Author: WIPP Communications

CARLSBAD, NM – Beginning February 13, 2025, until March 13, 2025, 5 p.m. – Salado Isolation Mining

Contractors LLC (SIMCO) is offering college scholarships for Eddy and Lea County graduating seniors.

A limited number of one-time $1,000 scholarships are available to qualified 2025 graduating seniors selected from Carlsbad, Hobbs and Loving schools. Completed scholarship applications must be receive by Thursday, March 13, 2025.

The online application, along with information about proposal and evaluation criteria, is available at https://form.jotform.com/250414973636158 or apply here.

SIMCO will accept applications online from February 13, 2025, until 5 p.m. on March 13, 2025.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Winners will be notified no later than March 25, 2025.

For more information about the SIMCO Education Scholarships Program, contact Dr. Joy James-Foster, SIMCO Communications, at (575) 234-7512 or joy.james-foster@wipp.doe.gov

CARLSBAD, N.M.  ̶ The U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant had a safe and productive 2024. Watch the year-end accomplishments video.

Company selects fourteen teachers from Eddy and Lea counties

Carlsbad, N.M. — Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) announced today the company recently awarded $15,000 in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) Teacher Mini-Grants to 14 area teachers throughout Eddy and Lea counties as part of its continued commitment to the local community.

SIMCO’s Mini-Grant program encourages, promotes and coordinates STEM education, along with a broader focus of incorporating a ‘hands on’ approach in the classroom. Awards ranged from $750 to $1,500.

“We fully recognize the time and dedication our local area teachers invest in STEM education. A STEM focused education is something that benefits students throughout their lives, and we, as a company, are pleased to be able to present these teachers with mini-grants,” said Dr. Joy James-Foster, SIMCO’s Education Outreach lead.

STEM Teacher Mini-Grant awardees include:

Carlsbad Municipal Schools: Jana Callicoat, Lisa Chappa, Leah Clark, Charlin Hernandez, Rebecca Hicks, Elena Melvin, Danelle Middleton, Payton Reynolds, Janice Rodriguez, Michael Stokum, Brittany Valenzuela and Katelyn White.

Hobbs Municipal Schools: Latonya Brooks and Janneth Ong

About SIMCO

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) was formed to support the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. SIMCO’s member is Bechtel National Inc. and its WIPP team includes Los Alamos Technical Associates as a teaming subcontractor.

CARLSBAD, NM – Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) announced today its combined corporate and employee contributions to the United Way reached $105,000, underscoring the company’s dedication to building stronger, more resilient communities throughout Eddy and Lea counties.

“We are incredibly proud and thankful for our employees’ generosity, compassion, and commitment to making a meaningful impact in our community,” said Ryan Flynn, a SIMCO vice president and Environmental, Safety & Health manager. “Their generosity and volunteer spirit truly embodies SIMCO’s values.”

Flynn also serves on United Way of Eddy County’s Board of Directors.

Beyond monetary donations, SIMCO’s employees also volunteered at essential United Way initiatives throughout the year.

“The United Way of Eddy County sincerely appreciates the incredible dedication that SIMCO and its employees have for this community,” said Kyle Marksteiner, Executive Director of United Way of Eddy County. “Together, we are making an impact in serving the residents of our community.”

SIMCO’s employees participate monthly in food distributions with United Way of Eddy County working alongside its participating agencies and community partners. During United Way’s Day of Caring, SIMCO volunteers contributed by painting a fence for Affirming Heart Victim Services and packaging food bags for WHI Hobbs. During the summer, employees participated in United Way of Eddy County’s Stuff the Bus campaign, seeking school supplies. In a separate initiative, SIMCO volunteers supported United Way of Lea County’s Project Santa’s PJs by distributing 600 blankets to people in need.

Becca Titus, Executive Director of United Way of Lea County explained, “Here at United Way of Lea County, we are thankful to have the opportunity to tell our story and the story of the local nonprofits we serve. We are grateful for SIMCO for being a part of our story by making a difference in their own communities as they give where they live. Each donation and contribution represents hope, support, and tangible assistance for our neighbors who need it most.”

About SIMCO

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) was formed to support the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. SIMCO’s member is Bechtel National Inc. and its WIPP team includes Los Alamos Technical Associates as a teaming subcontractor.

