FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS  LIKE YOU.

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS, THE LARGEST BUDGET IN STATE HISTORY  APPROVED.

WHAT IS INSIDE AND WHY ANOTHER  SESSION OF SOME SORT COULD STILL BE POSSIBLE.

PLUS -- Gutkin: THE THING IS PART  OF THE RUSSIAN SQUARE KIND OF SETS THINGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T  ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

Gene: A RUSSIAN HERE IN NEW MEXICO DOING WHAT HE CAN TO  PROMOTE PEACE AND KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN  GRISHAM IS USING EXECUTIVE ACTION TO KICK START HER PLAN  TO MAKE NEW MEXICO A HUB FOR HYDROGEN POWER.

IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, WE'LL BREAK DOWN WHAT IS INSIDE.

AND OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS REACT TO ONE COMPANY  ANNOUNCING PLANS TO INVEST MORE THAN 250 MILLION IN OUR  STATE.

LATER ON, ENVIRONMENT  CORRESPONDENT LAURA PASKUS EXPLORES A POSSIBLE TOOL IN  THE BATTLE AGAINST ONGOING DROUGHT, WHETHER MODIFICATION.

TWO SCIENTISTS EXPLAIN HOW THE DECADES OLD PRACTICE OF CLOUD  SEEDING CAN BRING RAINFALL TO AREAS THAT OTHERWISE MAY NOT  SEE IT AND HOW IT IS HELPING KEEP PARTS OF NEW MEXICO STAY  HYDRATED RIGHT NOW.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK INSIDE THE  LARGEST STATE BUDGET IN NEW MEXICO HISTORY.

THE GOVERNOR APPROVED AN 8.5 BILLION DOLLAR PLAN LATE LAST  WEEK BUT NOT WITHOUT ELIMINATING SOME WISH LIST  SPENDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

LET'S GET TO THE LINE TO BREAK  IT ALL DOWN.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

FIRST I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME BACK LINE REGULAR AND FORMER  NEW MEXICO STATE SENATOR DIANE SNYDER.

ALSO GLAD TO HAVE LAURA SANCHEZ WITH US, AN ATTORNEY  AND LONG TIME LINE REGULAR.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE, LAURA.

AND WARM WELCOME BACK TO STEVE TERRELL, RETIRED CAPITOL  REPORTER FOR THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN, OF COURSE.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL WITH US.

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THERE IS  QUITE A BIT STUFFED INTO THIS 8.5 BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET FOR  THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, BUT IT IS WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED THAT  IS CAUSING CONTROVERSY IN SANTA FE.

DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE SAY THEY ARE STILL  CONSIDERING A PLAN TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF A  50 MILLION DOLLARS SHE SAYS CIRCUMVENTED THE BUDGET  PROCESS.

SOME OF THAT MONEY WOULD GO  TOWARDS INITIATIVES LIKE SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS,  CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND INCREASED COURT  STAFFING.

SENATOR SNYDER, YOU HAVE BEEN  INVOLVED IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS IN THE PAST, A  LOT OF THEM.

FIRST, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE  GOVERNOR'S VETO DECISION?

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT  HERE WHEN YOU SAW THAT VETO?

Snyder: I THOUGHT IT WAS A  MISTAKE, THAT IT WAS SILLY TO DO.

PARTICULARLY IF YOU DO A LITTLE RESEARCH, THIS IS WHAT  WE CALL HOUSE BILL 2, JUNIOR.

IT IS THINGS -- WHAT THE  PROCESS SOMEWHAT IS, LOOSELY DESCRIBED, IS THERE IS X  AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT THE HOUSE IS GIVEN AND X AMOUNT OF  DOLLARS THE SENATE IS GIVEN.

AND EACH LEGISLATOR IS THEN  GIVEN SOME AMOUNT TO GIVE AND SPEND AS THEY CHOOSE.

IT IS VETTED OVERALL BY THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND  SENATE FINANCE BUT LEGISLATORS GET TO DECIDE WHERE THAT MONEY  GOES.

AND THEY HAVE RECURRING MONIES  AND NONRECURRING MONIES.

AND SO, THIS IS THE BILL THAT  WAS VETOED.

THERE WAS SOME LINE ITEM  VETOES IN THE REGULAR BUDGET, HOUSE BILL 2, BUT SHE JUST  FLAT OUT VETOED ALL OF HOUSE BILL JUNIOR -- THE BUDGET  JUNIOR BILL.

AND IF YOU LOOK BACK, THERE  HAS ONLY BEEN ONE OTHER TIME WHEN A GOVERNOR'S VETO -- WHEN  THAT RESULTED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION CALLED  BY THE LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES.

I AM HAPPY TO SAY I WAS A PART  OF THAT HISTORIC MOMENT.

IT WAS EITHER MY FIRST OR  SECOND SESSION.

I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY BUT  GOVERNOR JOHNSON VETOED THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

WELL, OUR CONSTITUTION REQUIRES US TO HAVE A BUDGET  SO WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING AND HIS DEMANDS, OR WE THOUGHT, AS  LEGISLATORS WERE SOMEWHAT UNCONVENTIONAL AND NOT  NECESSARY.

SO WE CALLED OURSELVES INTO  SESSION AND PROCESSED AND CREATED A BUDGET AND  EVERYTHING WENT WELL STARTING ON JULY 1 OF THAT FISCAL YEAR.

SO I FELT LIKE -- ONE OTHER QUICK THING.

A LOT OF TIMES IN THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA OR MAJOR  METROPOLITAN AREAS, IT IS NOT AS WELL-KNOWN WHICH LEGISLATOR  GIVES YOU THE MONEY FOR YOUR SENIOR CENTER OR FOR A ROAD OR  THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IN THE RURAL AREAS, THEY  CONSIDER THAT VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE EVERYBODY  KNOWS THEM AND THEY KNOW WHO AND THEY RUN FOR REELECTION ON  WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN, NOT SO MUCH IN ALBUQUERQUE  PARTICULARLY.

SO, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO  RURAL AREAS AND THAT IS WHY YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF CROSS  OVER, BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, ADVOCATING OR  STANDING READY TO DO AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION.

I AM WATCHING EAGERLY.

Gene: IT IS A FASCINATING  MOMENT, STEVE TERRELL.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT  SENATOR SET UP FOR US, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO  ARE OUT THERE THREATENING THIS EXTRAORDINARY SESSION, ONE  CALLED BY THE LEGISLATURE, OF COURSE.

POSSIBLE?

WHERE DOES IT SIT RIGHT NOW IN  YOUR VIEW, STEVE?

Steve: WELL, EVERYDAY I  READ SOMETHING AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT CHANGES DAY TO DAY.

I READ A MONAHAN LOG POST EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT SAID  PROBABLY IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN EXTRAORDINARY.

BUT THERE IS ALSO TALK BY THE GOVERNOR OF CALLING A SPECIAL  SESSION FOR GAS PRICES.

AND SOMEHOW I THINK IT COULD  BE A FACE SAVING TYPE DEAL SO SHE WON'T BE THE SECOND  GOVERNOR TO GET AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION CALLED.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST SESSIONS TOO.

I COVERED, SENATOR SNYDER, AND  LIKE YOU, I WAS BAFFLED BY THIS THING.

IT SEEMS THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN HAD AN EDITORIAL THAT  SAID THE GOVERNOR HAS A WEIRD PROPENSITY FOR OFFENDING HER  ALLIES AND THIS NOT ONLY STUCK HER TO THE REPUBLICANS BUT  ALSO DEMOCRATS.

SO, IT IS LIKE SHE IS BRINGING  UNITY TO THE LEGISLATURE BUT PROBABLY NOT IN THE WAY SHE  WANTED.

Gene: LAURA, I CANNOT  REMEMBER A TIME -- I HAVE SEEN SO MANY DEMOCRATIC STATE  REPRESENTATIVES WITH SO MANY VERY TOUGH QUOTES ABOUT A  SITTING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

THIS IS AN AMAZING THING.

I AM TALKING SOME HIGH PROFILE FOLKS, ROGER MONTOYA, PATTY  LUNSFORD.

THESE ARE NOT -- YOU KNOW, YOU  GET WHAT I AM SAYING?

THESE ACTIONS WILL HAVE,  QUOTE, GRAVE AND CONSEQUENTIAL IMPACTS ON SENIORS, YOUTH,  RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, VETERANS, NONPROFITS.

WHAT WAS GAINED HERE?

Laura: I WANT TO REMIND US  ALL, THAT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN  TERMS OF HIGH PROFILE DEMOCRATS CRITICIZING THE  GOVERNOR.

