Enviros are psyched to see two Udalls heading to the Senate: Mark Udall of Colorado and Tom Udall of New Mexico. The two cousins, both big boosters of clean energy and conservation, were heavily backed by green groups.

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Participants in the Western Climate Initiative on Tuesday announced specific plans for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The seven states and four provinces will initiate a cap-and-trade program, establishing a carbon market that applies to industries and utilities by 2012 and transportation, heating, and other fuels by 2015. The proposed program is broader than that of the Northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which launches Thursday and only applies to power plants. But some aspects of WCI's plan disappoint environmentalists: 90 percent of pollution permits can be given freely instead of auctioned, and companies can offset up to 49 percent of their emissions instead of actually eliminating them. WCI participants -- Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec -- represent 20 percent of the U.S. economy and a whopping 73 percent of Canada's, and are home to a total 84.6 million people.

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After more than four years of deliberation, the U.S. EPA has bestowed an air permit to a proposed 600-acre coal plant on Navajo land in New Mexico. Announcing the step forward for the 1,500-megawatt Desert Rock Power Plant, the EPA noted that Navajo Nation leaders have "staunchly supported" the project since its inception -- though failed to mention the tribe members who blockaded the project in protest in Dec. 2006. Navajo land is already home to two gigantic coal plants; while the EPA promises that Desert Rock "will be one of the cleanest pulverized coal-burning power plants in the country," that really ain't sayin' much. "EPA's irresponsible, inappropriate decision has failed Navajo communities and needlessly sacrificed our air, land, and water," says Dailan Long of local advocacy group Diné CARE. "It is a devastating blow to tribal members who continually suffer from the large coal complex encroaching upon our land." Gov. Bill Richardson says he will challenge the permit in court.

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The Western Climate Initiative has unveiled a draft proposal for a regional cap-and-trade program that would kick off in 2012. The 11 states and provinces involved -- Arizona, British Columbia, California, Manitoba, Montana, New Mexico, Ontario, Oregon, Quebec, Utah, and Washington -- would impose an as-yet-determined greenhouse-gas emissions limit on industries and utilities, then allow laggards to purchase carbon credits from those that cleaned up their acts. States and provinces would decide individually whether to freely hand out credits or to auction them. Reactions to the draft proposal were mixed; industries craved more detail, while environmentalists expressed concern that companies would be allowed to offset up to 10 percent of their emissions and that transportation and heating fuels would not be regulated until 2015. After a period of public comment, the final proposal is due in September; state and provincial governments will have to OK the plans before they become official.

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For more on Southwest cities see our full feature on sustainability initiatives underway in Phoenix.

Scan any list of "green U.S. cities" for winners from the Southwest, and you'll find a geographical void. Sure, a liberal-leaning place like Austin or Santa Fe or Boulder might sneak onto the list, but in general, there's a dearth of entries from this sun-drenched region. And that's troubling, as Southwest cities tend to be among the country's fastest-growing -- and thus in direst need of careful future planning.

While it's true that this hot corner of the country has traditionally been cool to sustainability -- due in part to a strong property-rights mentality -- some leaders are pushing for change. Here's a look at a few cities where green is on the rise.

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez launches a new bus route in 2006.

Albuquerque, N.M. Like many Southwestern cities, Albuquerque suffers two major sustaina-woes: too much reliance on cars, and too little water to go around. But it's been making efforts to ameliorate those problems, if not exactly solve them. Thanks in large part to the leadership of Mayor Martin Chavez -- an early signatory to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement -- the city has implemented a water conservation program and made greenhouse-gas reduction a priority. New bus routes and "bike and ride" incentives have seen public transit options increase, and city-funded construction projects must meet green-building standards; a longer-range plan aims to boost compact, mixed-use development and walkability. Chavez's fellow mayors named Albuquerque the "greenest city in the nation" last year, but that laurel came with controversy attached. And with a 20 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled since 1990, this motor-loving metro area still has a long way to go.

Dallas: Greening up its act?

