[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6627352,"mediaKeyId","2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd","parentId",2728636,"title","Environmental Sustainability Board working group launches research on plastic bag impacts","audioSeconds",155,"startMs",3050000,"endMs",3205000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd&start=3050&end=3205","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd/thumbnail_3050000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6627352/New-Mexico/Environmental-Sustainability-Board-working-group-launches-research-on-plastic-bag-impacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627352-6536ce2f12c0b1050e7920fa9b964187/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900391&Signature=WjMAvJCYctI3~-J1fa0FSK1-iwcHQMJP6GkbaX-PI1CJ4egDQn3u0JeJDIhFiBToNs5GqGhbDBlHsSExLQ4twXATnlcu9SXe1O4ZGqOy0iUEJhQ6-FCYG4ATvCyCxpoQryt0-XqKxrqjEcAQ20JGkQn1u-NZ7UlKCpgMvhLkj4NtptWUlVtCpjLATemgiSX-yYueocj0My3~u8Z661BT~z6t4Ci~6M186p56YY4zBCseHL8QOKr5-BZ3KdZNJAFyu7FGNhezPYSTFkQH~ODcjh5KcMoqBASvRXRdBnG0qjpEXjayr-EC~bCuIWbl9OU40QnZSpG1PDa19bPh4b-eYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Alamos County","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Environmental Sustainability Board's plastic bag research working group held a kickoff meeting and established a work plan to study the impact of single-use plastic bags in Los Alamos County. Herman (board member) said the group is collecting usage data, researching successful policies in other counties and compiling historical local materials.

Angelica (county staff) provided older newspaper clippings and documents to the working group for review. Members discussed outreach to local retailers: Herman said he will try to contact Smith's and investigate White Rock's experience with charging for bags. The group assigned tasks for research, document-scanning and stakeholder outreach and plans to reconvene with findings.

No formal recommendation or ordinance was proposed at the March 20 meeting; the group described the session as a kickoff to gather materials and conduct local stakeholder interviews and supplier outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Los Alamos County - Environmental Sustainability Board on 2025-03-20 5:30 PM - Mar 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A new working group on plastic bag research has held a kickoff and is compiling historical materials and outreach plans to study usage in the county and examples from other jurisdictions, with members assigned research tasks.","taxTitle","Los Alamos, New Mexico","taxId",51137,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6627357,"County reports higher trash hauling, begins regional landfill study; state meeting set on food composting request",145,3600000,3745000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd&start=3600&end=3745","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6627357/New-Mexico/County-reports-higher-trash-hauling-begins-regional-landfill-study-state-meeting-set-on-food-composting-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627357-be457859a5c3322a25ec04f8e47f407e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900391&Signature=ij5VKR9AtKDMlSQNZfSnxNHYlclleIQFJYC0FAx-pRdpUBoYtzZCBnRYJ~pD6JuGto0tPfhsVKxB~MHrLhbh49dUY3TcOUe8kLCqajBKfXA5o8nh4cGjr89O8pWPBvjfEi5XOIJAYbcKHi8bgvzavPBPjS62hr1ibkAsG7wn1Nwso5Ox~mDpsrC5-RDap7Tk-znw127-LpchtYROhsXICfaOk1BjE-6-vH8U9W4k3JRhRgHJmmHuFuNSQjDYbueQipzxl8BtpteB6Mu0S20jcdwqMUOgVemXOzYdyt~OqQ~LsryJxWborwsed2JJNopdEdrDNkC-9XEh0u4X09URHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff presented residential sustainability metrics and recent program updates at the Environmental Sustainability Board meeting on March 20, reporting an 18% diversion rate for February and noting a 20% increase in trash compared with the prior year.

Helga (county staff) said recycling rose 2% while trash rose 20% year-over-year and attributed part of the change to the county's recent decision to begin hauling some waste to Valencia Landfill, which adds distance to the county's hauling routes. \"We started in January hauling waste to Valencia Landfill,\" Helga said, noting the new route adds roughly 20 to 30 miles depending on the facility and has operational impacts. Environmental Services has kicked off a regional feasibility study to explore alternatives in coordination with nearby jurisdictions.

Staff also reported work to support defensible-space brush collection ahead of fire season and said the county is exploring ways to provide energy audits in compliance with anti-donation rules. On organics and food-composting, staff said the state requested a meeting about the county's composting request; Helga described that outreach as a positive step. No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff said more details will be provided as studies and state discussions progress.","Los Alamos County staff reported February diversion and hauling changes at the Environmental Sustainability Board meeting and said the county has started a regional landfill feasibility study after beginning to haul waste to Valencia Landfill; staff also said the state requested a meeting on the county's food composting request.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6627361,"County hires Stantec to study fleet electrification and community EV charging; municipal chargers approved for installation",885,2575000,3460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd&start=2575&end=3460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd/thumbnail_2575000.jpg","/articles/6627361/New-Mexico/County-hires-Stantec-to-study-fleet-electrification-and-community-EV-charging-municipal-chargers-approved-for-installation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627361-b3b7d95857e92f0248377f8e4fe0c2ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900391&Signature=Hy3XK-YV833PZOXhcxu7HiF1Z0T9Ft2jB84obARTKhXrqkTIgBcEmdUMVkZY6caOvYKsNmT52~bhu4~aPbbHbPg6-GrRRB4jWyB2QlpYeA2K2Yjb75qvsfa8cPuku5x56D0sfqESB90TMWeupesvG~qKrq3g3rUgCwpLdjtL9oQvaOIPZm9pfdB3s0GkXvZkvxGOIkxCAYF-mUdhjt3mgr2npkuZgDDYsfInjnKsikXXqCN8RbvZor0n5~GBouxkmSBrPotac3K5gVq8Ywh32l8PDsDUJltm8grzaKvVUenQMy~f34g9Vjy10x~xAvoA~OYtBDMKcSqANpwN28m1IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Environmental Sustainability Board on March 20 heard an update on two county-led electrification efforts: a fleet conversion study and a community-wide EV charging plan led by consultant Stantec, and a staff plan to expand municipal EV charging.