LET'S NOT FORGET JOHN ARTHUR  SMITH WITH THE MONIKER DR. NO, YOU KNOW, DR. NO WHO SAID NO  TO A LOT OF BILL RICHARDSON'S INITIATIVES AND THERE WAS NO  LOVE LOST BETWEEN THOSE TWO HIGH PROFILE DEMOCRATS.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN NEW MEXICO.

WE SEE A LOT OF THIS.

AN ELECTION THAT IS CRITICAL  FOR, I THINK, THE STATE AND IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL DIRECTION  OF THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BRING A LOT IN TERMS OF  UNIFYING THE PARTIES ONCE WE GET PAST THIS TURMOIL.

BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS GAINED, I THINK FROM THE  GOVERNOR'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT TO BE  SAID FOR -- IN TERMS FROM HER PERSPECTIVE JUST SHINING A  LIGHT INTO THE PROCESS.

I THINK FOR ANYBODY WHO IS NOT  FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY THAT CAPITAL OUTLAY TENDS TO WORK,  THE FACT THERE IS THIS JUNIOR BILL, THIS IS AN AREA THAT I  THINK IS RIPE CRITICISM IN TERMS OF HOW THE DECISIONS GET  MADE.

Gene: IS THIS THE TIME TO  MAKE THAT POINT FOR THE GOVERNOR IN AN ELECTION YEAR?

Laura: SOME OF IT MAY BE TRYING TO GAIN SOME TRACTION  WITH FOLKS WHO ARE CRITICAL OF JUST PEOPLE IN THE KNOW IN  SANTA FE.

MAYBE TRYING TO SHINE A LIGHT  INTO TRANSPARENCY.

THAT COULD BE AN ANGLE BUT ON  THE OTHER HAND FROM THE LEGISLATORS' POINT OF VIEW,  THIS IS HOW IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS.

I THINK THAT SENATOR SNYDER'S POINT IS WELL TAKEN THAT  ESPECIALLY IN THESE RURAL AREAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAY BE A  SMALL AMOUNT IN ALBUQUERQUE OR SANTA FE COULD BE HUGE FOR A  LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER, A YOUTH CENTER, RECREATIONAL  AREA, A PARK.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE  REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SOME OF THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO, I THINK IT IS GOING TO ULTIMATELY END UP BEING  DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO JUST SORT OF STAY ON THIS  TRACK.

THERE HAS TO BE A COMPROMISE  MADE ON ALL SIDES TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET PAST THIS  IMPASSE.

Gene: SENATOR, WHEN YOU  HAVE GOT FOLKS LIKE I MENTIONED MS. LUNDSTROM WITH  QUOTES LIKE, QUOTE, COME ON NOW, GIVE ME A BREAK.

I THINK LEGISLATORS KNOW WHAT IS BEST IN THEIR OWN DARN  COMMUNITIES AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUND SOME OF THOSE  SMALLER PROJECTS.

THAT IS PRETTY TOUGH STUFF  RIGHT THERE.

Diane: IT IS TOUGH STUFF  AND PATTY IS RIGHT -- REPRESENTATIVE LUNDSTROM,  PARDON ME -- THE THING IS I WENT THROUGH  THE LIST YESTERDAY, TOOK ME A WHILE TO GO THROUGH, BUT ON  THE LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE IT GIVES YOU EVERY LINE ITEM THAT  WAS FUNDED.

DOESN'T TELL YOU WHO FUNDED IT  BUT IT DOES TELL YOU WHO IT IS.

I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT I THOUGHT INAPPROPRIATE FOR  THOSE KINDS OF FUNDS.

I LIKE THE FACT THEY HAVE HAD  SOME RECURRING EXPENSES FUNDED BY RECURRING MONEY.

WHICH IS ALWAYS THE WISEST THING TO DO.

BUT, ONE POINT I WANT TO QUICKLY MAKE, THERE IS A GREAT  BIT OF DISCUSSION ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IF YOU'RE  PLANNING ON PUTTING IN A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER ITEMS, WE DON'T  WANT AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION AND WE DON'T WANT THE GOVERNOR  DOING THAT.

Gene: I'LL WRAP UP WITH YOU  ON THIS, STEVE.

THE CONTROVERSY WON'T AFFECT  WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, OF COURSE.

A BIG CHUNK OF SPENDING GOING TOWARDS INCREASED PAY FOR  PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, POLICE.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO GET THOSE PAY RAISES PASSED  QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY AND NOW WE HAVE GOT THIS OTHER STUFF  TO DEAL WITH?

Steve: LIKE OTHERS HAVE  SAID, I THINK IT IS A MESS THAT THE VETO CAUSED.

I THINK MOST OF THAT STUFF WILL EVENTUALLY GET APPROVED  AT A SPECIAL OR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION BUT, YEAH, I THINK  THIS WAS A NEEDLESS THING AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE  PROCESS AND I AGREE THAT THE CAPITAL OUTLAY PROCESS DOES  NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND THERE PROBABLY ARE A LOT  OF REFORMS NEEDED, BUT IF -- GENE, YOU KEPT SAYING IT IS AN  ELECTION YEAR AND I THINK THE VOTER DOWN IN SOME RURAL  COMMUNITY THAT WANTS A NEW SENIOR CENTER, THEY DON'T GIVE  A FLYING DARN ABOUT THE ELECTION -- YOU KNOW -- THE  PROCESS HERE.

YOU KNOW.

THEY ARE GOING TO SAY, WHY DID SHE VETO THAT?

IT MAY BE A TEMPEST IN THE TEA  POT.

IT MAY ALL BE CORRECTED BUT  THEN AGAIN IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME KIND OF A NEW SESSION TO  DO IT.

Gene: I WANT TO WRAP THIS  UP HERE.

IRONY IS INTERESTED WHEN YOU  THINK ABOUT IT HOW THE GOVERNOR IS SORT OF POSITIONED  THERE.

THERE IS BETTER WAYS TO  DISTRIBUTE MONEY BUT THIS IS THE SAME GOVERNOR, OF COURSE,  WHO TRIED TO DISTRIBUTE MONEY COMING OUT OF THE FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT AND ENDED UP ON OUR SUPREME COURT ABOUT WHO GETS  TO SPEND THE DANG MONEY.

IT IS ALL VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

Steve: THERE IS SPECULATION  THAT THE VETO WAS LIKE REVENGE FOR THAT.

Gene: THAT IS RIGHT.

Steve: SPECULATION.

I DON'T KNOW.

Gene: THE LINE WILL BE BACK  IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE  ACTION ON HYDROGEN.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT WE  WANT TO TURN OUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDING  IN UKRAINE AND THE RESPONSE TO IT.

HERE IN NEW MEXICO, AMERICAS, UKRAINIANS, EVEN RUSSIANS ARE  COMING TOGETHER TO OPPOSE THE INVASION AND TO SUPPORT PEACE.

COLORES HOST EBONY ISIS BOOTH SPOKE WITH ONE OF THOSE  CONCERNED CITIZENS.

Booth: THERE ARE RUSSIAN VOICES OPPOSING THE WAR ON  UKRAINE AND DOING WORK TO ENSURE THOSE VOICES ARE HEARD.

GRISHA GUTKIN WAS AMONG THOSE PROTESTING AT OUR RALLY FOR  UKRAINE IN SANTA FE THIS PAST WEEKEND.

GRISHA, WHY WERE YOU THERE?

Gutkin: THE FIRST PART OF  THE ANSWER IS THAT I ORGANIZED THE RALLY.

AND THE REASON THAT I ORGANIZED IT IS, YOU KNOW, I  AM FROM RUSSIA ORIGINALLY.

I CAME HERE WHEN I WAS A 12  YEAR OLD BOY.

SO I HAVE KIND OF A SPLIT  IDENTITY BETWEEN MY RUSSIAN AND MY AMERICAN PARTS OF MY  IDENTITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE WAR  BROKE OUT IN UKRAINE, I FIRST, YOU KNOW, WAS SHOCKED AND  SADDENED AND FOR A WHILE I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW I COULD  HELP.

AFTER READING A MESSAGE FROM  NAVALY, WHO IS A JAILED POSITION LEADER, CALLING FOR  RUSSIANS TO COME TO THE STREETS EVERY SUNDAY AND  PROTEST THE WAR, NOT JUST RUSSIANS IN RUSSIA BUT  RUSSIANS EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, I THOUGHT THIS WAS  SOMETHING THAT I COULD DO.

JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO, I  THINK ALMOST 100 PEOPLE SHOWED UP, AND WE WANT TO JUST KEEP  IT GOING AND PROMOTING SOLIDARITY WITH THE UKRAINIAN  PEOPLE AND I THINK AMERICANS ARE NOT FOR THIS WAR, BUT IT  IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NOT ALL RUSSIANS ARE FOR THIS WAR  EITHER.

