Grants radio to air energy ed shows

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Local radio station KMIN in conjunction with a citizen’s energy education group will run an eight-week series of interactive radio shows about the ins and outs of clean energy.

The program, organized by Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Energy, and aired as a public service by KMIN owner/operator and interviewer Derek Underhill, will debut at 10 a.m. Thursday, at 980 on the AM band.

CARE’s interactive show will run at the same time and setting each week with experts in the energy field speaking and taking questions through Nov. 13.

“New Mexico has the potential to become an energy leader-helping to generate all the clean energy America needs,” said CARE spokeswoman Marita Noon in a news release. The state has the nation’s largest known recoverable uranium resource in the Grants and Gallup areas, she added.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings and past mistakes that are preventing America from getting the energy it needs and blocking much needed jobs and regional income,” Noon explained. CARE is concerned about the opposition to developing this natural resource, and created the information series to address the public’s questions and concerns, she said.

CARE has drawn together experts in different aspects of the field for each week’s session.

KMIN invites the public to submit questions in advance (info@kdradio.com) for Underhill to use in his interview with each expert. After each fifteen-minute interview the station will open phone lines for questions from listeners.
Underhill said he hopes people call in with challenging questions or ask, “OK, but what about ... ,” mentioning things they actually worry about such as the water in Bluewater, disease rates, environmental effects from mining, etc.

Speakers already confirmed include:

Steve Brown, a board certified health physicist and diplomat of the American Academy of Health Physics with over 35 years of nuclear industry experience. He is recognized as an expert in environmental, regulatory, safety and health aspects of uranium processing facilities. Brown is a member of national and international advisory committees in the areas of environmental safety and health aspects of uranium fuel cycle facilities and in nuclear waste management.

Virginia McLemore, Ph.D., who has been with New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources since 1980 and has served as a faculty member for Earth and Environmental Science Department and Mineral Engineering Department at New Mexico Tech for more than 10 years. Some of her areas of expertise are: mineral resources in New Mexico, and geology and history of mining districts in New Mexico.

Information: info@kdradio.com;  KMIN Radio:  (505) 285-5598.

On the Web: www.responsiblenergy.org/