Morning Word: PNM Agreements Sidestep PRC Review

Advocacy groups want ownership transfer agreements ruled null and void

By Peter St. Cyr

PNM has spent months trying to restructure ownership agreements of the aging coal-fired plant near Farmington before it shutters two of the units. In May, they signed acquisition agreements with the City of Anaheim and M-S-R Public Power Agency in Modesto to acquire their portions of the San Juan Generation Station. The only problem: The investor-owned utility never got the Public Regulation Commission's required review or approval for the transfer. Now, New Energy Economy has filed a petition declare the secret "deal null and void."

PNM, which has scheduled its Second Quarter conference call with financial analysts this morning at 9 am, calls the petition meritless. Margaret Wright has the details.  Journalist Joey Peters was able to determine the name of the business at the center of an investigation into whether the New Mexico Tax and Revenue Secretary gave a former client preferential treatment. After brightening his computer screen, Peters was able to see right through a blacked out portion of the email meant to hide the name of Harold's Grading and Trucking of Bernalillo. The owner of that company told Peters that Tax and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla had been his CPA years ago but claims she didn't offer any special treatment during a recent audit. . Read it at the New Mexico Political Report.  The Albuquerque Journal talked to the tax department about their incomplete redaction. A spokesman didn't deny the business in question is Harold's Grading and Trucking but instead blasted the journalist for revealing the name.

Read it at the Albuquerque Journal.  Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Tommy Rodella will be getting another day in federal court. He wants Judge James O Browning to halt prosecutors' plans to seize $70,000 from his bank accounts to pay court fines after he was convicted of beating up a motorist and violating the man's civil rights. Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican.  Donald Trump has a commanding lead in the Republican presidential campaign polls despite making outrageous comments about war heroes and undocumented workers. Before heading to Scotland to golf and deliberately not prepare for next week's debate, Trump proposed mass deportations. Read it online here.  A few state prosecutors who got fired by Attorney General Hector Balderas may be heading to state district court if their administrative appeals are dismissed. Deborah Baker reports.  New Mexico Health Connections, a nonprofit health insurance cooperative, continues to struggle financially. It posted a $4.3 million loss last year. Rosalie Rayburn has the story.  Lauren Villagran has the latest on Virgin Galactic's plans to take tourists into space from its Spaceport America base in southern New Mexico. Despite setbacks, Sir Richard Branson appears to be adopting his mother's "just keep going" motto. Read Villagran's report at the ABQ Journal . 

Santa Fe baseball fans will have to wait a while longer for the Fuego playoff games. A soggy field postponed the game for the second night in a row. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the team's manager has resigned abruptly.

Read why Will Webber calls Bill Moore a quitter. 

Santa Fe Reporter

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