the overall design. Students are allowed and encouraged to try different forms of art in their submissions, such as mixed media or computer- generated art. Contest winners’ art is published in the IEE/WERC annual Calendar in print and online.
Pre-Freshman Engineering Program
A PREP III student solders components for a class project. Photo by Tom Free love. Brochure by Therese Shakra/IEE.
The Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP) recruits pre-college students with a history of high academic achievement for an intense summer program through the NMSU College of Engineering. The five-week program offers participants special courses in logic, algebraic structures, physics, engineering, computer science, research, problem solving, and technical writing. Problem-solving seminars equip participants with the necessary tools to complete pre-calculus/calculus in high school. Through field trips and career awareness seminars, students meet professionals who can encourage the fortitude to 2008 Environmental Art Contest Calendar cover. The calendar become the scientific leaders of tomorrow. contains winning artwork form the annual competition. Calendar Since the program’s inception in 1997, PREP I has design by Stacey Mathews, former IEE media student. matriculated 704 students PREP II has seen 450 students, and 313 graduates have gone through PREP III.
21 El Paso 4th, 5th and 6th Graders Learn About Water
Top: Classes gather for activities at the Community Water Education Festival.
Right: Students play IEE’s “Source to Sink” activity to learn the paths water travels on its way to their homes.
Photos by Bryan Swain/IEE K-12 Programs.
22 IEE/CEMRC Build Emergency Preparedness NMSU awarded R & D Grant for Water Security Program
Staff Sergeant Reggie Book (left) and Specialist John Buell Leader for the 6th CST/WMD, individuals need to be of the 6th CST/WMD (Texas National Guard) precede first responders on the scene of a “dirty bomb” exercise at IEE/ much more prepared on a personal level. “While our CEMRC in Carlsbad, NM. Photo by Therese Shakra/IEE. team is here to support the regional command, the system is likely going to get overwhelmed and the CEMRC and MERRTT (Modular Emergency Response general public should be active in self-preservation in Radiological Transportation Training) this July case that happens,” said Torres. conducted a three-day Dirty Bomb Full Scale Exercise to “train the trainers.” Trainers are First Responders, To help themselves, individual civilians should consider including fire, EMS, Hazmat and Law Enforcement a small reserve of food and water, reviewing personnel. preparedness guides from Centers for Disease Control, and having disaster plans and kits ready. Ultra- The session included classroom studies, a tour of the terrorism (any threat having to do with NBCR elements) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and culminated in mandates we all take as much responsibility as we can the release of a radiological dispersal device exercise. for ourselves. The core participants included the 6th Civil Support Team/Weapons of Mass Destruction (CST/WMD) “The complex geopolitical issues that make up energy consisting of the Texas National Guard, while members and the environment include this type of logistical of New Mexico’s 64th CST/WMD also participated. support for domestic security. We facilitate these activities in any way we can,” said Dr. Abbas Ghassemi, Nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological (NBCR) IEE Executive Director. CEMRC’s ability to implement attacks are the areas of expertise among the CST/ effective first-responder training for dirty bombs WMD units. Their primary mission is to support local comes from its years of experience in environmental and state authorities by identifying agents and training and education, nuclear energy issues and issues substances, performing triage, and assisting with involving Homeland Security. The unique radiochemistry requests for additional military support. The highly- facility has a special plutonium-uranium lab, mobile skilled, full-time National Guard members also assist in laboratories, computing operations and offices. CEMRC response operations where mass casualties from “acts monitors the WIPP site, a repository for transuranic of God,” i.e., natural disasters or severe weather are waste generated as part of the nuclear defense the cause. research and production activities of the federal According to Captain Michael A. Torres, Survey Team government.
23 NMSU awarded R & D Grant for Water Security Program
IEE and the Water Resources Research Institute The project will make use of The Brackish Groundwater received an award for $929,000 from the Office of National Desalination Research Facility located in the Naval Research as part of the NMSU Water Security Tularosa Basin, in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The Basin Program. has extensive brackish and saline water resources of The NMSU research and development project in 10,000 to 30,000 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) within partnership with General Electric Water and Process a 5-mile radius, water ranges in salinity from 2,000 to Technologies is anticipated to create significant over 100,000 parts per million (ppm) based on TDS. knowledge leading to improvements in current Information gathered through the course of the project desalination processes and reduced costs, benefiting will also enable NMSU to build a Web-based cost/ military and civilian communities. The partners will benefit model program, designed to be user friendly conduct applied research using a desalination system and operable without advanced degrees or specialized that will allow parts modification for optimizing material training. It will recommend site-specific options for technologies and capital costs. desalination technologies.