Carlsbad, NM., October 21, 2024 – Salado Isolation Mining Contractors is now accepting applications for our STEM Education Mini- grants. Teachers in K-12 schools in Eddy and Lea counties are eligible to submit applications for support of classroom science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects.

Teachers submitting applications should focus on STEM relevance. In addition to traditional STEM projects, a related arts teacher might apply for a grant for students to explore the lives of scientists, mathematicians, etc., or for materials to develop problem-solving or other critical thinking skills. The online application, along with information about proposal and evaluation criteria, is available at https://form.jotform.com/230515696966065

Grants are available in three levels:

• Single classroom: $750
• Multiple classrooms: $1,000
• Entire school: $1,500

SIMCO will accept applications online until 5 p.m. on November 18, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Winners will be notified no later than December 2, 2024.

For more information about the SIMCO STEM Education Mini-Grants Program, contact Dr. Joy James-Foster, SIMCO Communications, at (575) 234-7512 or joy.james-foster@wipp.ws

CARLSBAD, N.M. ̶ Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) announced it has awarded $75,000 in grants to 10 community non-profit organizations, as part of the company’s Employee Investment Advisory Committee grants program. The award recipients were selected by the committee, which is composed of 10 employees, who chose Eddy and Lea counties’ food security, literacy, and public health and safety as focus areas for the year.

In its second year, the SIMCO Employee Investment Advisory Committee’s mission is to allocate company-funded grants where the need is greatest, using the collective skills and knowledge of the employees to make a positive impact in the communities where they live and work. The committee members were nominated by SIMCO managers and were selected for exemplifying the company’s core values, delivery of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) mission and commitment to community.

The 10 grant recipients are: Carlsbad Battered Families Shelter, Carlsbad Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition, Carlsbad Literacy Program, Isaiah’s Soup Kitchen, My Power, New Mexico Community Lawn Care & Services, Packs for Hunger, Southeast New Mexico Community Action Corporation, United Way of Eddy County and Weekend Hunger Initiative (WHI) Hobbs.

About SIMCO

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) was formed to support the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. SIMCO’s member is Bechtel National Inc. and its WIPP team includes Los Alamos Technical Associates as a teaming subcontractor.

DOE selects solar-powered project at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, furthering the effort of clean electricity generation on DOE-owned land and helping to reach the nation’s ambitious climate goals

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected NextEra Energy Resources Development, LLC, to enter realty negotiations for a carbon-pollution-free electricity generation project at DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) as part of the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative.

NextEra Energy Resources Development, LLC will have the opportunity to negotiate a realty agreement to deploy at least 150 megawatts of carbon pollution-free electricity to the grid with a 100 MW storage system on up to 1,800 acres of land at WIPP.

President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14057 in December 2021, which calls on agencies to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2030 and directs them to authorize use of their real property assets, including land for the development of new clean electricity generation and storage through leases, grants, permits or other mechanisms. As the leading federal agency on clean energy research and development, DOE has both a unique opportunity and a clear responsibility to lead by example and identify creative solutions to achieve the President’s goal.

Since announcing the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative in July last year, DOE has issued six requests for qualifications to lease land at the SRS in South Carolina; Hanford Site in Washington; Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico; Nevada National Security Site in Nevada; and Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho.

As of today, DOE has announced the developer selection at all Cleanup to Clean Energy sites.

“President Biden directed the federal government to use its scale and procurement power, as the nation’s largest energy consumer and land manager, to support the growth of America’s clean energy industry and clean energy jobs and do so in ways that are good for our taxpayers and our communities,” said Andrew Mayock, federal chief sustainability officer in the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “Through DOE’s Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, we will spur new clean electricity production, which is good for our climate, our economy and our national security.”

The DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) is committed to supporting the nation’s climate goals and combating climate change through clean energy production on its sites, according to EM Senior Advisor Candice Robertson.

“We are excited about this large-scale solar and energy storage project moving forward at the WIPP site. This project will help the site achieve its sustainability goals and will bring jobs and innovation to the state of New Mexico,” Carlsbad Field Office Site Manager Mark Bollinger said.

DOE will continue to engage and partner with industry, Tribal Nations, communities, stakeholders, regulators and others to implement a process for further development of clean energy projects on DOE-owned land.

More information on Cleanup to Clean Energy can be found here.