A new pro-nuclear group in New Mexico has emerged and seeks to play a role in the state’s transition towards clean energy with nuclear power.
The New Mexico Nuclear Alliance, founded in July, is a non-partisan membership organization that operates out of Santa Fe, N.M. The new group has partnered with the Carlsbad N.M. Department of Development, Energy Communities Alliance and New Space Nexus.
Carlsbad is a longstanding nuclear community, where the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Carlsbad Field Office is based. DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is roughly 25 miles outside of Carlsbad.
The New Mexico Nuclear Alliance was founded and led by Scott Lopez, a Marine Corps veteran, investor and business consultant. According to Lopez’s LinkedIn account, he does not have a background in nuclear energy.
However, Lopez has ties with DOE’s Los Alamos National Laboratory, as he has “more than 12 family members working there over the last 80 years”, according to New Mexico Nuclear Alliance’s website.
Along with promoting more nuclear power in New Mexico, New Mexico Nuclear Alliance also has an interest in the state’s nuclear waste management, such as advanced recycling and long-term disposal solutions.
“New Mexico can responsibly grow its existing nuclear ecosystem and has the opportunity to lead the country by example, demonstrating that communities once supported by fossil fuels can thrive with carbon-free, reliable and affordable nuclear energy,” according to its website.