Below is what David Cohen wrote back in December at the Mountain View Telegraph. You’ll remember that the anti-biomass lobby downplayed the wildfire threat to the area and slurred him as a fear-monger.

“Mega-fires are torching America as never before, with towering infernos scorching more than 1.5 million acres this year, consuming homes block-by-block, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee,” the Chicago Tribune recently reported. “And as numerous large fires barrel over Southern California, experts warn things will likely only get worse, especially across the West.”

Recently, the residents of the East Mountains got a mild taste of what’s to come.

At a time like this, New Mexicans expect forceful and responsible government action, not foot-dragging, in addressing the looming catastrophe. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Sandia District Ranger Cid Morgan recently warned: “Don’t be surprised if we have a large, catastrophic wildfire in the East Mountains.” Given low moisture next year and the great number of dead trees lying at the floor of our overgrown forests, Morgan says “you’re talking explosive conditions, and if we get a fire in there (the Sandias) we will not be able to put it out.”

The Edgewood Independent added more bad news: “… the National Weather Service is now predicting a dry winter and a hot, windy spring— the worst possible conditions for potential wildfires. Add the climate forecasts to the (bug) infestations and you have the makings of a disaster.”

As evidenced by the California fires, the impacts could well be awful: loss of life and property, death of wildlife and habitat, water pollution and enormous plumes of dirty wildfire smoke traveling hundreds of miles, putting human health at grave risk.

Already the Manzano Mountains have suffered. During the Thanksgiving holiday, a fire destroyed 7,500 acres and at least three houses, while 100 families were evacuated from their homes.
   
Moves delayed

So what’s our government’s response?

Important tax credits, which create incentives to clean up forest waste, are being arbitrarily delayed and withheld. The state government, contrary to the direction of the Legislature and the governor, is attempting to deny needed tax incentives on ever-changing, unreasonable and unlawful grounds to biomass projects seeking to clean up the dangerous forest and brush waste, which fuels these wildfires.

This is more than odd. The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department categorically asserts on its Web site that biomass energy development would reduce the wildfire threat. Yet bureaucrats in this same department would now recklessly make biomass impossible.

Why?

Incredibly, they argue, contrary to accepted rangeland practices, that landowners in the area are not serious about removing brush and cannot be trusted to honor contracts because they are unable to specify every shrub to be picked up under existing multi-year landowner contracts and state Land Office leases. They are in effect implying that locals and the Land Commissioner do not care that the nearby forests are on the verge of explosion.

Evidently, cleaning up these dangerous conditions, while also making practical use of the waste for energy, isn’t a pressing priority. And so, while state government fiddles and attempts to justify its arbitrary decision, life and property are endangered. We deserve better.

News reports from California showed that homes remained untouched where forest thinning programs were implemented, while hundreds of homes were destroyed where it was not. This was also true of the fire that hit the Manzano Mountains.
   
Biomass opponents

But if certain attitudes toward biomass are a public safety menace, then the attitude of some of our state’s self-labeled environmentalists to air pollution and public health is no better.

The Forest Guardians, a litigious activist organization that calls for “more use of prescribed fires closer to home,” has utterly demonized biomass by grossly exaggerating the impacts of biomass facility air and greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of biomass to be removed.

They and certain misguided anti-development status quo East Mountains zealots, and their apparent political and bureaucratic allies, are spearheading the effort to unlawfully derail biomass development in the East Mountains based on junk science and misinformation to the endangerment of the community.

European environmentalists and governments are far more enlightened. Witness the Swedish city of Växjö, winner of this year’s prestigious European Union’s sustainable energy award. According to the London Independent, it was the city’s “(biomass) power plant that has helped the small Swedish city … become arguably the greenest place in Europe. On closer observation, the only thing emerging from the chimneys is the faintest wisp of steam. And inside it smells more like a sauna than a furnace.”

Indeed, rather than harming air quality, the U.S. Renewable Energy Laboratory found that, compared to a biomass facility, open burning of wood— i.e., what the Guardians advocate— puts into the air more than double the nitrogen oxides, more than 1,000 times the particulate matter, 20 times more carbon monoxide, more than 30 times the methane and about 1,000 times more volatile organic compounds. Rather than harming the forests and rangelands, responsible thinning proposed by biomass developers and landowners improves the health of the forests and restores rangelands.