Booth: HOW DO YOU TALK  ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

Gutkin: I TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

I TALK TO MY WIFE ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

SHE IS A VERY DEEPLY CARING PERSON SO IT IS VERY UPSETTING  TO BOTH OF US.

SO WE HELP EACH OTHER PROCESS  IT AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE DAILY EVENTS OF WHAT IS  HAPPENING AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE IN RUSSIA  INCLUDING MY MOM WHO STILL LIVES THERE.

IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE SHE GETS  A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE EVENTS, YOU KNOW.

SHE OBVIOUSLY THINKS, SHE IS HORRIFIED BY WHAT IS  HAPPENING, BROTHER KILLING BROTHER, BUT A LOT WHERE WE  DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE IS WHO CAUSED THE WAR.

SHE DOESN'T SEE IT AS A WAR OF AGGRESSION.

SHE SEES IT AS  WHAT THE OFFICIAL PROPAGANDA SAYS, IT IS A WAR OF  LIBERATION.

AND SO ONE OF THE EXAMPLES TO  COUNTER THAT I SAID, DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE  MATERNITY WARD THAT GOT BOMBED?

AND SHE SAID, WELL, THE WAY THAT THEY SHOWED IT TO US IS  THAT THIS WAS ALL STAGED, THERE WAS A BLOGGER ACTRESS  WHO ACTUALLY ACTED OUT IN THOSE VIDEOS AND, YEAH, THERE  WASN'T REALLY A MATERNITY WARD.

IT USED TO BE A MATERNITY WARD BUT IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE  FIGHTERS AND, YEAH, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SAW THAT WERE  ESCAPING IT, THEY WERE ACTORS.

THAT KIND OF -- I HAVEN'T  HEARD THAT THEORY YET SO I WAS JUST KIND OF DUMBFOUNDED.

SO, THAT IS TO SAY, THE CONVERSATION WITH MY MOM, I AM  TRYING TO EDUCATE HER ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON BUT IT IS  HARD.

IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE.

I THINK SHE IS, I THINK, PART OF THE MAJORITY OF RUSSIANS  KIND OF BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

IF THEY DO GET SOME, YOU KNOW, FACTS THAT ARE NOT IN OFFICIAL  NARRATIVE, THEY ARE AFRAID.

Booth: WHAT CAN BE DONE  RIGHT NOW?

Gutkin: I THINK WE CAN SHOW  SUPPORT TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE  IN NEED.

THERE ARE OVER TWO MILLION  REFUGEES THAT NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

I THINK BATTLING THE PROPAGANDA AND ESPECIALLY  RUSSIAN SPEAKING PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH YOUR  FOLKS BACK IN RUSSIA, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT IS HARD TO  TALK TO THEM SOMETIMES BUT I THINK IT IS OUR DUTY TO KIND  OF LET THEM KNOW WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING BECAUSE  THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE  ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ELECTING THEIR GOVERNMENT.

AND IF THEY DECIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF  PUTIN, 20 YEARS OF DICTATORSHIP, THEN THEY CAN  ACTUALLY CHANGE THINGS.

Blazquez: TO BE SOMEONE ACTUALLY BORN AND RAISED IN  NEW MEXICO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE BUT I AM VERY FASCINATED  WITH THAT.

Gene: THANKS AGAIN TO EBONY  ISIS BOOTH FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

YOU'LL SEE MORE FROM GRISHA  COMING UP IN THE NEXT EPISODE OF COLORES HERE ON NEW MEXICO  PBS.

MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER THE  STATE LEGISLATURE REJECTED SEVERAL PLANS TO CREATE A HUB,  FOUR IN FACT, FOR HYDROGEN ENERGY HERE IN NEW MEXICO,  GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE  ORDER DIRECTING MEMBERS OF HER CABINET TO WORK TOWARDS  BRINGING IN A HYDROGEN ECONOMY.

BUILDING A HYDREA GIVEN ECONOMY.

LET'S BRING THE LINE PANEL BACK IN TO TALK ABOUT THE  LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN THIS SAGA.

AS OF JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE PLAN WAS TO USE A FORM OF  HYDROGEN DERIVED FROM NATURAL GAS BUT IN THAT EXECUTIVE  ORDER, IF YOU NOTICE.

THE GOVERNOR USED THE TERMS,  QUOTE, CLEAN AND ZERO CARBON SEVERAL TIMES.

LESS THAN 10 MINUTES AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT,  UNIVERSAL HYDREA, A COMPANY DEVOTED TO, QUOTE, GREEN  HYDROGEN, ANNOUNCED THE DEAL HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

NOW, HOW DOES THIS CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF THIS HYDROGEN  PUSH?

LET ME START WITH LAURA SANCHEZ ON THAT.

WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR YOU WHEN YOU CONSIDER HYDROGEN?

ANYTHING DIFFERENT HERE AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE  ORDER?

Laura: I THINK IT IS  IMPORTANT TO THINK BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AT THE TIME THAT  THE ETA WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT AND THAT WAS, IN MY OPINION,  THAT WE NEEDED, YOU KNOW, AN EVERYTHING-ON-THE-TABLE  APPROACH TO ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT ALSO ADDRESSING  OUR ENERGY NEEDS IN THE STATE.

Gene: THE OLD OBAMA  APPROACH, RIGHT.

Laura: RIGHT AND IT WAS  ABOUT A TRANSITION.

I THINK PART WHAT I SEE IS THE  CRITICISMS THAT A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE ABOUT  THIS HYDROGEN APPROACH IS THAT THEY LARGELY ADDRESSED A LOT  OF THE COAL, OBVIOUSLY, THE COAL BURNING AND THE CO2 FROM  THAT.

AND NOW THEY ARE SHIFTING TO  ALL FOSSIL FUELS WITHOUT REALLY CONSIDERING WHAT THAT  MEANS FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES IN NEW MEXICO.

THERE HAS TO BE A JUST TRANSITION.

THAT WAS A BIG PART OF WHAT THE ETA WAS ABOUT WAS  INCLUDING A JUST TRANSITION, SO, FOR THESE -- WHAT THE  GOVERNOR HAS LOOKED AT ALONG WITH OTHER STATES IN THE  REGION, AND USING OR LEVERAGING FEDERAL FUNDS, IS  TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TRANSITION INTO CLEANER ENERGY  BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THAT AS  A RESOURCE.

I THINK AS WE SEE RIGHT NOW  WHAT IS HAPPENING GEOPOLITICALLY AROUND THE  WORLD, OBVIOUSLY WITH UKRAINE, AND PROBLEMS WITH GAS AND SO  FORTH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INCREASINGLY CONNECTED  WORLDWIDE AND RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO ARE  STILL VIABLE FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL  ISSUES BUT ALSO ADDRESSING SOME OF THE SUPPLY ISSUES  AROUND THE WORLD.

SO, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT  FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT IT ISN'T AS BLACK AND WHITE AS  SOME FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE.

THE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER ALSO IS THAT ONE OF THE BIG  PROBLEMS THAT ENVIRONMENTS HAVE, AND I THINK IT IS A  REASONABLE CONCERN, THAT ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE ABOUT  HYDROGEN IS THAT THERE IS A BYPRODUCT OF METHANE ESCAPING  AND THAT IS OVERALL A CONCERN WITH OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION,  BUT THERE IS ALSO TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD BE BROUGHT IN TO  DETECT MORE METHANE ESCAPING, AS WELL AS TRYING TO DO MORE  DIFFERENTIATED GAS, MEANING THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE  SURE THAT THE PRODUCTION ALL THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IS DONE  IN A CLEANER MANNER.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE KIND OF  TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE  TRANSITIONING WELL INTO THE FUTURE AND THE BEST WAY TO DO  THAT IS LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THOSE  KINDS OF TECHNOLOGY.

SO, I THINK THIS IS A SMART  APPROACH BUT IT IS VERY POLITICALLY OBVIOUSLY  DIFFICULT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

Gene: SMART APPROACH, STEVE  TERRELL?

THE GOVERNOR HAD A WHOLE YEAR  TO LET US KNOW WHAT WAS UP, HER THOUGHTS, COULD HAVE  BROUGHT US INTO THE PROCESS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS,  LEGISLATORS, EVERYBODY COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT NO, RIGHT  BEFORE THE SESSION SHE DECIDED TO DROP THIS BOMB SAYING WE  ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS NEW HYDROGEN HUB.

WAS THAT THE SMART WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS IF IT WAS SO HUGE  AND THE POTENTIAL SO BIG?

Steve: HELL BENT FOR  HYDROGEN.

THAT IS OUR NEW STATE MOTTO.

I AGREE, GENE.

I THINK THAT   SHE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB OF PREPARING  EVERYBODY FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEN YOU SEE JERRY ORTIZ Y PINO AND JIM TOWNSEND VOTING  THE SAME WAY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS -- TALK ABOUT UNITING THE  LEGISLATURE AGAIN.

