Devon Energy Awards $40,000 Grant to Lovington High School Science Department

November 29, 2011 by

On November 15, 2011, Devon Energy awarded a $40,000 grant to the Lovington High School Science Department. The grant was made as part of Devon’s company-wide initiative – $40K for Kids – which is providing eight grants to educational organizations in seven states in recognition of Devon’s 40 years in business. The energy-related science program at Lovington High was selected among 46 worthy applicants from schools and nonprofit organizations across New Mexico.

The Lovington science program fouces on petroleum production and alternative energy creation, including the making of bio-diesel, ethanol and wind energy. Students produce the alternative energies as part of their practical hands-on training. Lovington High School works with New Mexico Junior College, and the hight school students receive dual credit for their participation in the courses as well as real experiences that will help prepare them for a wide variety of jobs in the energy industry.

With the $40 K for Kids grant, Lovington High School will be able to expand their energy-based curriculum and further enhance the their laboratory, ensuring that the students and teachers have the equipment necessary to maximize the impact of their time in class.

Filed Under: Alternative Energy, Giving Back

Congressman Pearce Elevates Lizard Listing Issue to Secretary Salazar

November 28, 2011 by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jamie Dickerman, Press Secretary
Tel. 575-517-7382
Email: Jamie.dickerman@mail.house.gov

CONGRESSMAN PEARCE ELEVATES LIZARD LISTING ISSUE TO SECRETARY SALAZAR
Continues Effort to Protect New Mexico Jobs from Washington’s Heavy-Handed Regulations

Washington, DC (November 28, 2011) Today, Congressman Steve Pearce and 17 other Members of the U.S. House of Representatives submitted a bipartisan letter to Ken Salazar, the Secretary of the Interior, opposing the proposed listing of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The letter also calls for at least a six-month delay of a listing decision to gather more credible science and to allow for current conservation efforts to enroll additional participants and grow its private funding base.

“Given the growing body of evidence, we ask that the Fish and Wildlife Service not list the DSL as endangered or threatened,” the Representatives wrote in the letter. “If the Service feels that it cannot make that determination at this time, then at a minimum, we request that it delay its final decision by at least six months to take into account the rapidly evolving state of facts on the ground.”

The science available to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) warranting the listing has since come under question, drawing a similar letter from both Senator Tom Udall and Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico.

“As with all listings, the crux of our concerns is the science underpinning this decision; there simply is not enough available information to credibly argue that the species is declining,” the letter continued. “There are also important questions about the science on which FWS based this proposed listing. Perhaps most obviously, a paper referenced in the proposed listing contradicts the conclusions drawn by FWS. The study, by Sias and Snell, shows that the lizard’s population actually increased by a factor of 2.4 in areas where oil and gas wells were present compared to an increase by a factor of 1.6 in areas without wells. Yet, FWS asserts that oil and gas wells are detrimental to lizard populations.”

Since the initial proposal of the listing, Congressman Pearce has taken a firm stance against a federal listing for the sake of saving jobs in New Mexico. Pearce supported a scientific roundtable to bring forth the truths of the science behind the lizard population, and continually expresses his commitment to solutions that protect both the lizard and jobs of hard working Americans.

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Filed Under: Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

OCC Rules in Hydraulic Fracturing Disclosure Case

November 18, 2011 by

“Fracking” rules adopted in NM — sorry, Lamb Chop

by Capitol Report New Mexico
November 18, 2011
The lady with the hand-puppet left disappointed. During a break in the hearing of the Oil Conservation Commission on Thursday (Nov. 17), an environmental activist approached the members of the commission who were about to vote on adopting rules requiring oil and natural gas producers in New Mexico to disclose what fluids they use during hydraulic fracturing operations. Read Entire Article->

Filed Under: Hydraulic Fracturing

spOILed the Movie Albuquerque Nov 15 and Nov 16

November 14, 2011 by

Albuquerque filmmaker Mark Mathis brings his documentary film “spOILed” to the Century Rio 24 in Albuquerque on November Tuesday, November 15 and Wednesday November 16.

There will be a Q & A session with Mark after each showing.
Show time is 7:00 p.m. both nights.

Come out and see this thought provoking and entertaining movie that deals with the question: Are we “addicted to oil” or are we addicted to our delusions about oil?

For more information on the movie visit:

http://www.spoiledthemovie.com/
http://www.cinemark.com/movie-detail.aspx?node_id=50944

Filed Under: General