Even the recently mild prescribed fire in the Jemez caused such pollution that the Albuquerque Journal had to warn that “people with asthma or other lung diseases should avoid prolonged exertion outdoors.” The Manzano fire demonstrated the air pollution consequences of wildfires in our midst.

With embers still smoldering in California and New Mexico, with homes destroyed in the Manzano Mountains, with a catastrophic wildfire still on the horizon, this is no time for bureaucratic appeasement of radical groups, but leadership. As things stand now, the fire next time will indeed be catastrophic if nothing is done.

KOAT 7 News:

A history of the Trigo Fire to date:

Tuesday, April 15: A fire on the west side of the Manzano Mountains southwest of Capilla Peak is reported just before 10 a.m. Dubbed the Trigo Fire, the blaze is reported to be over 200 acres. Air resources are grounded early Tuesday afternoon due to high winds. Hot Shot crews work on establishing an anchor point and flanking the fire. Firefighters are challenged by extremely high winds as well as very steep, rugged terrain.

Wednesday, April 16: Air resources are grounded again at noon due to high winds. The use of air tankers and helicopters continues to be wind dependent. Fire size is estimated at 250-300 acres. Fire fighters continue to be challenged by high winds as well as very steep, rugged terrain. The Trigo Fire experiences significant growth Wednesday night. As a cold front approaches the fire at around 8 p.m., winds increase, causing the fire to cross the Trigo Canyon. The fire then begins a substantial push up the canyon in a northeast direction. The fire reaches Osha Peak around 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 17: The U.S. Forest Service spends Thursday spreading the word to residents to prepare for possible evacuation. Cloudy conditions, cool temperatures and higher relative humidity aided firefighters in the containment effort Thursday. Crews work to establish fire lines and reinforce anchor points on existing lines. Approximately one mile of hand line has been completed on the extreme western edge of the fire. Clearing skies Thursday afternoon allow air tankers to make numerous retardant drops, slowing the advance of the flames. A total of 44,000 gallons of retardant is dropped in front of the flames Thursday. Spot fires on the east side of the mountain range are lined Thursday.

Friday, April 18: Officials bring a fresh task force to strengthen a community contingency line on the Trigo Fire Friday as Manzano and Torreon residents remain on standby for possible evacuations. As the fire continues to grow, firefighters develop strategies actively working contingency lines between the head of the fire and the local communities. The line, comprising the existing road network, is between the fire and rural villages on the eastern boundary of the Manzano Mountains. Other crews continue to build hand lines to flank the fire, as air tankers drop more retardant in front of active fire fronts. Crews continue to encircle and cool any remaining flames. Structure protection crews and engines work to improve defensible space around the electronic sites at Capilla Peak.

The brush fire has consumes more than 800 acres and is 20 percent contained early Friday morning.

Saturday, April 19: Firefighters are unable to strengthen containment lines as planned due to uncooperative weather. Crews attempt to deepen the black line between the fire front and the northern perimeter of the fire by consuming unburned fuel with drip torches. However, single-digit humidity and strong south winds force suspension of the effort about midday. Conditions caused some interior runs and spotting over containment lines, but all spots are quickly corralled or extinguished with retardant. Air tankers and helicopters dropped 65,000 gallons of retardant on hot spots and in front of flame fronts.

Sunday, April 20: High winds fan the flames and local officials ask about 200 residents of the Manzano and Torreon communities to evacuate. Shelters close late Sunday night because few people show up; shelters may reopen Monday. Gusty winds and low humidity send the Trigo Fire east toward Manzano Sunday and past pre-established landmarks, which trigger the evacuations. The blaze jumps a contingency line, forcing firefighters to fall back. Fire information officer Dan Baston says the wildfire jumped its northern boundary and moved from Cibola National Forest land to private property, roaring onto flatter land with grass and shrubs. Winds at 40 mph push the flames to the northeast. The interior flame formed a column from convection heat. The column rose high into the air sending burning embers in one-half mile or more to the east. The burning embers quickly ignited dry fuels, resulting in a wind driven fire that traveled three miles within five hours, producing flame lengths of 100 - 200 feet. Crews work on the east side of the blaze and air tankers were dropping fire retardant on the west side. Southwest Coordination Center officials say five helicopters out of Belen are being used on the fire. Air tankers are grounded. Fire information officer Deanna Younger says bulldozers worked overnight Sunday, cutting lines around the flanks and head of the fire.

