CSCNM organizes roundtables and workshops to bring together experts to discuss and present on topics of interest to members.

ROUNDTABLES

 

Electricity

  • Switch Together is a group-buying initiative that typically saves residents 15–25% on system costs. The program acts as an independent project manager, handling the "heavy lifting" for local governments.

  • In this webinar, Wesley Schrock from Bright Saver explains how balcony solar, a class of small-scale, plug-in photovoltaic systems, presents an opportunity to further bridge the gap in access to affordable solar energy. Following Utah’s lead, NM can standardize plug-in solar systems as consumer-grade appliances, greater democratizing access to renewable energy generation.

    Resources:

  • CSCNM’s roundtable features a panel of experts to provide details about this program, what consumers should expect, and how local governments can both participate and support the roll out of the program. (Recording, Pwd: !bD36EP4)

    • Arthur O’Donnell, Special Advisor to the Public Regulation Commission

    • Kevin Cray, VP of Existing Markets and Regulatory Affairs, Coalition for Community Solar Access (Slides)

    • Dylan Connelly, Director of Commercial and Community Solar Director, Affordable Solar

    • Alex Pasanen, Senior Policy Coordinator & Scott Becker, Director of Marketing, Solstice

  • Erik Aaboe, Deputy Director of NM Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (presentation), and David Breecker, President of Microgrid Systems Laboratory and co-Director of the Energy Sovereignty Institute (presentation) discuss new ways to move energy from where it is generated to where it is used (recording).

  • A summary and discussion of NM’s forthcoming community solar program, benefits for low income households, and roles governments can play.

  • Panel discussion highlighting pros and cons of public owned electrical power for the state and for municipalities.

Clean Energy Finance

  • C-PACE is a financing structure that provides commercial property owners with access to long-term fixed-rate financing for water and energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resiliency improvements. (Recording, Pwd: lY5..BkA)

    • Eric Christiansen, Adelante Consulting and CPACE Program Administrator:  Overview of CPACE (slides)

    • Lainie Rowland, Director of Programs and Partnerships, Allectrify: Support for smaller CPACE projects (slides)

    • Zachary Chavez, New Mexico Climate Investment Center: How to complement CPACE funding with other sources (slides)

    • Johanna Nelson: Santa Fe County: Case studies on the first CPACE projects in New Mexico 

    • Neal Skiver from LVL Finance demystified how to take advantage of federal tax incentives for local governments.

    • State Energy Office Director Rebecca Puck Stair reviewed the menu of clean energy options her office to choose from, including new tax credits recently signed into law.

    • PNM’s Dru Jones presented utility incentives to buy electric vehicles and install EV chargers.

  • The U.S. needs to retrofit over 600 homes every hour for the next 29 years to meet the 2050 goal of all net zero homes in America. Three presenters describe financing best practices for scaling energy efficiency.

  • Roundtable of experts providing insights about accessing federal funding for energy/sustainability development

Transportation

  • Overview of the newly launched Clean Transportation Fuel Program (CTFP) and how local governments can benefit from it.

  • This roundtable summarizes recent research on the value of walkability and the benefits that result from improved pedestrian conditions. It makes the case for more investment in sidewalks and crosswalks.

  • Workshop about federal funding opportunities for EV infrastructure

  • Transportation alternatives expert Todd Litman’s prescriptions for transforming urban planning into a vehicle for low-carbon, equitable transportation in our communities. Spoiler alert: electric vehicles are not in his toolbox.

  • Summary of Roundtable

Legislation & Regulation

  • David Buchholtz of the Rodney Law Firm explains the effects of the Anti-Donation Clause on sustainability projects.

    • Healthy Climate New Mexico outlined 10 policy suggestions to help our communities stay resilient through dangerous heat. 

  • Conversation with NM Env Dept Secretary covering hydrogen 101, hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing the economy, and NM's proposed Hydrogen Hub Act

Buildings & Energy Efficiency

  • Matthew Petty, CEO & Co-Founder, Pattern Zones Co and Veronica Cardello, Assistant VP, Ohio Realtors share how local governments can achieve more sustainably and affordably built housing through:

    • Zoning adjustments to address regulatory barriers to affordable housing; 

    • Building plans for smaller homes on smaller lots; and

    • A guide to implementing pre-approved plans.

    Slides

    Guidebook, pre-approved plans can be found here.

  • Housing affordability, and resource management matters more than ever. Homewise speakers explore land use policies that promote climate-conscious development: compact, mixed-use neighborhoods that reduce sprawl, and support public transit.

  • Katie Ingebretson with the advocacy group Rewiring America, followed by Jim Meyers from SWEEP, author of a report on how local governments in California and Colorado are implementing electrification policies, Abhi Wadha will follow with regulations she wrote for the Cal. Public Regulation Commission setting forth building electrification specs to be followed by the state’s investor owned utilities, and Grace Park-Bradbury with BlocPower, to discuss its partnership with Ithaca NY to upgrade each building in that city.

  • A conversation between Senator Martin Heinrich and our members on actions and opportunities to decarbonize major sectors of our economy.

  • Presentation by Blocpower, describing the work they do to help introduce energy efficient electrical appliances to low income households

  • Exploring integration of energy efficiency and home repair into Santa Fe’s CONNECT program

  • Workshop I:
    Short presentations about the EE landscape in NM and the energy efficiency programs of the MFA, PNM, NM Gas, and community focused programs.

    Workshop II:

    • Stakeholder discussion about barriers and solutions for scaling EE programs for low income.

  • Presentations about a low income focused energy efficiency program being implemented in Albuquerque that is a collaboration of community-based organizations, the city, and utilities.

Water

  • We are in an era of climate crisis that drives the increasing scarcity of our most precious natural resource. We explore actions that are being taken or in the offing to meet our water needs. Video Recording

    • Elizabeth Anderson, State Engineer Designee - Update on the State Water Plan (Presentation)

    • Christine Chavez, Water Conservation Division Director, City of Santa Fe - Residential and Commercial Water Conservation (Presentation)

    • Dr. Sydney Lienemann, NM Environment Department - Innovation in Leak Detection Technology (Presentation)

  • A roundtable discussion with U.S. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, NM Representative Andrea Romero, and State Engineer Mike Hamman on water issues in NM.

Waste

  • Learn about Maine's new law putting the responsibility for addressing plastic waste on its producers as well as efforts in California and elsewhere to pass similar laws.

  • The roundtable provides a primer on carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, and how New Mexico can take advantage of ways to address stubborn problems such plugging orphan oil and gas wells with carbon free concrete and biochar

  • Dialogue among panelists from Taos, New York State, and Albuquerque on healthy soil, turning food waste into a valuable resource, and ways to incentivize businesses and households to do the right thing.

COP (Conference of the Parties)

  • Two CSCNM partners share their firsthand reflections from COP30 in Belem, Brazil: Andrea Romero – State  Representative, Santa Fe County, Andreas Hernandez – Director of the Sustainability Studies Program at UNM and ex-officio member of CSCNM.

    Andrea and Andreas talk through their impressions, key moments, and the opportunities they see emerging for New Mexico’s local governments.

    Slidedeck, Video

  • Summary of experiences and significance of COP29 in Baku, and an overview of environmental legislation for the 2025 NM session. (Recording)

  • Gary Payton provides an overview of issues occurring at COP28 in Dubai.

  • Presentation by Coalition staff and members who attended COP26 in Glasgow.