Chinatown - New Mexico Style

Intel is taking three billion gallons of water out of the declining Rio Grande aquifer each and every year - and on top of that, New Mexico is in a serious years-long drought. How long can this go on?
There is an answer - and that is Intel going to the new clean SCORR method invented at Los Alamos National labs in 2001 that would use 95% less water. Intel has pushed this off until at least 2010, the latest excuse being that it would cost from $100 to $200 million to convert from their current toxic, water-wasting technology. Intel expects to modify and upgrade their processes about every 18 months because their products change so frequently. The $200 million figure they quote to convert represents around 1.25% of the $16 billion industrial revenue bond (RIB) that Intel was granted last year by Sandoval County where their Rio Rancho flagship plant resides. The conversion to the clean method would easily and cheaply fit into one of their major upgrades. Intel could do it if they wanted to - and if we had a State government with the courage and commonsense to demand it.