Monday, April 21: Forestry officials tell Action 7 News that the fire has grown to 3,750 acres as of Monday morning. Crews work Monday to strengthen fire lines and hold them against windy conditions. Wind gusts of over 40 mph hamper firefighting efforts Monday as the Trigo fire progressed to the east where most of the people live. Nine homes, nine outbuildings and two recreational vehicles succumb to the fire, and a flare-up occurs on the west side of the fire at Meadowlake near 2 p.m. Fire crews from Arizona are dispatched to assist the effort, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency approves the state’s request to help pay for state and local efforts to fight the Trigo fire. About 14,000 tons of fire retardant was dropped on the blaze Monday, while helicopters dumped water on hot spots.

Tuesday, April 22: Crews took advantage of milder wind conditions Tuesday as progress continues on control lines. Cooler portions of the fire are in the mop-up stage. Crews that have camped out near their assigned divisions will soon return to the Incident Command Post in Mountainair. Gov. Bill Richardson met with Craig Cowie, Commander of the New Mexico Incident Management Team for a briefing and recon flight over the fire area. The fire has consumed more than 4,130 acres. Officials said they estimate containment at 27 percent and estimate the cost of fighting the blaze at $2,300,000. Cooler portions of the fire are in the mop-up stage.

Torrance County’s emergency management director lift voluntary evacuations Tuesday morning for Torreon and Manzano. County officials say that neighbors need to remain on alert in case the situation worsens and evacuations are ordered again.

Wednesday, April 23/Thursday, April 24 Officials say the Trigo Fire is refusing to lay down. Firefighters on the swing shift stayed out much Wednesday night fighting active fire behavior on the north side, below Capilla Peak. Crews managed to catch a couple of small slopovers and a few spot fires that tried to escape Wednesday night. The east and west extremities of the fire cool down and rehabilitation efforts are underway in those areas. The area below Capilla Peak however, continues to provide resistance.

Firefighters were battered by gusty winds Thursday as they continue to strengthen control lines on the Trigo Fire, bringing containment to 53 percent. Strong, gusty winds prevented the use of air tankers, and only three bucket drops are made by a heavy helicopter before air operations are suspended. Hand crews begin rehabilitation efforts on the west side, while crews on the eastern front approach completion of mop up operations.

Friday, April 25 Friday, dozer line rehabilitation begins along the easternmost containment line, and mop up continues along the southern flank. Three hotshot crews begin construction of hand line from Bartolo Canyon uphill toward the Manzano crest. A frontal passage Thursday evening brings a change in wind direction, from southwest to northwest, causing some concern along the southern flank. However, lower wind speeds and higher humidity will likely work in firefighters’ favor, allowing them to secure containment lines and cool any hotspots. Aerial operations will resume if winds permit. Crews plan to continue concentrating on the northern and southern sides Friday.

Saturday, April 26: Firefighters use a multi-faceted approach to significantly cool the Trigo fire. Mop up crews with hose lays dowsed sources of residual heat in the New Canyon campground area with 25,000 gallons of water. This effort will continue down canyon to the east. Most of the eastern and southern flanks have been mopped up and rehabilitated. Completion of that effort is expected Sunday.

Helicopters dropped about 12,000 gallons of water on hot fuels. Winds Sunday are predicted to be favorable for a burnout operation above Bartolo Canyon.

Residents from Mountainair, Torreon and Tajique attend a public meeting at the Torreon Community Center Saturday evening. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the current fire situation, gather information on available resources for rehabilitation, and discuss wildfire preparedness for the future.

