Source: Santa Fe New Mexican
By Alheli Caton-Garcia Apr 18, 2026
New Mexico has been at the forefront of nuclear colonialism since its inception during World War II. As a result, generations of families have faced long-term effects from nuclear contamination that remain long after companies leave.
From the Trinity Downwinders who recently received a semblance of justice through the reauthorized Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act in 2025 to communities still fighting for the cleanup of abandoned uranium mines and the 1979 Churchrock Mill Tailings spill, the largest radioactive disaster in North America, New Mexicans are too familiar with the struggle for remediation and reconciliation.
Regardless, the Clean Energy Association of New Mexico (CLEAN) is hosting a conference titled Nuclear in New Mexico: Fueling the U.S. Nuclear Renaissance from April 20-22 on Tamayameh homelands (Santa Ana Pueblo). This conference seeks to convince stakeholders that uranium and nuclear production are clean and safe, but New Mexicans know better.
Adverse impacts from the nuclear industry’s radioactive contamination include generational cancer clusters, health problems, and lack of access to clean water and sacred sites. “The deterioration of our health — particularly all forms of cancer — and negative environmental impacts to Mother Earth with virtually no reclamation of abandoned mines or comprehensive health studies in our communities have left our people with no other choice than to oppose any form of nuclear development,” says Manuel Pino of Acoma Pueblo with the Laguna Acoma Coalition For A Safe Environment.
Currently, Grants Energy (whose project director is also on the board of CLEAN) is encroaching on the traditional cultural property of Mount Taylor and scarce water resources. Nuclear facilities like Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant are already facing scrutiny from the New Mexico Environment Department for their failures to clean up and safely store legacy waste.
The conference paints over the dirty history of the nuclear fuel chain ushering in a new age of “nuclear renaissance” and spreading fallacies that new practices are safe for communities and the environment. CLEAN claims that in situ leaching is eco-friendly and safer than conventional mining, yet they will deliberately contaminate the aquifer in order to mine. The nuclear energy industry also falsely claims that nuclear production is clean energy. The industry conveniently omits the greenhouse gas emissions involved in the mining, milling, enriching, fuel fabrication, storage of waste and transport from its carbon equation. These narratives put profit over the health of people, land and water.
“Wellness is our birthright in our sacred space on Mother Earth. We are grounded in connection to place. It is our responsibility to feed her, protect her, and always to give love and thanks for each day we walk, play, work to give her life,” says Kathy Wan Povi Sanchez of Tewa Women United. “If ever there were a time thoughtful people needed to come together, and with collective brilliance and generosity of spirit, determine what direction to take, this growing crisis is that time. We believe that together we can envision and strategize a path through current threats.”
CLEAN and co-conspirator New Mexico Nuclear Alliance claim to be different from the old industry; they want to have “cultural exchanges” and work with community. Yet, their high conference fees exclude many. Why propose creating more waste before dealing with that which is prolific already? In a time when environmental laws are under threat, it is important that we do not allow industry to take advantage of our land and our communities.
At 8 a.m.Monday, at the corner of Tamaya Boulevard and U.S. 550, let’s stand together against industry-backed mining and demand local control to decide what is best for ourselves.
Alhelí Caton-Garcia is working with anti-nuclear allies across New Mexico and more broadly to fight for a future free from nuclear harm.