Non-Local News Releases

New Mexico C-PACE Program launches website, statewide program administrator in place  

SANTA FE, N.M. – The Economic Development Department (EDD), in partnership with statewide program administrator Adelante Consulting Inc., has launched a website for the state's Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program.

C-PACE is a financing structure enabled by state statute and local ordinance that provides eligible property owners with access to long-term fixed-rate financing from private capital providers for a range of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency, and resiliency improvements. The program allows local governments to secure financing via a special improvement assessment on the property.

SANTA FE, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office today opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on seven oil and gas parcels totaling 1,317 acres that may be included in a February 2025 lease sale in New Mexico. The comment period ends June 5, 2024.

The parcels the BLM is analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment, are available on the BLM's ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2032203/570 .

TODAY: Heinrich to Host Press Conference Announcing New Efforts to Tackle Gun Violence, ConveneRoundtable Conversation with Educators on Housing Affordability, Hold Military Academy NominationCeremony in Albuquerque, & Celebrate Community Effort to Protect Buffalo Tract in Placitas

Situation: The Oakmont fire continues to display smoldering in the interior, but as of 1:15 p.m., all lines have held throughout yesterday evening and this morning. Containment remains at 30%. The Sacramento Hotshots will be released this evening, after the end of their shift. Forestry Division's Rio Grande crew will remain through the evening and into next week to finish fire suppression and patrol efforts. This will be the last notification on this fire unless there are significant changes.  .

Wildfire Notification #3 

The New Mexico Forestry Division would like to update you on a wildfire that is requiring the attention of local, state, and federal resources in New Mexico.  

Date/Time/Situation: As of 9:30 a.m., the Oakmont fire is zero percent contained and a GPS ground-truth assessment has defined its size as 120 acres. Crews worked overnight to patrol the fire's edges and to extinguish smoldering materials using available water tenders. Hand lines were cut by the Interagency Hotshot Crews on scene.  

Wildfire Notification #2 

 Date/Time/Situation: As of 8:45 p.m., the Oakmont fire is estimated at 100 acres, and zero percent contained. A Type 3 IC has been ordered to take command, given the amount of resources and situational complexity. Otero County has released the county's resources for the evening to be available for tomorrow morning's actions. All roads in and out of Timberon are currently restricted with no estimated time of opening. This will be the last notification of the evening unless there are significant changes.

Wildfire Notification #1 

The New Mexico Forestry Division would like to update you on a wildfire that is requiring the attention of local, state, and federal resources in New Mexico.  

Date/Time/Situation: The Oakmont Fire was discovered at 12:28 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2024; it is located in Timberon, NM. The fire is burning in a mixture of pinon, juniper and pine fuels within a populated neighborhood with some structures threatened. The fire is exhibiting torching behavior, which means that it is moving primarily across the surface of the ground, and intermittently reaching up into the crowns of trees. The Oakmont fire is estimated at 50 acres with zero percent containment. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

FBI Media Alert: Older New Mexicans Lost More Than $17 Million in Online Frauds and Scams

New Mexicans over the age of 60 lost more than $17 million in online frauds and scams last year, according to a special report from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

IC3 said 759 of the state's senior residents lost a total of $17,784,632 in 2023. The costliest types of scams for Elders in New Mexico were Confidence/Romance Scams at $4.9m, Investment Scams at $4.6m, and Tech Support Scams at $3.1m.