Sunday, April 27: Firefighters move steadily toward full containment of the Trigo fire. Crews expect to finish mop up in the New Canyon campground area Monday. One smoke persists on the west side, which will be worked by hand crews. Helicopters drop about 8,000 gallons of water on burning interior fuels, and will be available again Monday for additional drops where needed. The burnout operation above Bartolo Canyon may continue tomorrow to reinforce the containment line. The BAER (burned area emergency rehabilitation) team will be on the incident Monday to begin assessment of damage to natural resources, prior to making recommendations for restoration.

Monday, April 28/Tuesday April 29 As the Trigo Fire nears 95 percent containment, crews are reduced by half Tuesday while the 4,832-acre blaze is handed over to a Type 3 management team. Fire information officer Dan Bastion says crews will be mopping up hot spots.

Wednesday, April 30/Thursday,May 1 Officials urge evacuations for several area neighborhoods Wednesday. Residents in Sufi Campground, Sherwood Forest, Apple Mountain Campground and Ten Pines Road are asked to evacuate to the Estancia Community Center at Williams Street in Estancia.

Thursday, the evacuations expand to include Torreon and Tajique as wind continues to push the fire, charring an estimated 13,000 acres. The fire destroys more homes Thursday, but because of the thick smoke and dangerous conditions, fire officials say crews have not been able to go into the area to determine how many structures have been burned or their locations.

The U.S. Postal Service evacuates the Torreon Post Office and will facilitate mail delivery to the affected Torreon Post Office through the Estancia Post Office.

Gov. Bill Richardson orders activation of the state Emergency Operation Center to monitor the Trigo Fire and fire conditions around the state and to offer help.

Friday, May 2 The wind continues to cause problems for firefighters, as a slight change in wind direction and speed keeep the fire’s east flank from burning with the intensity seen over the past two days. There is still concern on the part of fire managers for a portion of the south fire perimeter as well as other points.

An active part of the fire was pushes up against a previously constructed fire line on the south side. That line consists of hand line and retardant line dropped several days ago but as of Friday this part of the fire has laid down and remains within the lines.

Friday afternoon the Torreon Fire Department responded to a structure fire, unrelated to the Trigo fire, near the Abo turnoff on Hwy 55. One drop from a large helicopter assigned to Trigo, along with some initial attack wildland engines kept that fire to a few acres. This quick reaction allowed the Torreon Fire Department to concentrate on the private structure.

Less wind early in the day allowed for air assets to put 3 loads of retardant on the fire. Aircraft included 2 heavy tankers, 2 heavy helicopters, 1 light helicopter and 2 air attack platforms. When strong winds picked up the aircraft had to stand down.

Saturday, May 3 Winds diminish but still continue to be a factor. “Winds today were a far cry from what happened over the past few days,” said Jeff Whitney, Incident Commander of the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.

The fire management team continues working closely with all the tribal, federal, state, county and local agencies to facilitate the return of evacuated residences as quickly as it can happen in a safe manner. This continues to be a top priority during this faze of the fire incident.

The public can expect to still see smoke from the interior of the fire over the next several days. Along with continued work on patrolling and strengthening the fire containment line, fire managers will burn out some of the islands of heavy fuel in the interior part of the fire.

Sunday, May 4 Firefighters spend much of Sunday strengthening fire line and burning out pockets of fuel. Some interior burning produces a few smoke columns. Additional firefighters and heavy equipment will continue to focus on areas with urban interface implications, and continue to strengthen control lines. Operations are moving more from line construction to mop-up operations.

As residents return to the homes they had evacuated five days ago, many expressed concern after seeing large black smoke columns near the fire.

Firefighters were using fire to fight fire.

“They were cleaning out pockets of fuel that could threaten the line. Using small burnouts, carefully managed to keep the fire’s intensity and movement down. The idea’s to burn fuel that’s going to burn anyway under conditions we can predict and control rather then it burning when the wind and humidity are out of control,” said Buck Wickham, Operations Chief for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.

It is expected that more smoke within the line will be seen over the next few days as conditions safely allow.

This one really gives you some perspective regarding the harrowing destruction and pollution of the fire.