Research bay inside the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility located in the Tularosa Basin, in Alamogordo, NM. The stand alone bay contains stations supporting water, power and instrumentation needs. Photo by Bryan Swain/IEE.
2424 IEE Staff
Rich Arimoto, Senior Scientist Nicole Heckathorn, Records Tech II 575.234.5542 [email protected] 575.646.5669 [email protected] Corey Asbill, Specialist II David C. Johnson, Program Coordinator 575.646.5760 [email protected] 575.646.4163 [email protected] David Baker, Assistant Scientist Tom Kirchner, Senior Scientist 575.234.5505 [email protected] 575.234.0110 [email protected] Becky Brown, Assistant to the Director Jim Loya, Project Manager 575.234.5511 [email protected] 575.646.6305 [email protected] Bill Brown, Facility Manager Karen Mikel, Project Manager 575.234.5501 [email protected] 575.646.2162 [email protected] Fernando Cadena, Visiting Faculty Researcher Luz-Elena Y. Mimbela, Program Manager 575.646.1510 [email protected] 575.646.4240 [email protected] Chris Campbell, Project Manager Jim Monk, Physical Scientist V 575.843.4251 [email protected] 575.234.5533 [email protected] Mike Chastain, Systems Technologist I Angela Najera, Administrative Secretary III 575.646.3013 [email protected] 575.234.5507 [email protected] Kim Ui Chearnaigh, Assistant Scientist Karl Pennock, Assistant Scientist 575.234.5542 [email protected] 575.234.5550 [email protected] Gabriela Cisneros, Specialist II Kay Perkins, Program Facilitator 575.646.2438 [email protected] 575.646.7707 [email protected] Jim Conca, Director Adrianne Perry, Technician I 575.234.5555 [email protected] 575.234.5570 [email protected] Brenda Dunn, Executive Secretary Patricia Pines, Records Tech II 575.646.2575 [email protected] 575.646.2038 [email protected] Luis Estrada, Specialist I Andrew Rosenthal, Senior Program Manager 575.646.4247 [email protected] 575.646.1323 [email protected] Robert Foster, Program Manager M. Therese Shakra, Media Specialist II 575.646.3948, [email protected] 575.646.2258 [email protected] Tom Freelove, Video Production Michele Sneller, Dosimetry Technician 575.646.1731 [email protected] 575.887.2759 [email protected] Carroll French, Science Specialist Tina Sullivan, Program Analyst II 575.234.5502 [email protected] 575.234.5535 [email protected] David Ganaway, Assistant Scientist Bryan Swain, Contract Training Coordinator 575.234.5525 [email protected] 575.646.1378 [email protected] Fran Garrett, Administrative Secretary II Anita Tafoya, Programmer Analyst II 575.234.5506 [email protected] 575.646.5761 [email protected] Martin Gomez, Specialist I Roseann Thompson, Project Manager 575.646.2943 [email protected] 575.646.7854 [email protected] Chris Greene, Physical Scientist III Barbara Valdez, Program Facilitator 575.234.5552 [email protected] 575.646.7821 [email protected] Yair Grof, Research Project Manager John Wiles, Program Manager 575.234.5543 [email protected] 575.646.6105 [email protected]
25 26 P2 Pollution Prevention
Chris Campbell, Project Manager of the IEE/WERC Resources Center in Albuquerque, distributes copies of Pesticide and Integrated Pest Management Guidelines at the 2008 New Mexico Pecan Growers Association Field Day in Las Cruces. Information on pollution prevention in the pecan industry and the benefits of reduced pesticide use are being promoted by IEE as part of an EPA Strategic Agricultural Initiative. Photo by Tom Freelove/IEE.
Chris Campbell of IEE/WERC conducts a waste assessment in the lapidary workshop at the Munson Senior Center in Las Cruces with Center Director Shelly Modell. Waste stone and process water from stone-cutting are properly captured and re-used as part of the IEE waste assessment conducted http://iee.nmsu.edu by Mr. Campbell with support from EPA Region 6. Photo by Tom Freelove/IEE.