U.S. Forest Service Authority and Oversight Limited to Address LANL Electric Power Capacity Upgrade Project and Why It is Not Needed

January 16th, 2025 in Action Alerts / Events / Weekly News Updates
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Earlier this week the U.S. Forest Service admitted that it has limited authority and oversight of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s proposed Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project, or EPCU, that would transmit 173 megawatts of energy across sacred National Forest System lands.  The admission made in its 35-page Response to Comments document to complete its role in the environmental assessment process.  20250113_LANL EPCU Objection Response

The EPCU Project is a 14-mile electrical transmission line beginning at the Norton substation in western Santa Fe County.  It crosses National Forest lands on the Cajas del Rio, over the Rio Grande and ends at LANL. The proposed line would follow the path of the two lines that have brought energy to LANL to power its supercomputers for decades. Let’s talk about the Caja Del Rio

Thousands of people submitted opposition comments to the Forest Service.  CCNS opposed the line because during the public comment period LANL and Los Alamos County secretly negotiated for a 170 megawatt solar project in San Juan County.  The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires disclosure of all alternatives.  https://nuclearactive.org/ccns-submits-comprehensive-comments-in-opposition-to-proposed-lanl-electrical-line/

Further, CCNS argued that the EPCU Project must be incorporated into the draft LANL Site-wide Environmental Impact Statement.  Last Friday, January 10th, the draft LANL SWEIS was released for public review and comment.  It assumes by slight of hand that the EPCU Project is a done deal to fulfill LANL’s energy needs. 250113 f LANL SWEIS Electricity

Surprisingly, the draft SWEIS documents LANL plans for 339 megawatts from new sources.  They are:  170 megawatts from the Foxtail Flats Solar + Battery Energy Storage System and 169 megawatts from solar photovoltaic arrays at LANL, demonstrating there is no need for the EPCU line.  https://nuclearactive.org/ccns-submits-comprehensive-comments-in-opposition-to-proposed-lanl-electrical-line/ and  https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-10/pdf/2025-00265.pdf

LANL claims it needs a reliable and redundant electrical power supply to support mission programs, including powering supercomputers, and that “electrical power supply forecasts project that existing transmission lines … will reach capacity before 2027 and LANL will not have the electrical power supply to meet mission requirements.”

But that is not true.  For over 25 years, LANL’s energy needs have remained basically constant at about 100 megawatts.  During this time LANL has been in the race to develop the fastest supercomputers in the world and won accolades.

One key fact LANL omits in its quest for more energy is that as supercomputers become faster, they also become more efficient and require less, not more, energy as evidenced by its stable energy use over the decades.

The EPCU Project is not needed.  LANL must withdraw the environmental assessment.

  1. Start the New Year off right and join us on Friday, January 17th at noon at the intersection of West Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. Join the weekly peaceful protest with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, New Mexico Peace Fest, Pax Christi and others. Bring your flags, signs and banners and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

 

 

  1. Monday, January 20th at 4:30 MT – REPLAY of the inspiring An Alternative Inauguration: Artists and Activists Celebrating in Beloved Community webinar.  Presented by King and Breaking the Silence (KBS): A Project of the National Council of Elders.  KBS is choosing to honor Dr. King’s vision of our nation by gathering people online on his actual birthday, January 15th, to celebrate acts of creativity and peacemaking. https://kingandbreakingsilence.org/

 

 

  1. Saturday, January 18th through Monday, January 20th – The MLK 2025 Dream Weekend; Theme: Mission Possible:  Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365.  https://nmmlksc.org/

 Sat. Jan. 18th at 9 am – The MLK Commemorative March (begins at corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and University Blvd. NE on the UNM Campus); 11 am Commemorative Ceremony at Civic Plaza

 Sun. Jan. 19th at 3 pm – MLK Service – Sponsored by The Baptist Ministers Union, Shiloh MBC, 608 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE, ABQ

 Mon. Jan. 20th at 8 am – MLK Breakfast – Sponsored by Grant Chapel Embassy Suites, 1000 Woodward Place NE, ABQ

 For more information:  Beverly.gaines@mlkjrc.nm.gov

 

 

  1. Saturday, January 18th at noon – National Women’s March from Taos Plaza go the Taos County Courthouse, followed by short talks and music from Christine Autumn from 1 to 3 pm. Dress for the weather.  Signs welcome!  Questions:  575-779-6433 or 505 205-6454. 

 

 

  1. Monday, January 20th from noon to 1 pm – NAACP Santa Fe Celebrates MLK Jr. Day at the State Capitol Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM. For more information, contact NAACP Santa Fe Branch at naacpsfnm@gmail.com.

 

 

  1. Tuesday, January 21st at 9 am at NM State Capitol – Call for Climate Courage – Demand meaningful action from lawmakers on the first day of the legislative session. Sponsored by Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA).  For more information:  info@earthcarenm.org

 

 

  1. Tuesday, January 21st from 6 to 7 pm – LANL Director Thom Mason’s first virtual Town Hall of 2025 on zoom to answer your questions. No advance registration is required.

Via Zoom: lanl.zoomgov.com/j/1601904198?pwd=Hj3iYyjwzIC8E2AW2qowabeFjNf6BG.1

Meeting ID: 160 190 4198

Passcode: LANL0124

To submit a question live or in advance of the Town Hall, email AskLANL@lanl.gov.

For more information: https://www.lanl.gov/engage/community/public-town-hall

 

 

  1. Tuesday, January 28th – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock Announcement. https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/

“In truth, the Doomsday Clock is a global alarm clock.  We need to wake up – and get to work.”  Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, February 6, 2023. 

 

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