Scott Lopez introduced the New Mexico Nuclear Alliance to the Eddy County Commission, saying the organization will advocate for nuclear energy as part of New Mexico’s clean-energy transition.

Kristin Gamboa, executive director of the Carlsbad Department of Development, introduced Lopez before he spoke to the commissioners. "We are a 501(c)(6) nonpartisan membership organization," Lopez said, adding the alliance is in a soft-launch phase and formed about 90 days earlier.

The group, Lopez said, will support legislation in Santa Fe that mirrors a recently passed Colorado law that classifies nuclear energy as a clean, renewable resource. "The state of Colorado passed legislation about 4 months ago that classifies nuclear energy as a clean, renewable energy resource," he said. Lopez said the alliance intends to engage legislators and other stakeholders to advance similar measures in New Mexico.

Lopez described his background in utility infrastructure and energy policy and said he had recently hosted a symposium in northern New Mexico that drew 14 legislators and representatives from investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, the solar and nuclear industries, hydrogen and geothermal sectors, Native American utilities and municipal utilities. He named participants he said were on a nuclear panel, including the nuclear energy program director from Los Alamos National Laboratory and executives from Kairos Power and "Yurinko" (as read in the meeting record).

Lopez framed the alliance’s stated aims as promoting nuclear energy’s role in the state’s clean-energy transition and supporting associated economic development in tribal, rural and metropolitan communities. He said the organization will work with local officials and state lawmakers and would be a regular presence in Carlsbad to meet local leaders.

No formal action or vote was taken by the commission on the introduction.

The commission meeting moved on after a short question-and-answer exchange; Lopez invited commissioners to contact him for follow-up.