A number of people have posted photos of their experience with the Trigo fire at Eyewitness News 4. Here is one from mdietz:

Says mdietz: “Now that we are back to our computers we have been able to download the 200 pictures we have taken of both the first and the second evacuations. These three are from the second evacuation when we only had 30 mintues to get out.”

Thank God, they got out in time. We’re glad they’re back at their computers.

From the AP:

The cost of the human-caused fire so far is $8.2 million. The fire has been burning oak brush and pinon, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer trees west of the small communities of Manzano, Torreon and Tajique. The fire began April 15th.

As we’ve argued many times on this blog, the emissions from a forest fire are far worse than anything that would come out of the Estancia biomass project. Watch below at this footage from the recent Trigo Forest Fire:

Picture from World of Energy Fact Sheets.

Another cool video about biomass in India and the positive social changes it’s bringing about:

From the MVT editorial this week:

While we hear news reports that the spring run-off will be high this year, what is missed is that the Manzanos and Sandias didn’t get the amount of snow pack this year that mountains in northern New Mexico did. Last November, more than 7,000 acres burned in the Ojo Peak fire. Seven structures were destroyed in that fire and evacuations were conducted. Living in and enjoying the mountains is special, but we need to work together to keep the mountains from burning. The Forest Service has implemented thinning projects, but residents and visitors also need to use some common sense. A wildfire can start from something as simple as a cigarette butt or a campfire that isn’t extinguished all the way.

But don’t take our word for it. The Mountain View Telegraph is again reporting the bad news:

Dry conditions in the Mountainair Ranger District may soon lead to restrictions, said Arlene Perea, the district’s fire information officer. “Fire danger is up,” Perea said. “With no moisture in the next few weeks … we’re looking at restrictions.” Perea said people may not realize there is a high fire danger in the Mountainair area. “The snow line just sort of ends somewhere between here and Sandia (Ranger District),” she said. In spite of reports of heavy moisture and snowfall in northern New Mexico, even down to the Sandia Ranger District, the Mountainair Ranger District is unseasonably dry, Perea said. She said even the Gila National Forest to the southwest has gotten some recent moisture. “It’s just kind of deceiving, what (people) are hearing in the news,” she said. The rangers have already responded to fire rings that were not completely extinguished, a dangerous situation should the wind carry sparks into the brush, Perea said. Unfortunately, the careless behavior persists in spite of the recent Ojo Peak Fire.

…by Yael Naim for your weekend:

Have a great weekend!

…Biomass Magazine. Interesting and informative, with loads of information.  

Elected Commissioner of Public Lands, Patrick Lyons, just published a powerful op-ed in New Mexico’s largest newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, wherein he defends the Estancia Biomass Project and concludes that with this project: “Everybody wins.” His article—Many Benefits to Biomass Plant—is below:

I applaud Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Joanna Prukop for granting a tax credit to Western Water and Power Production, which plans to build a $90 million, 35-megawatt biofuel plant on nearly 44,000 acres of state trust lands in Torrance and Socorro counties.

New Mexico’s legislative and executive leaders continue to drive an agenda that calls for utilities to meet renewable portfolio standards. Incentives, credits, exemptions, and mandates are passed, not only to attract new business to the state, but to make green energy sources affordable and readily available to New Mexico families and businesses.

The state Land Office is playing a pivotal role in the development of clean renewable energy supplies, including leasing trust lands for the state’s first large-scale biomass power plant.

In order to restore a natural equilibrium in a region that was once sparse woodlands and savannahs, we must reduce the ecological degradation created by the encroachment of piñon and juniper. Land analysis reveals that there are 250 to 520 trees per acre in the area now leased to Western Water and Power Production. According to staff biologists, the ideal number of trees per acre is 20.

Overgrown forests and rangeland are a direct threat to life and property, wildlife habitat and overall woodland health. For example, last November the Ojo Peak fire in the Manzano Mountains destroyed 7,500 acres and forced the evacuation of about 100 families. Decades of fire suppression, combined with years of drought and insect damage, created a tinderbox.