YOU KNOW.

SHE IS NOT THE ONLY POLITICIAN, NOT THE ONLY  DEMOCRATIC POLITICIAN WHO HAS PUSHED HIGH DEGREE GIVEN.

SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH HAS TO AND SENATOR BEN RAY LUJAN, BUT  SENATOR HEINRICH BROUGHT UP AN INTERESTING FACT AT A HEARING,  I THINK, IN FEBRUARY, A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING.

THIS  BLUE HYDROGEN, WHICH DEPENDS ON NATURAL GAS, THERE IS ALL  THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY GOING WHERE IT WILL BE MUCH CHEAPER  TO PRODUCE THE GREEN HYDROGEN BUT IF WE ARE INVESTING ALL  THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO BLUE HYDROGEN, WHICH COULD BE,  WITHIN FIVE OR 10 YEARS, PRICED OUT BY THE GREEN  HYDROGEN, IS THAT REALLY A WISE MOVE?

I THINK THIS THING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY SERIOUS PEOPLE.

AND NOT JUST THIS POLITICAL BACK AND FORTH.

Gene: I HAD A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW SECRETARY GRANHOLM,  WHEN SHE WAS IN NEW MEXICO DOING THE BIG HYDROGEN PUSH TO  GET THIS THING GOING.

AND SHE KIND OF MADE IT CLEAR  THAT NEW MEXICO WAS RIGHT ON THE BRINK OF SOMETHING, SO YOU  CAN'T BLAME THE GOVERNOR FOR SEEING SOMETHING BUT IT IS A  PROCESS QUESTION.

YOU KNOW.

THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING HERE.

THE PROCESS JUST DOESN'T SEEM  LIKE SHE IS ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD.

AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?

DOES SHE NEED EVERYBODY ON  BOARD HERE?

Snyder: WHAT YOU'RE MISSING  IS THE 18 MILLION-DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE FEDS.

Gene: SECRETARY GRANHOLM MADE THAT VERY CLEAR.

Snyder: IT IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WE ARE IN THE MARKET  TO HAVE SOME OF IT.

I HAVE A COUPLE THOUGHTS.

ONE IS THAT MAYBE SHE WAS KEEPING IT CLOSE TO THE VEST,  WHILE SHE WAS NEGOTIATING WITH THE OTHER STATES TO HAVE THE  AGREEMENTS WITH TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE AND MORE  ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING FROM THE FEDS.

I THINK THAT IS ONE THING.

DID IT COME AT A BAD TIME AND  I THINK SHE WAS SOMEWHAT TAKEN ABACK, I WAS A LITTLE BIT,  THAT SHE GOT SO MUCH PUSH BACK ON IT.

AND THEN YOU START READING INTO IT AND AS LAURA AND STEVE  HAVE SAID, YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WAS OCCURRING.

BUT, THEN THERE IS THE PART OF ME THAT SAYS, OKAY, DID THAT  PUSHBACK COME FROM THE REASONS THEY GIVE OR IS IT ONCE AGAIN  THE AGE OLD FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRIES AGAINST THE  ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

HOW MUCH OF THAT PLAYED INTO THE  DISCUSSION AND THE REJECTION OF THE BILL.

BECAUSE IT WOULD USE AND CERTAINLY WITH ALL THE NATURAL  GAS WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO, IT WOULD -- WE ARE THE NATURAL  PARTNER WITH THE OTHER STATES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS  COMPACT WITH HER.

SO, TO ME, I AM STILL SITTING  ON THE OUTSIDE GOING, OKAY, LOTS OF MONEY, LOTS OF JOBS, A  STEP TOWARD CLEANER ENERGY IN NEW MEXICO, WHY ALL THIS  PUSHBACK AGAINST IT FOR HER IN HER MOVING FORWARD TO DO IT?

I THINK SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE A TRUE LEADER AND STEP UP  AND SAY, GUYS, YOU TOOK THE WRONG TURN ON THIS ONE SO WE  ARE GOING TO GO.

Gene: A QUESTION FOR YOU  BUT INTERESTED IN YOUR FOLLOW-UP TOO.

Laura: LOOK, TIMING IS EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

IN A  PERFECT WORLD, THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE GIVEN PLENTY OF  TIME LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES WHEN IT COMES TO SHOPPING AN  ISSUE DURING INTERIM COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THEN PREPPING IT  FOR PREFILING AND ACTUALLY HAVING IT INTRODUCED AND THEN  TALKING ABOUT IT.

HERE IS THE KEY.

WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY,  THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THAT CLEAN HYDROGEN HUB INFRASTRUCTURE  FUNDING DIDN'T COME OUT UNTIL FEBRUARY 15, 2022.

IF YOU JUST GOOGLE THAT PART OF IT, THE DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT  ON THAT HYDROGEN HUB INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING CAME  OUT FEBRUARY 15.

I THINK THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY  TALK WELL BEFORE THAT FROM DOE ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE WORKS  BUT UNTIL IT IS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED BY THE DOE --  Gene: BUT HE WAS HERE.

THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY WAS  HERE BEFORE FEBRUARY OF 2022.

Laura: THAT DOESN'T MEAN  THAT THERE IS AN ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY THAT IS OPEN UNTIL  IT IS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED AND THIS OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 15.

THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.

SO, I THINK THAT THE TIMING NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED A LITTLE  BIT BETTER, COULD BE EXPLAINED A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS TO WHY  THIS HAPPENED THE WAY THAT IT DID AFTER THE DISCUSSION ON  THE ACTUAL LEGISLATIVE ASPECTS OF IT HAD ALREADY OCCURRED BUT  I THINK THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT.

WE'RE KIND OF AT THE MERCY OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS  GOING TO DO WITH REGARD TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING  AND THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF DELAY ON THAT THIS YEAR.

Gene: WE'LL BE WATCHING THAT DEVELOPING STORY OVER THE  COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, NO DOUBT, ALONG WITH THAT APPEAL  IN THE PROPOSED AVINGRID PNM MERGER.

THAT IS IN THERE TOO.

THANKS FOR OUR PANELISTS ONCE AGAIN.

WE'LL CHECK BACK WITH THEM IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT  THE ORGANIZED EFFORTS TO KEEP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FROM  INCHING FURTHER LEFT.

Gene:   AS DROUGHT CONTINUES TO WORRY THE STATE'S FARMERS  AND RANCHERS, SOME ARE TRYING TO FIND A FIX BY MODIFYING THE  WEATHER.

CORRESPONDENT LAURA PASKUS  CAUGHT UP WITH TWO PEOPLE AT THE CENTER OF THIS PROJECT.

GARY WALKERS' COMPANY FILED AN APPLICATION FOR CLOUD SEEDING  AND HANNAH HANNAH RISELEY-WHITE AT THE  INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION EVALUATES WEATHER MODIFICATION  APPLICATIONS.

NOW HERE IS HOW THEY BOTH SEE  THIS PROCESS MOVING FORWARD BOTH IN THE SHORT AND  LONG-TERM.

Laura: GARY WALKER, THANKS  SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WEATHER  MODIFICATION.

Walker: YOU ARE VERY  WELCOME.

Laura: YOU ARE THE CO-OWNER  OF SOAR, SEEDING OPERATIONS AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.

FOR THOSE OF US NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, CAN YOU  KIND OF GIVE US THE BIG  PICTURE OVERVIEW OF WHAT THIS SORT OF WEATHER MODIFICATION  IS?

Walker: WEATHER  MODIFICATION GOES ON IN MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES IN OUR  WORLD.

WATER IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL OF  US AND THE UNITED NATIONS EVEN PREDICTS THAT BY 2050 THAT  MOST COUNTRIES IN OUR WORLD WILL HAVE WATER SHORTAGES.

WEATHER MODIFICATION IS A TOOL THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR  WELL OVER 50 YEARS.

I SPENT 30 YEARS AS THE  MANAGER OF A WATER CONSERVATION -- TWO WATER  CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN TEXAS.

AND THE DEPLETION OF THE OGALLALA AQUIFER WAS ONE OF  THE MAIN DRIVERS BEHIND MY INVOLVEMENT WITH WEATHER  MODIFICATION.

