A study of the economies and cultures of Durango, Cortez and Farmington, three Western towns with roots in resource extraction and processing that have taken different career paths.
San Juan Generating Station
Farmington, a town in need of a jolt
The sky is cleaner now that the coal plants have started closing, but how will that economic void be filled? That answer isn’t clear.
Solar coming on like gangbusters
10,000 solar roof-tops in Colorado’s United Power service territory, a temporary setback for Pivot Energy, and solar replaces coal in northwestern New Mexico.
Coal nears an end
Pueblo mayor says agreement will be good for his city as coal plants close, but the mayor of a New Mexico town fights a coal plant closure. And will nuclear replace coal plant in Wyoming?
Solar not shining so brightly
Solar companies have been struggling with supply chain issues, the most profound being an investigation into possible violations of import policies from China.
Regional roundup for Nov. 20
Peabody Coal’s future in Wyoming, Arizona’s solar plus storage, and solar projects in New Mexico as coal plants retire. A roundup of regional energy-transition news.
Coal and the hope of carbon capture
Wyoming continues to hope that coal can be burned without producing emissions, a technology proven at smaller scale but expensive. Others in Colorado and New Mexico also have an interest.
