Taos to assume ownership of slaughterhouse
Energy audit could save town millions, reduce carbon footprint
The Town of Taos could soon conduct its first-ever energy audit, an evaluation of building efficiency and energy and water use that will identify areas for improvement that would reduce costs and the town’s carbon footprint.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates there’s about 30 percent waste on average in buildings nationwide due to inefficiencies, according Tara Trafton, an account executive with Yearout Energy, an Albuquerque company specializing in energy performance contracting. The Town of Taos Council heard a presentation from Yearout during its regular meeting on Tuesday (April 9).
By identifying and addressing inefficiencies, Trafton said the town will essentially “pay for today’s facility upgrades with tomorrow’s energy savings.”
The City of Santa Fe reduced its annual utility and maintenance costs by 17 percent after implementing measures like LED lighting, weatherization, roof replacement and solar power. The city also produced 6.7 million pounds less carbon dioxide through a $15.4 million contract with Yearout, according to the company. The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions reduced its annual utility costs by half after implementing a host of measures recommended by Yearout.
Trafton explained that, should the town decide to engage with Yearout, the company’s first step would be to assess the town’s infrastructure. The company would then design building and system improvements, oversee operational or maintenance changes as well as the build out of improvements and, lastly, “prove” the impact of the improvements.
“Are we hitting the targets? If not, then we’re responsible for paying the difference,” Trafton said, adding that the state reviews the audit calculations and predicted energy savings to ensure accuracy. The town has been evaluating its buildings under Mayor Pascual Maestas’ administration and has a basic sense of where improvements would have the greatest impact.
“The Town of Taos has developed a report that has all our buildings encompassed inclusive of our wastewater facilities,” Town Manager Andrew Gonzales said, adding that, as some of the largest users of energy in the county, its incumbent on local governments to “get a handle on this stuff.”
In other news, Gonzales announced the YMCA summer program will not take place this year in Taos. “YMCA has made a decision to not continue summer programming in the Taos area,” due to low enrollment in the town-sponsored program, difficulty hiring staff and several other factors, according to Gonzales.
Gonzales also said the town’s finance department is preparing a presentation on a $7.5 million general obligation bond for a future council meeting.
“The $7.5 million would go towards completion of Filemon Sanchez [Park improvements], the potential build out of another soccer facility at Eco Park and the completion of our disc golf course,” he said.
Gonzales also notified officials that Waste Management, which holds the solid waste contract in Taos, may be poised to raise its rates.
Councilor Darien Fernandez said “customers’ bills have gone up 200 percent” since Waste Management took over pickup and billing for the trash service, and asked if the town might look at providing the service itself again.
Gonzales said that wouldn’t be financially feasible, since the town would have to purchase trucks, insurance and other infrastructure related trash service.
“We struggle today just to staff the landfill, let alone run a waste management service,” he said.
Fernandez also asked if Waste Management still has the ability to provide single stream curbside recycling, but Gonzales said the $23-28 per bin estimated in 2013 has likely changed, and cautioned that changes in the international recyclables market may limit the company’s options.
Maestas updated the council on the matanza meat processing facility, which is under construction on town land near the landfill. Maestas said the Taos County Economic Development Corporation has requested the town become the fiscal agent for the facility, portions of which are owned by Taos County, which will transfer the assets to the town. The town will apply to the county for the special use permit the facility requires, Maestas said, and become the conduit for funds directed to the project.
Officials also welcomed a new library employee to the municipality’s ranks during its meeting Tuesday. Sarah Bryson, who earned her Master of Library Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, is the Taos Public Library’s new library services director, bringing a skillset to the leadership position that’s been lacking for the past couple of years.
“I’m excited to work with the whole community,” she said.”Please don’t hesitate to come say hi.”