SO IN THE AGRICULTURAL AREAS OF THE PAN HANDLE OF TEXAS,  SOUTH PLAINS OF TEXAS, THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO PORTIONS  THERE IN YOUR STATE, THE GROUNDWATER DEPLETIONS AND  DECLINES HAVE BEEN A VERY BIG CONCERN FOR PRODUCERS, CITIES  AS WELL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

Laura: YOU'RE WORKING WITH  METEOROLOGISTS AND WATCHING FORECASTS AND YOU GET THOSE  SUITABLE CLOUDS AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

Walker: IN THE SUMMER TIME,  WE ARE LOOKING FOR CUMULUS TYPE CLOUDS THAT HAVE LIQUID  WATER IN THEM AND THE AIRPLANE WILL GO INTO THE AIR AND GO  TOWARD THE CLOUD IDENTIFIED BY THE METEOROLOGIST THAT WILL  HAVE SUITABLE LIQUID WATER IN IT, AND WE WILL DISPERSE AN  ICE CRYSTAL TYPE NUCLEI IN THAT CLOUD AND THAT SYNTHETIC  ICE CRYSTAL, THEN, WILL BE ATTRACTED TO THE WATER  PARTICLES, THOSE MINUTE WATER PARTICLES, AND THEN THEY  BECOME HEAVY ENOUGH TO FALL OUT AS RAINFALL.

CLOUDS ARE GENERALLY FAIRLY INEFFICIENT AND THAT IS WHY  CLOUD SEEDING DOES WORK.

THERE IS A LOT OF MOISTURE IN  THE ATMOSPHERE.

A CLOUD IS NOT LIKE A PITCHER  PULL OF WATER AND ONCE IT POURS OUT IT IS EMPTY.

THE ATMOSPHERE, SUITABLE CLOUDS THAT ARE SEEDED AT  PROPER TIME, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THOSE CLOUDS WILL  LAST LONGER AND PRODUCE MORE RAINFALL BECAUSE THAT  ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES TO KEEP THAT CLOUD MORE OR LESS IN A  CONSTRUCTIVE STATE.

Laura: THE STATE OF UTAH  HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.

YOU MENTIONED CALIFORNIA.

I AM CURIOUS YOU HAVE BEEN  DOING THIS A WHILE.

IS THERE MORE AND MORE OF A DEMAND FOR  THESE TYPES OF SERVICES AS MORE PEOPLE ARE REALLY SEEING  THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT?

Walker: ABSOLUTELY.

AGAIN, CLOUD SEEDING IS NOT THE SILVER BULLET.

IT IS NOT GOING TO END ALL DROUGHTS IN ALL COUNTRIES.

BUT, JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT  ENHANCE EITHER OR COMPUTERS OR ENHANCE OUR GAS MILEAGE OR  WHATEVER, WE CAN ENHANCE THE RAINFALL AND THE VALUE OF WHAT  I CALL A RETURN ON INVESTMENT MANY, MANY TIMES IS MINISCULE  COMPARED TO WHAT IT COST US TO EITHER BUILD A PIPELINE OR DIG  NEW RESERVOIR.

THOSE THINGS TAKE LOTS AND LOTS OF TIME AND  SO, NOT TO SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE CONCERNED WITH  CONSERVATION AND REUSE AND EVEN NEW SUPPLIES SUCH AS THEY  HAVE AVAILABLE ON THE COASTAL AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY AND OTHER  COUNTRIES FOR DESALINIZATION.

Laura: I IMAGINE YOU SPEND  A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETTY   WORRIED ABOUT THE DROUGHT.

I AM CURIOUS IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU  HAVE SEEN CHANGE OVER THE DECADES WHEN IT COMES TO  DROUGHT AND PEOPLE TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS OR NEW  THINGS.

Walker: WELL, MY LAST 25  YEARS AS A WATER DISTRICT MANAGER WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE  EASTERN SIDE OF NEW MEXICO IN THE YOAKUM COUNTY AREA,  PLAINS, DENVER CITY AREA.

OUR WATER DECLINES IN THE  AQUIFER THERE, FOR MANY YEARS, WAS AS MUCH AS TWO TO THREE  FEET A YEAR.

SO, A LOT OF THOSE AREAS,  LAURA, THEY MAY ONLY HAVE 20 -- LESS THAN 30, 40 FEET OF  SATURATED THICKNESS LEFT IN THE AQUIFER.

PRETTY EASY TO, YOU KNOW, TO DIVIDE THAT BY TWO AND FIGURE  OUT ABOUT HOW MANY YEARS THAT YOU HAVE LEFT TO IRRIGATE.

SO, WE CAN EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE AQUIFER A LITTLE BY  PRODUCING SOME ADDITIONAL RAINFALL.

NOT TO EVEN TALK ABOUT THE SAVINGS IN THE PUMPING COST  FOR AGRICULTURE.

OF COURSE, OUR RANCHING  COMMUNITY, I MEAN, THEY ARE TICKLED TO DEATH TO HAVE A  HALF INCH ANY TIME BUT IT IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT FOR THE  PRODUCTION OF OUR IRRIGATED ACRES.

Laura: WELL, GARY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH ME.

I APPRECIATE IT AND HERE IS HOPING WE ALL GET SOME GOOD  CLOUDS THIS SUMMER.

Walker: NO KIDDING.

WE  HOPE SO AS WELL.

Laura: HANNAH RISELEY  WHITE, THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WEATHER  MODIFICATION.

White: THANKS LAURA.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

Laura: WHEN WE ARE TALKING  ABOUT WEATHER MODIFICATION, WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE WE  ACTUALLY -- WHAT DO THOSE ENCOMPASS?

White: THAT ENCOMPASSES EITHER GROUND BASED OR AERIAL  BASED CLOUD SEEDING, USUALLY USING SILVER IODIDE OR CALCIUM  OR POTASSIUM CHLORIDE.

THE IDEA IS TO PUT TINY  PARTICLES IN THE SKY UNDER EXACTLY THE RIGHT CONDITIONS  TO HELP INDUCE DROPLETS TO FORM TO HELP INCREASE  RAINFALL.

Laura: THIS ISN'T SOMETHING  THAT IS NECESSARILY NEW IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

PROCEDURES FOR THE STATE TO EVALUATE AND POTENTIALLY  APPROVE THESE PROJECTS ARE CODIFIED IN THE STATE'S WATER  QUALITY ACT.

IS THAT RIGHT?

White: SO, YEAH, ACTUALLY THE WEATHER CONTROL ACT WAS  PASSED IN 1965 AND WE AT NEW MEXICO INTERSTATE STREAM  COMMISSION WERE ONLY TASKED WITH EVALUATING APPLICATIONS  FOR LICENSES FOR CLOUD SEEDING IN 2003.

THE LEGISLATURE MOVED THAT RESPONSIBILITY FROM NEW MEXICO  TECH TO US.

SO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE  AREN'T NECESSARILY PROPONENTS OF IT, BUT WE ARE TASKED BY  STATUTE WITH EVALUATING APPLICATIONS FOR CLOUD SEEDING  IN NEW MEXICO.

Laura: ONE APPLICATION FOR  A PROPOSED PROJECT IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO WAS RECENTLY  WITHDRAWN.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT  ABOUT WHAT THAT PROJECT WOULD HAVE BEEN AND KIND OF WHAT  HAPPENED TO THE PROCESS?

White: SURE.

SO, IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, SO, 2021, WE RECEIVED AN  APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE FROM A COMPANY CALLED WESTERN  WEATHER CONSULTANTS.

THEY WOULD BE THE ACTUAL ENTITY  THAT WOULD HAVE CONDUCTED THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT WAS  GROUND-BASED CLOUD SEEDING.

SO THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A  PROJECT TO INDUCE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OVER THE SANGRE DE  CRISTO MOUNTAINS THROUGH GROUND-BASED CLOUD SEEDING,  USING SILVER IODIDE.

THEY HOWEVER WERE NOT THE  PROJECT SPONSOR.

THAT WAS ROOSEVELT SOIL AND  WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, WHICH RECEIVED IN THE 2121  LEGISLATIVE SESSION FUNDING FOR CLOUD SEEDING  SPECIFICALLY.

BUT, WE GOT A TREMENDOUS  AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN THAT APPLICATION.

ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN OUR PROCESS IN NEW MEXICO IS THAT  ANY APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE FOR CLOUD SEEDING HAS TO BE  NOTED PUBLICLY IN NEWSPAPERS.

WE RECEIVED OVER 250 PROTESTS  ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PARTICULAR APPLICATION SO LOTS  OF INTEREST IN IT.

WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THAT PEOPLE  CARE AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WATER ISSUES IN NEW MEXICO.

AS YOU, I THINK, KNOW WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE GOVERNOR'S  50 YEAR WATER PLAN OVER THE LAST YEAR, SO, HOPING THAT  SOME OF THE FOLKS WHOSE ATTENTION WAS CAUGHT BY THE  CLOUD SEEDING EFFORTS MIGHT GET INTERESTED IN THAT PROCESS  AS WELL.

Laura: DO YOU ANTICIPATE OR  DOES THE STATE ANTICIPATE GETTING MORE OF THESE TYPES OF  APPLICATIONS?

IS THIS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING  TO SEE MORE OF, YOU THINK?

