EcoNewMexico.com

Are you wondering about the railroad construction stretching from downtown past La Bajada hill to the south? All that construction is a big clue that the New Mexico Rail Runner Express is coming to Santa Fe.

Governor Richardson has extended a state ban on new crude oil and gas drilling in Santa Fe County and the Galisteo Basin through January 24, 2009. The moratorium will allow more time for government agencies to gather information and begin rulemakings to protect water aquifers, archaeological and cultural resources, and wildlife in this ecologically fragile area.

How do you use your National Forests? Are you a camper, hiker, equestrian, mountain biker, motorcyclist or an Off-road driver? Given that the National Forests aren't growing (in acreage) but the number of users is, there is some friction between different user groups. To address growing traffic in the woods, the US Forest Service is asking for your input on how our National Forests should be used in a new Travel Management Plan.

The Santa Fe National Forest released its

In 1988 James Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Space Institute for Space Studies, told the U.S. Senate "It's time to stop waffling ... and say that the greenhouse effect is here and is affecting our climate now." Unfortunately, very little has been done by the U.S. goverment in the past 20 years to address the causes of global warming. Congress and the U.S. have been given a second warning.

Gas prices are spiking, already above $4/gallon in California and climbing nationwide. So, what can you do to save money on gas? The are two answers to this: drive less and drive more efficiently. Driving less requires trip planning, combining multiple errands into one outing and choosing the most direct routes from place to place. Driving more efficiently, also called hypermiling, is about using thrifty driving techniques and maximizing your vehicle's M.P.G.

Drive Less

What: Bike To Work Week
When: May 12 - 16, 2008
Where: Nationwide

If you're looking for a way to save money on gas this year, here's a way to get unlimited miles per gallon. Instead of a gas-guzzling car, truck or SUV, try driving a bicycle to work for a week. The League of American Bicyclists is sponsoring their annual Bike to Work Week and Bike to work Day from May 12 through 16 this year. Check out the Bike Month Special Events to see what events may be happening near you.

Just thought I'd take a moment to appreciate San Antonio mountain on this Earth Day 2008. If you ever driven on U.S. 285 in northern New Mexico or southern Colorado you've seen San Antonio. It's the freestanding remnants of an ancient volcano standing in the middle of a vast grassland. San Antonio mountain is maintained as a Wilderness Study Area and is home to many species, including a large herd of elk through the winter.

Did You See the Moonwalking Bear?

What: Santa Fe Open House Meeting for the New Mexico Rail Runner
When: Wednesday, January 30, 2008: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505

F.T.C. Asks if Carbon-Offset Money Is Well Spent

Carbon Offsets are one of the newest inventions in the search for ways to reduce ones carbon footprint. The idea is that you purchase a number of offsets to compensate for the amount of carbon you are responsible for generating by traveling, building a new house or just day to day consumer purchases. The question is - are they for real?