As a landowner from rural New Mexico, I believe that healthy lands and economic stability are directly related. Western Water and Power has guaranteed up to 150 jobs during the construction phase and 20 to 30 permanent full-time jobs over the lifetime of the facility. The average annual payroll has the potential to exceed over $1 million.

There has been some opposition to this project, however be assured that Western Water and Power Production is bound to adhere to a specific harvest plan that will enhance land management goals and meet all environmental, biological and archaeological standards. Any harvesting of trees will follow New Mexico Forest Restoration Principles.

The Commissioner of Public Lands and the state Land Office manage millions of acres of surface and mineral estate held in trust to help support public schools, universities, hospitals, public buildings, the penitentiary and water projects— 21 institutions and programs in all.

The recipients of revenue generated by the biomass project include public schools, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Military Institute, New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Miners’ Colfax Medical Center, and the state penitentiary.

The Western Water and Power biofuel project will create a viable renewable energy source, improve rangeland, create jobs and economic development opportunities, and generate millions of dollars for education. Everybody wins.

Guess what? This is what: “Biomass accounts for two thirds of all renewables used in France today.”

As our readers are aware, Western Water and Power just received some important tax credits to develop a biomass facility in Torrance County. Less well known is that Foresight Wind Energy for High Lonesome Wind Ranch had competed with them for those tax credits, but we’re happy to read in the Mountain View Telegraph that Foresight Wind Energy will also be getting tax credits from the state, $222, 730 annually. Their regional development manager, Amy LeGere, published a cogent op-ed in the Telegraph this week:

The winds blow strong in the heart of New Mexico. With the county’s first wind project finalizing plans for construction in 2008, Torrance County and the Estancia Basin communities stand to reap the benefits from wind energy.

Harnessing the power of the wind is part of rural America’s past and future. Small turbines dotted the landscape long before rural electrification. Today, wind projects across America help preserve rural communities with new jobs, spending injected into local economies and an increased tax base. Wind energy is homegrown energy that helps secure our energy future. Unlike other electricity sources, wind turbines don’t use water or produce emissions to generate electricity. Wind is very compatible with ranching. Since only 2-3 percent of the land is utilized for the wind ranch infrastructure, livestock and wildlife can graze to the base of the turbines.

New Mexico looks to the tremendous potential of wind and other clean renewable energy for economic development, energy resource diversity, and environmental protection. The state seeks to meet its aggressive renewable portfolio standard to help provide New Mexico citizens with clean, stable-priced electricity and to harness the wind as a commodity crop for export to states with a large demand for renewable energy.

The wind industry contributes to the economies of 46 states, and communities across the nation are actively working to attract wind projects. Local spending to build and operate wind projects provides an important economic stimulus, and an increased tax base benefits counties, schools and states. Construction for a typical 100 megawatt wind project creates approximately 200 temporary jobs, with much of the work done by local contractors. Modern wind plants are designed to operate for a minimum of 30 years and require about 10 full-time employees to operate and maintain the facility. A 100-megawatt wind energy project will support the average annual electricity needs of 25,000 to 30,000 homes in the Southwest.

Torrance County’s first wind project is designed to essentially be self-sufficient, placing minimal or no demand on county services while bringing significant economic and social benefits. The project will boost the local construction and services economy during 2008. During the 30-year life of the project, the local and state economy will benefit from new high-tech jobs, an increased tax base, local expenditures, and project visitation and ecotourism revenues. 

We wish them well and…may the alternative energy revolution continue to move forward in New Mexico!  

The US Department of Energy explains:

Biomass is any organic material made from plants or animals. Domestic biomass resources include agricultural and forestry residues, municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes, and terrestrial and aquatic crops grown solely for energy purposes.

Biomass can be converted to other usable forms of energy and is an attractive petroleum alternative for a number of reasons. First, it is a renewable resource that is more evenly distributed over the Earth’s surface than are finite energy sources, and may be exploited using more environmentally friendly technologies.

Agriculture and forestry residues, and in particular residues from paper mills, are the most common biomass resources used for generating electricity and power, including industrial process heat and steam, as well as for a variety of biobased products. Use of liquid transportation fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, however, currently derived primarily from agricultural crops, is increasing dramatically.