White: I WOULD NOT BE  SURPRISED GIVEN THAT WE ARE IN THE THIRD YEAR OF A  SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT ACROSS THE STATE.

AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, DOING THIS WORK ON THE 50-YEAR  WATER PLAN, THE ANTICIPATED INCREASING SCARCITY TO OUR  WATER SUPPLIES ACROSS THE STATE IS SIGNIFICANT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A 25% REDUCTION IN WATER SUPPLIES BY  2070.

SO, I THINK PEOPLE WILL  CONTINUE TO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF INTEREST IN CLOUD SEEDING.

I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT IN RECEIVING THE APPLICATION THAT  WE RECEIVED LAST FALL FOR THE SANGRE AND IN LOOKING AT THIS  CURRENT APPLICATION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS AT THE  STAFF LEVEL IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE  RULES, WEATHER ENHANCEMENT RULES, WHICH IS WHAT GOVERNS  HOW THESE APPLICATIONS ARE HANDLED.

WE ALSO HEARD PRETTY LOUD AND CLEAR FROM FOLKS LAST FALL  THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGES, FOR EXAMPLE,  PROTESTS HAVE TO BE RECEIVED IN WRITING, AND WITHIN CERTAIN  TIME PERIOD.

SO, I DO THINK WE FLAGGED FOR OUR COMMISSION  AT OUR LAST INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION MEETING, THEY  SHOULD ANTICIPATE SOME POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE RULE  COMING THIS YEAR THAT WOULD MAKE IT -- BRING IT INTO THE  21ST CENTURY A LITTLE BIT, MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO  CARE AND WANT TO ENGAGE AND ALSO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS  FOR US.

Laura: YOU MENTIONED SOME  STARK NUMBERS THERE.

AND I AM CURIOUS BECAUSE, YOU  KNOW, LOOKING AT THE CURRENT APPLICATION BEFORE THE STATE,  YOU KNOW, THEY NOTE THAT INDUSTRY STANDARDS SUGGEST  THAT A 15 TO 20% INCREASE IN RAINFALL IS LIKELY OVER A  NORMAL SUMMER SEEDING SEASON OF FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.

LIKE, THAT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A SLIM, YOU KNOW, LIKE A SLIM  CHANCE THAT WE ARE TAKING BUT IS THE WATER SITUATION IN NEW  MEXICO SUCH THAT WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GRAB AT ANY TOOL OR  POSSIBILITY.

HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT COULD  WEATHER MODIFICATION REALLY HAVE?

White: I MEAN, I THINK IT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL GIVEN  CERTAIN -- JUST THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN THAT 15 TO 20% INCREASE IS  UNDER EXACTLY THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, RIGHT?

SO, I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN INTERESTING AS PART OF THIS  50-YEAR WATER PLANNING EFFORT IS THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS  THAT LOOK TO SOLUTIONS THAT INVOLVE INCREASING SUPPLY.

SO THAT COULD BE CLOUD SEEDING OR INTERBASIN TRANSFERS OR ALL  THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

IN MY OPINION, A LOT OF THOSE  ARE CHALLENGING AND EXPENSIVE, SOMETIMES, WHERE YOU ACTUALLY  GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK IS CONSERVATION, RIGHT?

HOW DO WE LOOK AT HOW WE ARE USING THE WATER WE HAVE NOW IN  OUR EXISTING BASINS AND USE IT MORE WISELY.

PROBABLY ULTIMATELY THE SOLUTION WILL BE SOME  COMBINATION OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS, LOTS OF TOOLS IN THE  TOOL BOX, BUT CERTAINLY MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE ON A  BASIN-BY-BASIN BASIS AND WITH THE WATER USERS AND  STAKEHOLDERS EACH OF THOSE BASINS TO THINK THROUGH WHAT  ARE THE SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE SENSE IN EACH OF THOSE BASINS  GIVEN THE SCARCITY WE ARE FACING.

I DON'T THINK THAT CLOUD SEEDING IS A SILVER BULLET  THAT WILL SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS, BUT IT COULD BE A  PART OF THE SOLUTION ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES  THAT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

Laura: HANNAH  RISELEY-WHITE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH ME ABOUT  THIS.

IT IS A REALLY FASCINATING  TOPIC.

White: YOU ARE SO WELCOME.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

Gene:   THANKS TO ENVIRONMENT REPORTER LAURA PASKUS FOR THAT  STORY.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE  ROOSEVELT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

THAT  IS THE GROUP TRYING TO USE STATE FUNDING TO DO THE  SUMMERTIME SEEDING, BUT THEY DIDN'T RESPOND TO FOLLOW-UP  QUESTIONS TO TALK.

LET'S BRING BACK THE LINE  PANEL ONE FINAL TIME TO RECAP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S  PREPRIMARY CONVENTION.

WITH GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN  GRISHAM AS THE UNANIMOUS INCUMBENT, THE RACE FOR AG WAS  THE HEADLINE.

STATE AUDITOR BRIAN COLON WON  THE MAJORITY OF VOTES AND, LAURA, IS THIS AN IMPORTANT  RACE FOR DEMOCRATS?

Laura: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THIS IS A KEY RACE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE HELD THAT SEAT  FOR SEVERAL TERMS.

GOING BACK OBVIOUSLY QUITE FAR  AND TENDS TO BE A STEPPING STONE TO OTHER POSITIONS.

TOM UDAHL GOES ON TO BECOME SENATOR.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS THAT HAVE GONE ON FROM THERE.

GARY KING WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, WAS NOT ABLE TO BE  GOVERNOR, BUT OTHERS HAVE.

AND SO I THINK IT IS AN  IMPORTANT RACE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, THERE  IS ALSO SO MUCH CRIME IN THE STATE AND THERE ARE SO MANY  ISSUES THAT IN TERMS OF THE CONSUMER DIVISION, UTILITIES  DIVISION, THERE IS OTHER AREAS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S  OFFICE THAT ARE SUPER IMPORTANT TO NEW MEXICANS SO I  THINK THIS IS A KEY RACE.

Gene: STEVE, INTERESTINGLY,  TWO WEEKS AGO WE BROKE DOWN THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION HERE  ON THIS SHOW AND WE MADE OUR WAY TO THE QUESTION, ARE THESE  PRE-PRIMARY CONVENTIONS USEFUL OR JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A  POTENTIAL PR GAFF?

Steve: I'M VERY HAPPY THAT  BOTH PARTIES HELD THEIR PREPRIMARY CONVENTIONS IN THE  STATE THIS TIME.

Gene: THAT IS RIGHT.

Steve: RATHER THAN GOING TO AMARILLO LIKE THE REPUBLICANS  DID LAST YEAR.

Gene: FORGOT   ABOUT THAT.

Steve: MAYBE THERE IS SOME  BUSINESS THAT THE PARTY NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF, YOU KNOW, BUT  CHOOSING WHO IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT, IT IS USELESS  ENTERPRISE.

Lesansee: YOU MENTIONED  GARY KING A MINUTE AGO, LAURA.

MENTIONED GARY KING LAURA, I  REMEMBER WHEN THE DEMOCRATS HAD THEIR PREPRIMARY BACK IN  2014, HOWIE MORALES, WHO WAS A STATE SENATOR AT THE TIME,  JUST SWEPT IT.

AND COMING IN VERY LAST WAS  GARY KING.

SOMEHOW A COUPLE OF MONTHS  LATER, HE WON THE NOMINATION.

NOW THIS TIME THE REPUBLICANS  WENT -- WHO IS THE GUY WHO WON.

COMMISSIONER BLOCK AND MARK RONCHETTI, WHO IS PROBABLY THE  BEST KNOWN, GOT LESS THAN THE AMOUNT NEEDED, I THINK HE HAD  10%.

I FORGET HIS PERCENTAGE NUMBER  BUT IF ANYBODY THINKS THAT HE NOT GOING TO GET BETTER THAN  THAT IN THE PRIMARY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CRAZY.

IT JUST SEEMS USELESS -- HE IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT  ANYWAY BECAUSE HE GOT PETITION SIGNATURES AND THAT GOES FOR  ALL THE DEMOCRATS TOO.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE KIND OF A  PEP RALLY TYPE THING THAT ULTIMATELY IS USELESS.

Gene: SENATOR, THERE IS VALUE IN THE PEP RALLY, OF  COURSE.

IT SORT OF KICKS OFF THE  SEASON, WE ALL GET TO SEE EACH OTHER, GREET EACH OTHER, THAT  KIND OF THING, BUT, AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT ARE  THEY WORTH FOR CANDIDATES?

Diane: A PEP RALLY.

THAT IS ALL I SEE IT AS.

YOU GET TO STAND UP AND SAY, I  AM THE MOST WONDERFUL, YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR ME.

