September 24, 2024

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Dear Friend:

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Los Alamos National Laboratory is at risk of losing its competitive advantage in supercomputing because Martin Heinrich has misplaced priorities. He is more concerned about advocating for a technology that is used in partnership with a major campaign contributor than making sure Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos County have the electricity they need. 

  

It is a critical time for the Laboratory because while it brought online the “Venado” supercomputer last year, Los Alamos is scheduled to get  the Advanced Technology System  (ATS-5) an even faster, more sophisticated high-performance computer.  This computer is essential to the Lab’s mission.  

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Anyone representing New Mexico has an obligation to make sure nothing hinders the acquisition of this high-performance computer.  In order to receive the computer Los Alamos needs another powerline, otherwise this state-of-the-art machine will end up in California at Livermore.  

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 If I were the United States Senator, the required powerline would already be built. In my career I have completed countless complicated negotiations involving parties with seemingly irreconcilable positions.  I would find a way to address the Pueblos’ need to protect cultural sites, to accommodate hunters and fishermen’s access and still build the powerline.   Unfortunately, Martin Heinrich is a roadblock, not an advocate.

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I ask: why? 

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Martin Heinrich is compromised because Quanta Services is a big donor to his campaign.  At least four officers and directors have contributed at least $29,200 to Heinrich’s campaigns. They do reconductoring, a technology that is not mature enough and presents project execution risk among other problems.   Heinrich persistently advocates for this technology even though it is expensive, risky, and unworkable. 

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In e-mails requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and examined by campaign staff it is documented that on May 10, 2022, a staffer working for Senator Heinrich, wrote to National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) personnel about Quanta Energy’s New reconductoring and NEPA impacts. Since then, NNSA has repeatedly told Heinrich that the technology is not mature enough and is not an option worth considering.   As recently as May 22,  2024, Heinrich pressured DOE Under Secretary of Nuclear Security about reconductoring, again.

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When I first raised his interference with the needed powerline, Heinrich’s campaign responded:  “Nella Domenici’s speculative attacks on Senator Heinrich’s record are false, desperate . . .”

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I will let you decide.  It is Martin who has a record of dishonesty about my positions on important issues.  Blocking an essential powerline on behalf of a donor is not the way our elected officials are supposed to make decisions.  

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Reconductoring has no hope of being implemented by 2028, in time for Los Alamos to receive the most sophisticated supercomputer. Martin Heinrich advocates for this technology instead of building the needed third powerline, which is also needed for the residents of  Los Alamos County. 

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Conveniently, his position coincides with his allegiance to the radical environmentalists' agenda while dangerously jeopardizing the Lab’s world-renowned supercomputing capability and  ignoring the needs of Los Alamos residents.

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Most of the proposed powerline would run parallel to the existing line and would be within the existing easement. None of the line would cross tribal land.

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Simply stated, if there is no new powerline, there will be no new high performance computer.  There will be a loss of jobs and critical  mission at LANL.

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Martin Heinrich’s priorities threaten not only Los Alamos’ pre-eminence in high performance computing, but because high performance computing  is foundational for a diverse set of applications spanning the  main divisions of the laboratory—Simulation and Computation and Theory; Chemical, Earth and Life Sciences; Physical Sciences, and Weapons Stockpile Physics, Engineering and Production, his opposition to the powerline threatens the Lab, the 15,932 employees (not including contractors) and over $5 billion budget.

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The ATS-5 supercomputer is scheduled for delivery at a time when, as Lab Director Thom Mason, opined, “No field isn’t being changed by AI.”  This machine and its large-scale modeling capabilities is key to the future of practically everything because AI is going to change everything.

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I believe LANL is the institution that will put this computer to its highest and best use and deploying it anywhere else will underutilize its potential. 

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There is not an institution in the world that has the breadth of expertise to further scientific discovery than Los Alamos.  The possibilities, and the diversity of problems to solve with its multidisciplinary expertise make the Lab more essential than ever.  

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It troubles me to hear that many researchers working outside the core weapons programs are expected to find their own funding. This would change under my watch. There is not a better investment for DOE,DOD, NNSA NASA , NSF, and NIH than investing in the research capabilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  

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The United States has been underinvesting in research while China has not.  We are in an AI and supercomputing race with China. And it is a race we must win.  I will use my voice and vote in Washington D. C. to make sure that happens.    

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Now, more than ever when AI is transforming every sector of the economy high performance computing, and big data are indispensable capabilities.  I have worked with AI and big data in my business career and understand the economic transformation taking place. 

 

We can’t let Martin Heinrich’s misplaced priorities and compromised allegiances threaten the Lab's future.

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Your friend,

 

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Nella Domenici

Candidate for U.S. Senate