Dallas, Texas When it comes to the Lone Star State, Austin usually hogs the smart-city spotlight. But its big brother to the north -- fingered as one of the worst sprawl offenders in the U.S. -- has quietly undertaken some eco-improvements of its own. Through a comprehensive planning process called Forward Dallas!, the city has tackled such thorny topics as land use, public transportation, housing, and urban design -- all with input from enthusiastic citizens -- and is now pursuing the creation of walkable streets; reuse of historic properties; development of affordable housing; and an increase in jobs and housing located near the city's network of 40 planned and existing light-rail stations. The city government has adopted a Green Dallas program whose steps include purchasing 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources this year, and this spring, the city council passed a green-building ordinance mandating improvements in energy efficiency.

The glitzy mixed-use CityCenter, under construction.

Photo: eflon

Las Vegas, Nev. Is Sin City ready to cash in on the sustainability trend? Er, not quite. In fact, it's often held up as the least redeemable of America's "desert oasis" cities -- and it doesn't show signs of stopping. As SustainLane puts it, "Las Vegas is undergoing a fast-forward version of the classic urban development pattern of exurban sprawl that has led other Sun Belt cities to complete dependence on the automobile." But just as the city has worked to make itself more family-friendly in recent years, it's also working to counter some of the questionable growth patterns of its past. (And we ain't talking about Frankie's hairstyles.) A 76-acre, $8 billion development called CityCenter is attempting -- in a glitzy, Vegas kind of way -- to bring a dash of mixed-use urban reality to the Strip, seeking LEED certification along the way. The city has implemented water and energy conservation measures, and pays residents to rip out artificial green lawns and replace them with desert landscaping. They may be small steps, but optimists are gambling that there's hope for Las Vegas yet.

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A coalition of large green groups has pledged to support Mark Udall, Tom Udall, and Jeanne Shaheen in their campaigns to become senators in 2008. Colorado Representative Mark Udall and his cousin, New Mexico Representative Tom Udall, will run for Senate seats in their respective states; Shaheen is the former governor of New Hampshire, and will run there. All three are Democrats. The green groups, including the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, and Defenders of Wildlife, feel confident about the effect that their support will have, pointing to the 2006 defeat of Sen. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) as evidence of previous decisive victory.

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Six Western states, two Canadian provinces agree to regional climate pact

Yesterday, the leaders of six Western states and two Canadian provinces agreed to their own regional climate pact, aiming to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The Western Climate Initiative aims to have a cap-and-trade system in place by August 2008 and wants to partner with other trading systems like the European Union's and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the U.S. Northeast. While the 15-percent target isn't quite ambitious enough for some, greens are hopeful that the growing movement to set even relatively weak state and regional climate standards will eventually influence the feds to adopt a national program. At least half of the U.S. states involved in yesterday's agreement -- California, Oregon, and Washington -- already have state climate standards that exceed the modest WCI goal. The other pact members are Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Canada's Manitoba and British Columbia.

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Navajo nation at odds over coal-plant plan

Members of the Navajo nation are at odds over a plan to build a $3 billion, 1,500-megawatt coal-fired power plant on reservation land in New Mexico. Tribal leaders say the plant -- whose juice would go to Las Vegas and Phoenix -- will generate $50 million in much-needed annual revenue and create 400 permanent jobs. But worried opponents, both within and outside the Navajo nation, say the project will pose health risks to those who live nearby, while adding to global warming. The reservation is already home to one coal-fired plant that, along with another plant nearby, has made its air among the worst in New Mexico; one critic said the federal stance amounts to "things are so bad already that you won't even notice another power plant." But coal is taking lumps around the U.S., as some recognize its drawbacks -- the nation's top 50 CO2-emitting power plants, identified on a list issued this week, are all coal-fired -- and acknowledge that "clean-coal" technology isn't ready for prime time.

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Five western states form regional climate-change partnership

Citing a federal leadership void, the governors of five western U.S. states have formed a regional partnership to cut greenhouse gases and fight climate change. The Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, which includes Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico, will create a regional target for cuts over the next six months and a market-based plan for meeting the goal within 18 months. Like the Northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the partnership "shows the power of states to lead our nation addressing climate change," says California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), whom we just want to hug. "Western states are being particularly hard-hit by the effects of climate change," says Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) pitifully. What the heck, we'll hug her too. With British Columbia expressing interest in the pact and the middle of the country caught in the squeeze, some expect businesses to beg even louder for national standards. Mr. Void, are you listening?