I DON'T THINK -- I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GARY KING  SITUATION.

THAT IS THE ONE MOST VIVIDLY,  BUT I WAS TRYING TO THINK AND I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, I  CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN WAS THE LAST ONE, UNLESS THEY  WERE OUTSTANDING OR UNANIMOUSLY CANDIDATE, WHERE  THEY WENT ON TO WIN THE PRIMARY.

THERE IS TWO THOUGHTS ON MY PART.

I JUST THINK ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO RUN FOR OFFICE SHOULD BE  ALLOWED TO DO SO.

AND THE PREPRIMARY CONVENTION  TRADITIONALLY ARE FULL OF THE PARTY FAITHFUL, THE ADVOCATES,  THE STRONGER OF THEM.

SO, I DON'T SEE THAT AS ALWAYS  REFLECTING THE ENTIRE MENTAL ATTITUDE OF THE REST OF THE  PARTY.

SO, I THINK THAT THAT IS  SOMETHING THAT GETS MISSED.

I THINK THAT IS A LITTLE  DECEPTIVE FOR THE ONES WHO WIN.

I BET HOWIE STILL THOUGHT HE SHOULD HAVE WON THAT RACE, BUT  IT DIDN'T TURN OUT THAT WAY.

Steve: I THINK HE CAME IN  THIRD.

Snyder: THE OTHER THING I  LEARNED IS THAT IN 1972, A LITTLE HISTORY HERE.

THE REPUBLICANS HAD SENATOR DOMENICI RUNNING FOR SENATE.

THAT WAS IT.

DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM, NO  QUESTION.

HE WON THE PREPRIMARY  CONVENTION BUT THE DEMOCRATS HAD 32 CANDIDATES.

AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER IT WAS CHANGED AND THE LAW PUT IN  PLACE THAT ADJUSTS -- I AM NOT SURE THOSE NUMBERS ARE EXACTLY  CORRECT, BUT IT WAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON THE  DEMOCRAT SIDE, SO THE PREPRIMARY CONVENTION WAS PUT  IN PLACE AND THAT IS BACK IN 1972.

Gene: SOUNDS LIKE AN ALBUQUERQUE MAYORAL RACE BACK  WHEN HAD 15 OR 16 CANDIDATES.

LET ME JUMP IN SENATOR, WE ARE  SHORT ON TIME ON THIS SEGMENT.

I WANT TO ASK LAURA SOMETHING  MERE REAL QUICK.

AS WE DIGEST THIS RESULT WE  ARE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT A NEW PAC FROM AN ALBUQUERQUE CITY  COUNCIL, LOUIE SANCHEZ, BACKING WHAT HE CALLS MODERATE  DEMOCRATS IN CONTESTED RACES.

OF COURSE, THIS SEEMS TO BE  PART OF A NATIONWIDE TREND IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BUT,  LAURA, IS THIS THE RIGHT PLAY TO WIN SEATS IN A STATE LIKE  NEW MEXICO?

Laura: WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT  IS A GOOD QUESTION, GENE.

IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THERE  IS AN EFFORT TO TRY TO HAVE MORE MODERATE DEMOCRATS  ELECTED BUT, AS YOU SAID, IT IS A NATIONWIDE TREND.

IF YOU LOOK AT OCASIO CORTEZ IN NEW YORK, THERE IS A LOT OF  EFFORT TO TRY TO GET A MORE MODERATE PERSON IN THAT SEAT  THAN THE FAR LEFT THAT SHE HAS BEEN PERCEIVED AS.

I THINK IN NEW MEXICO PART OF THE CONCERN IS THAT PLACES  LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, DEMING, MY HOME TOWN, WHERE YOU HAVE JOHN  ARTHUR SMITH, A PROGRESSIVE GROUP WENT DOWN THERE,  UNSEATED HIM IN THE PRIMARY, BASICALLY GOT A MORE  PROGRESSIVE PERSON IN THERE AND NOW IT FLIPPED REPUBLICAN.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IT IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO GET  THAT REPUBLICAN OUT OF THAT SEAT WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF  EFFORT.

SO, THE PROBLEM THAT I THINK  DEMOCRATS NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO  ELECT -- TO ONLY GET THE MOST PROGRESSIVE, AND THIS GUESS  FOR REPUBLICANS TOO, THE MOST -- THOSE THAT TEND MORE  TOWARDS THE FAR EXTREMES OF THE PARTY, THEN WHEN IT COMES  TO GENERAL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A REAL TOUGH TIME GETTING  THE BASE AND ESPECIALLY THOSE DECLINED TO STATE TO VOTE FOR  THAT SAME PERSON.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE THIS IS  COMING FROM.

WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME IS  THAT YOU HAVE THE FOLKS INVOLVED THAT YOU DO, LOUIE  SANCHEZ IS MUCH MORE MODERATE, FORMER POLICE OFFICER, BUT  THEN YOU ALSO HAVE JAMES HALLAHAN WORKING ON THIS.

HE'S NO POLITICAL NOVICE AND HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A  LONG TIME AS A POLITICAL PERSON ALSO INVOLVED SOMEWHAT.

I HATE TO BRING THIS UP, BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS TWO  SIDES TO THIS, BUT HE IS THE ONE THAT HAD THE COMPLAINT  AGAINST THE GOVERNOR ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT DURING HER  CAMPAIGN AND THERE WAS A PAYOUT FROM HER CAMPAIGN ON  THAT WHOLE THING WHICH TO ME AS LAWYER, SETTLEMENTS DON'T  NECESSARILY MEAN GUILT, IT JUST MEANS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE  SETTLED.

SO, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO  BE A VERY INTERESTING PAC TO WATCH AND AN INTERESTING  SEASON BUT I DO WANT TO SAY WITH REGARD TO THE PREPRIMARY,  I THINK THERE IS STILL A LOT TO BE SAID FOR A CANDIDATE  GETTING UP IN A FRONT OF A BIG CROWD, WHETHER IT IS THE PARTY  FAITHFUL OR NOT, AND BEING ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS WHY I AM  RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

AND THAT EXAMPLE YOU GAVE  DIANE OR SENATOR, WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, TO HAVE 32 PEOPLE RUNNING, HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT  WHO IS THE RIGHT PERSON SHOULD BE.

IT IS A VETTING PROCESS.

THANK AGAIN TO THE LINE  PANEL.

AWESOME AS ALWAYS.

BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS  THE LINE COVERED ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM  PAGES.

IN OUR FINAL SEGMENT OF THE  NIGHT, WE TURN BACK TO COLORES ANCHOR EBONY ISIS BOOTH.

SHE RECENTLY INTERVIEWED FILMMAKER FRANK BLAZQUEZ ABOUT  HIS YOUTUBE DOCUMENTARY SERIES, DUKE CITY DIARIES,  TELLING THE STORY OF PEOPLE BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY  ALBUQUERQUE.

Booth: HOW DID THE DUKE  CITY DIARIES DOCUMENT SERIES COME ABOUT?

Blazquez: DUKE CITY DIARIES STARTED WITH A WAY TO EXPLORE  THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND THE PEOPLE WITHIN IT.

BUT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IT STARTED WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE  WERE ASKING ME ABOUT MY SUBJECTS AND MY STILL PHOTOS  AND MY PORTRAITS AND THEY WERE ASKING ME WHO ARE THESE  PEOPLE, WHERE DO THEY LIVE?

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

DO  THEY KNOW THIS PERSON?

I THINK I KNOW THAT PERSON.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I  DON'T REALLY KNOW BUT MAYBE I SHOULD START TO ASK THOSE  QUESTIONS TO SUBJECTS THEMSELVES BECAUSE RATHER THAN  ME ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS, IT SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT  ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS FOR THEMSELVES.

Booth: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU ENGAGED CARLOS SURROUNDING  HIS PORTRAIT.

Blazquez: I SAW CARLOS AT  UNM ON THE UNM CAMPUS.

HE WAS JUST DRIVING AROUND.

AND I SAW HE HAD TWO DIFFERENT COLORED EYES AND THAT IS KIND  LIKE A PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS DREAM, RIGHT?

YOU SEE SOMEONE WITH TWO DIFFERENT COLORED EYES, YOU  ARE LIKE, HEY, THAT IS REALLY STRIKING, I HAVE TO CAPTURE  THAT.

HE SAID NO AT FIRST BUT GAVE  ME HIS CONTACT INFO SO I WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH HIM  OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, AND THEN HE FINALLY SAID, YES, HE IS  LIKE, JUST COME OVER TO MY HOUSE, WE'LL TAKE SOME PHOTOS.

I SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME DO THIS.

THIS WAS AT CARLOS' HOUSE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT I TOOK  THIS PORTRAIT.

Booth: WHAT ABOUT CARLOS'  VOICE RESONATES WITH YOU?

