Organizer and activist Kay Bounkeua is taking over for former legislative powerhouse Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton, who resigned in the face of alleged financial improprieties. Believed to be the first Asian American woman to hold office in the Legislature, Bounkeua sits down with NMiF senior producer Matt Grubs to talk representation and redistricting.

Plans for the SunZia Transmission Project have been in the works since 2006, with $150 million already spent. That $4 billion project is supposed to someday bring wind-generated power from New Mexico to markets in Arizona and California. This week, correspondent Laura Paskus talks to John Ryan, SunZia New Mexico executive director, and Sandra Noll, who lives in Socorro County and worries how the project will affect migrating birds, ecotourism and the rural communities nearby. We know we need to transition to more renewable energy, but the question is how to balance that with local impacts?

Correspondents:

Laura Paskus, NMiF environmental producer

Guests:

Rep. Kay Bounkeua, NM House District 19

Sandra Noll, Protect Our Rio Grande

John Ryan, executive director, SunZia New Mexico

For More Information:

Kay Bounkeua appointed to fill seat vacated by Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton – KOB-4

SunZia New Mexico project homepage:

https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2011785/510

Fact sheet: https://eplanning.blm.gov/public_projects/2011785/200481766/20041399/250047592/Newsletter1_NOI_6.4_v3_06%20162021_508.pdf

To submit public comment on the project:

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/comment-period-and-public-meeting-update-sunzia-southwest-transmission-project