Sue Barras (board member), who has been attending biweekly check-ins with Stantec and county staff, summarized the consultant's scope: Stantec will inventory the county's vehicle fleet (from small utility vehicles to buses), analyze replacement schedules, estimate energy and charging requirements, model greenhouse-gas reductions from a full fleet conversion by 2040, perform financial analyses and identify funding sources. The community EV charging plan will map demand, review permitting and zoning, account for the state's clean-car rules and the county's Climate Action Plan, and propose an implementation and investment plan. Sue said public engagement, including a public visioning session, is planned for April and that the consultants will present draft plans to the board and county council later in the year.

Angelica (county staff) and other staff noted the studies will coordinate with a transit electrification study and with facilities that house shared fleet assets. \"They're going to engage individuals and organizations, do surveys, do community meetings, plan presentations, and so forth,\" Sue said about the outreach.

Separately, county staff reported that the county will expand EV chargers at the municipal building. Helga (county staff) said the county has approved three additional Level 2 chargers and will replace three existing units for a total of six networked, metered chargers that will be available for public charging and managed under an operations and maintenance agreement. Staff also said additional funding will support infrastructure for Atomic City Transit's electric buses.

The consultants are scheduled to present to county council and to the Board of Public Utilities in early April and again later this year; the public visioning session is expected in April. No formal board vote was taken at the March 20 meeting; the items were presented as part of study and implementation planning.","Consultant-led fleet conversion and community EV charging studies are underway, with public outreach planned in April; county staff said three additional Level 2 chargers will be added at the municipal building and funding will support Atomic City Transit infrastructure.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6627364,"County staff summarizes biennial water and energy conservation update; public input slated before 2027 plan",471,154000,625000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd&start=154&end=625","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2728636-2a3392fcf305791c1c95087fafd25ccd/thumbnail_154000.jpg","/articles/6627364/New-Mexico/County-staff-summarizes-biennial-water-and-energy-conservation-update-public-input-slated-before-2027-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627364-75b32113d8fcca54ffedfaecaea1aacd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900391&Signature=lTYMmUuhdJ1KhCd0DhttCAQrQtLbCBX~ErMyhw3l0nBhtqFFUV4wOH9YTGFRW-HUdcHhUGYrlbTxkTWX7q5VIR4fQPGlWEWQRgHlxZvHcsdhusw3qjXaptmU~RPrCxfZ3Mamy39Q8h0h2aOHSMeA5VR3RX7Qhmt5RtyKIBGiW2lgRwYoKzLfwLgOaO5V32JnnrIYVL-VyUd0zmkcpISBunO5PJg3ZHxyJXGw5-6qIx~~Dwrl9PL3wBjVjqHLVuXFi-9~XLlNWsRVWlSn6JAdSrDfFeVqH24gocOBpbXDdlU-QXicFZrza4ptciTBovsaXseD7WStiacDV8pqrGdv8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Abby (staff member) presented the Los Alamos County Water and Energy Conservation Plan biannual update to the Environmental Sustainability Board on March 20, outlining data updates, program progress and planned public outreach. \"Next year, we will be doing our more formal public input for the next version of the plan, which will begin in 2027,\" Abby said.

The update compiles revised consumption charts and program-status matrices, integrates portions of the county's Climate Action Plan public comments where they overlap with utilities, and highlights changes such as a modification to the Board of Public Utilities' (BPU) gas goal that removes the per-capita metric in favor of an absolute therms-reduction target. Abby told the board the report includes weather-data drawn from LANL's weather monitoring and adds new graphs, including gas consumption plotted against heating-degree days to better show winter impacts.

Board members asked questions about conflicts between planning documents, population and housing projections and rate impacts. Herman (board member) raised the funding concern that reduced consumption could leave the county with the same infrastructure costs on a smaller revenue base; Abby said rate-setting is a separate finance discussion but acknowledged it is a countywide concern as communities consider natural gas reduction strategies. Jill De Haven (board member) and others pressed staff on population and housing assumptions; Abby said population projections rely on U.S. Census figures and a University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research county forecast and that housing counts in the packet had not been updated.

The update document uses a simple status system: completed items marked in green, canceled projects marked with a red X and items pending or moved shown without a check. Abby noted one example of a canceled project, the county's previously considered carbon-free power project, which the update marks as ceased and explains. The document also includes appendix material compiling a sample of Climate Action Plan public comments and a separate appendix tracking outreach activities, including work by the county's education contractor, PEAK.

Board discussion touched on equity and implementation concerns. Members asked whether the county coordinates its conservation work with neighboring jurisdictions; Abby said the next plan cycle will include more outreach and external coordination. Members also discussed electrification issues such as time-of-use rates and the practicalities of switching from gas to induction cooking, including battery-backed induction and service-upgrade considerations for homes that might lose cooking capability during power outages.

The board did not take formal action on the update at the meeting; Abby said she will provide the document link to board members and continue to refine housing and population inputs for future updates.","At the March 20 Environmental Sustainability Board meeting, staff reviewed the county's biennial water and energy conservation update, described data and program changes and said formal public input for the next plan will begin early next year for a plan scheduled to begin in 2027.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Environmental Sustainability Board working group launches research on plastic bag impacts

County reports higher trash hauling, begins regional landfill study; state meeting set on food composting request

County hires Stantec to study fleet electrification and community EV charging; municipal chargers approved for installation

County staff summarizes biennial water and energy conservation update; public input slated before 2027 plan