Blazquez: WHEN I TOOK THIS  PORTRAIT, CARLOS GAVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF HIS STORY ABOUT  GROWING UP IN ALBUQUERQUE.

SO, I FELT THAT IT WOULD BE  VERY FITTING FOR ME TO DO A SHORT DOCUMENTARY ON HIS LIFE  AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS  AFTER THIS PORTRAIT.

I DID ONE OF THE FIRST SHORT DOCUMENTARIES WHERE I HAD A  SUBJECT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES OUTSIDE OF THE STILL IMAGE.

AND CARLOS SAID HE WITNESSED HIS FATHER DIE BY GUNFIRE FROM  A POLICE OFFICER THAT HAD SHOT HIM BECAUSE HIS STEPFATHER WAS  HOLDING HIS BROTHER HOSTAGE.

AND, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT  SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD FEEL LIKE.

I NEVER HAVE HAD THAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE BUT I KNEW THAT AN  AUDIENCE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THAT, BECAUSE  THERE IS OTHER PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE LIVED THROUGH  SIMILAR THINGS WITH DOMESTIC ISSUES OR FAMILY THINGS THAT I  REALLY CAN'T TOUCH BASE ON THAT, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T LIVED  THROUGH IT BUT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A SUBJECT THAT MIGHT  BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO  CREATE THAT CONNECTION.

Booth: WHAT IS IMPORTANT  ABOUT CREATING THAT CONNECTION, WHAT DOES IT DO?

Blazquez: I THINK IT MAKES SOMEONE FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE  WHOLE HAVING THAT CONNECTION WITH SOMEONE KNOWING THAT THEY  HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT EXACT EXPERIENCE.

IT IS JUST THAT BASIC FEELING OF, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT  PERSON HAS DONE THAT THING OR THAT PERSON HAS BEEN THROUGH  THE SAME THING THAT I WENT THROUGH.

I HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THIS PERSON.

I FEEL LIKE I KNOW THIS PERSON.

AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORT AND I FEEL A LITTLE  BIT MORE WARM.

I FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE AT HOME NOW  BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS TO DEAL  WITH SOMETHING.

SO, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS ALL IN THE PROCESS, I THINK, WITH HEALING.

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

Booth: HOW DO YOU GET THEM  TO SHARE AND INVITE YOU INTO THEIR WORLD FOR THESE STORIES  TO BE SHARED?

Blazquez: JUST SIMPLE  QUESTIONS ASKING THEM DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I WOULD  JUST ASK LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND STARTING WITH A  CERTAIN MEMORY THAT IS MAYBE RELATABLE.

WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

WHAT WAS IT LIKE DEALING WITH  THIS SITUATION WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBER?

I KIND OF HAVE THE SAME FEELING WITH THIS AND THAT AND  WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

SO, IT IS A LOT OF ASKING  QUESTIONS IN A CONVERSATIONAL MANNER THAT IS NOT IMPOSING  BUT IN A WAY THAT INVITES SOMEONE IN IN A GENTLE MANNER  AND THEN JUST LETTING IT DO ITS OWN THING.

Booth: CAN I GET AN EXAMPLE MAYBE OF WHAT THAT  CONVERSATION LOOKS LIKE.

LIKE, I WANT TO TAKE YOUR  PICTURE AND I WANT TO TURN YOU INTO A DOCUMENTARY SUBJECT.

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT?

Blazquez: IT IS A PROCESS  FOR SURE.

SOMETIMES MY SUBJECTS ARE KIND  OF IFFY ABOUT IT AND I DON'T WANT TO FORCE ANYONE TO DO  ANYTHING SO I'LL KIND OF ASK THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE  A NEW MEXICAN BECAUSE THAT IS KIND OF LIKE THE OVERRIDING  THEME THAT ALWAYS POPS UP IS WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE SOMEONE  THAT IS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW MEXICO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE, BUT I AM VERY FASCINATED  WITH THAT BECAUSE I LIVE HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOREVER, WHAT IS IT LIKE?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HARDSHIPS YOU HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH  ALONG THE WAY?

THAT IS KIND OF LIKE THE MAIN  THING THAT POPS UP AS BEING NEW MEXICAN.

LIKE THAT IS THE  MAIN CULTURAL IDENTIFIER.

LIKE YOU SAID BEFORE, IT IS  LIKE, I HAVE ASKED MYSELF, HEY, LIKE WHAT IS YOUR  CULTURE?

WHAT IS YOUR ETHNICITY?

ME  THINKING THEY ARE GOING TO SAY LATINO OR HISPANIC.

THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS, I AM NEW MEXICAN.

AND I NEVER SAW THAT BEFORE IN DIFFERENT STATES.

I USED TO LIVE IN CHICAGO.

I NEVER HEARD SOMEONE SAY, OH,  WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AM A CHICAGOAN OR I AM FROM  ILLINOIS.

IT IS INTERESTING HERE THAT IS  ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THAT SOME PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH THEIR  SPACE.

Booth: DO YOU PLAN ON  CONTINUING THE DUKE CITY DIARY SERIES?

Blazquez: IT IS ACTUALLY DONE.

BECAUSE, I HAVE DONE A LOT OF STUFF HERE IN THE CITY.

AND I AM ACTUALLY STARTING TO GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES IN NEW  MEXICO, NOT JUST ALBUQUERQUE.

SO, I HAVE DONE STUFF IN  ARTESIA, WHERE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN FROM, SO, ARTESIA, I AM  STARTING TO GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND LIKE THE  U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, SO LIKE PARTS OF EL PASO, WHICH BLEEDS  INTO NEW MEXICO, BUT SINCE I AM GOING TO DIFFERENT  LOCATIONS, IT WOULDN'T BE FITTING TO USE DUKE CITY  DIARIES SINCE THAT IS KIND OF LIKE ONLY FOR ALBUQUERQUE,  RIGHT?

IT IS DUKE CITY BUT MAYBE, WHO  KNOWS, IN THE FUTURE IF I DO SOMETHING IN THE CITY AGAIN IT  COULD BE BROUGHT BACK.

Booth: WHAT IS NEXT FOR  YOU, FRANK?

AND WHAT SHOULD YOUR FANS BE  LOOKING OUT FOR?

Blazquez: SOME OF THINGS  THAT ARE COMING UP HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY FINE ART  PHOTOGRAPHY, MY STILL PHOTOGRAPHY, WHICH MY  PORTRAITS.

I'LL BE AT SMITHSONIAN IN  APRIL OF 2022.

THAT HAPPENS UP AT THE OUTWIN  TRIENNIAL PORTRAIT COMPETITION.

THAT IS ONE OF THE NEXT THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP FOR MY FINE  ART PORTRAITS.

FOR MY MOVIES, I AM WORKING ON  SOME DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTER WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO  THAT DEALS WITH CRIME, INCARCERATION,   STORIES THAT DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE IN  PRISON RIGHT NOW THAT ARE DEALING WITH THOSE THINGS, AND  WHAT THAT IS LIKE SPECIFICALLY HERE IN THE STATE, IN NEW  MEXICO.

Booth: MUCH RESPECT TO YOU  FOR THE TRIUMPH OF HEALING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, FRANK.

Blazquez: THANK YOU.

Gene:   IT IS A SHAME WE HAVE GOTTEN TO A POLITICIZED PLACE  ON THE HYDROGEN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW MEXICO.

THE MAIN REASON IN MY ESTIMATION IS BECAUSE THE  GOVERNOR NEVER REALLY MADE A, HERE IS WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU,  APPEAL TO THE VOTERS.

SHE HAD A YEAR PLUS IN WHICH  SHE COULD HAVE BEEN HAVING A DIALOGUE WITH THE PUBLIC,  BUSINESS, LEGISLATORS, ALL THAT.

NOW, COMPARE THIS TO THE FILM INDUSTRY WHICH SPREADS MONEY  STATE-WIDE.

THE HYDROGEN HUB OPPORTUNITY  IS NOT THAT WIDESPREAD BY ITS NATURE.

NOW, THERE IS THE 500 JOBS SLATED FOR ALBUQUERQUE.

THAT IS GREAT, BUT THE REAL FOCUS WILL PRIMARILY BE IN THE  FOUR CORNERS AND AT THE OLD FACILITY IN PREWITT.

BUT APPARENTLY AVANGRID, THE FIRM WHO HAD THEIR OVERTURE TO  PNM REJECTED BY THE PRC, SOMEHOW ALSO STANDS TO GAIN,  BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE A DEAL.

AT SOME POINT, SOON IT WOULD  BE NICE TO KNOW WHO THIS HYDROGEN HUB IS GOING TO BE  GOOD FOR BEYOND INDUSTRY AND CORPORATIONS.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND  ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK,  IN FOCUS.