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Tesla Motors to build electric-car plant in New Mexico

In April, electric-car start-up Tesla Motors will break ground on a manufacturing plant in Albuquerque, which beat out Flagstaff, Ariz., and Pittsburg, Calif., for the honor. The plant will churn out 10,000 WhiteStar sedans a year starting in 2009 -- "zero-emission" cars that will go 250 miles on a full charge and start at $50,000. The 150,000-square-foot plant, which will provide 400 jobs, has officials singing the company's praises. "Tesla is committed to clean energy and so is New Mexico," sang Gov. Bill Richardson (D), while Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) warbled that the state would be "a major participant in seeing electric cars become the cars of the future." The state is expected to put $7 million toward the $35 million facility, as well as various tax credits. Were they swayed by the pungent passion of Tesla chair Elon Musk? "I really believe the future is electric vehicles," the PayPal cofounder said. "I think we will look back upon gasoline-powered cars ... as a temporary aberration."

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Bush protects wildlands in New Mexico, New England

Back in 2004, the Bush administration tried to clear the way for energy drilling next to the nation's largest Boy Scout camp in Valle Vidal, N.M. The drilling never commenced, in large part thanks to resistance from ranchers, hunters, environmentalists, 17 local governments, three chambers of commerce, all of the state's congressfolk, and, yes, Boy Scouts. (Presumably, resident elk and other wildlife would have objected too, given a voice.) Caving to the pressure, the president has -- how shall we say? -- flip-flopped on the issue. This week, Bush signed a measure to protect the 101,794-acre Valle Vidal from energy and mineral development, apparently agreeing with conservationist Terry Riley that some places "are just too important for fish and wildlife resources to drill for oil and gas." Earlier this month, Bush also signed a bill designating as wilderness 76,500 acres of national forest in New Hampshire and Vermont. If this is what bipartisan cooperation looks like, we'll take it.

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House approves new wilderness areas in California, Oregon, and Idaho

The U.S. House yesterday unanimously approved bills that would create over 1,000 square miles of new wilderness areas and protect 47 miles of rivers in California, Oregon, and Idaho. A bill to ban drilling in New Mexico's Valle Vidal also passed. All of the bills are compromises hammered out over several years, involving the disparate interests of business owners, ranchers, local governments, recreationists, conservationists, and Indian tribes. The Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Act would protect more than 277,000 acres as wilderness, and designate about 79,000 acres as a recreation area for off-road vehicles and mountain bikes. The Oregon bill would establish 77,200 acres of wilderness in the Mount Hood National Forest, and the Idaho legislation would create three new wilderness areas in the mountainous portions of the Sawtooth and Challis national forests, protecting a total of 315,215 acres. The bills now go to the Senate.

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New nuke-waste plan follows license for new nuclear facility

The U.S. government could store nuclear waste for up to 25 years at interim sites on federal land (including national forests) under a new proposal by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.). Over 50,000 tons of radioactive waste sit at nuclear power plants awaiting transfer to the proposed Yucca Mountain disposal site in Nevada -- which won't open until at least 2018. The feds were supposed to have taken possession of the waste by 1998, and some facilities have sued over the delay. The waste issue is a nagging problem for the pro-nuke crowd, but it's not stopping them from moving ahead: Last week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensed the first U.S. uranium enrichment plant in 30 years, a $1.5 billion facility to be built in New Mexico. Domenici said the license is important "for what this facility will mean for the renaissance of nuclear energy in this country." The plant will generate waste that no U.S. disposal site is set up to handle, and will likely run out of onsite room for that waste in less than a decade.

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Scientists plot to warn future generations about dangers of nuclear site

A thousand or so years from now, a huge underground salt mine in Carlsbad, N.M., will collapse and bury the tons of radioactive, plutonium-covered detritus from nuclear-weapons production that are stored within. But the plutonium will be exceedingly toxic for another 249,000 years. How to make sure nobody digs it up 500 generations down the road? Scientists, futurists, and historians have tried to predict what the future will hold -- feminist corporations? robots? preindustrial tribes? -- and how to communicate danger. "No culture has ever tried, self-consciously and scientifically, to design a symbol that would last 10,000 years and still be intelligible," says one anthropologist. The current plan, which will take a century to complete, consists in part of a two-mile-long berm surrounded by concrete markers with warnings in a variety of languages and pictures of horrified human faces. A quarter-million years later, still apologizing for our mess ...

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