Common Ground Rising is a community based organization that works on projects to help protect social justice, climate and the environment in the Middle Rio Grande

Sign the petition to Stop the BCP buyout

New Mexicans deserve affordable, reliable energy—not a private equity takeover that puts profits before people. Bernhard Capital Partners (BCP) wants to buy our gas utility, but their record shows disregard for the public interest. Across the country, private equity firms like BCP have driven up costs, cut services, and weakened accountability.

If this deal goes through, New Mexicans could face higher rates, less reliable service, and weakened oversight—all while BCP investors cash in. Our communities, already struggling with high poverty rates and rising costs, cannot afford to carry their profit agenda.

📢 This is our moment to fight back.
Sign the petition to demand that the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) reject the sale of New Mexico Gas Company to Bernhard Capital Partners. Together, we can keep our utilities accountable to the people—not Wall Street.

Castelion’s “Project Ranger” just got wired to public money: State up to $5M, County $4M, City $1M via a City–County IGA effective Nov 1—with the County bought land and leased it back to the company that includes oil and gas leases.

Castelion’s ‘Project Ranger’ Solid Rocket Motor Plant

Only ~$25.8K is tagged for a “plume + traffic” study. No full baseline hydrology/air/soil sampling released. This is our water and our future. Demand a halt until independent baseline studies and legally noticed LEDA/OMA hearings occur. Join us. https://gofund.me/4ee432a8b. Help us Stop Project Ranger

The truth was buried so the public could be hoodwinked. Our so-called centrist Democrats swallowed the lies and voted to contaminate our region. And who else believes those lies? Those who choose silence over accountability. It’s time to break that silence, stand up, and fight this—in court and in the open. Pat Elder’s article lays out exactly why we must act now.

URGENT: Public Comment Tonight on Project Ranger (Castelion Rocket Plant)

The City of Rio Rancho Council is holding a meeting tonight where Project Ranger — the proposed solid rocket motor and hypersonic missile facility — is on the agenda.
It’s the LAST item, meaning it may not be heard until after 11 p.m. when most people have to work the next day.

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Meeting begins: 6:00 p.m.
In-person: Rio Rancho City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE
Watch live: rrnm.gov/2303/Watch-and-Download-City-Meetings
Join by Zoom: Click to join
Meeting ID: 833 3815 7719 | Passcode: 554297
Dial-in: +1 720 707 2699 (Denver)

To speak, you must register in person with the City Clerk at least 15 minutes before the meeting starts.
Written comments are accepted until 4 p.m. today to be entered into the record.

Why This Meeting Matters

The Sandia hazard report on Project Ranger was heavily redacted, and multiple public records (IPRA) requests remain unanswered.
Residents still haven’t seen an independent environmental or safety assessment.

Meanwhile, conflicting information has emerged:
Castelion representatives told the public the site would operate under Department of Defense oversight,
but Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue has confirmed it is not a DoD facility and will follow local and state variance rules — not federal military standards.

Castelion Rep Andrew Kreitz states in the Public info meeting that the chemical in this project cannot come in contact with water. Yet there is a sprinkler system for fire suppressant see attachments

This means local taxpayers and first responders would bear the risk — not the Pentagon.

We cannot allow another midnight decision with incomplete data and misleading claims.
Join us and demand independent review, public hearings under Robert’s Rules, and full environmental disclosure before any funds are released.

Public Comments of City of Rio Rancho Approval for LEDA funding for Hypersonic and Detonation Plant

public comments and analysis for inclusion in the official record of tonight’s City Council meeting regarding Ordinance R-136 and the proposed City–County Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) related to the Castelion “Project Ranger” solid rocket motor and missile assembly facility.

After carefully reviewing the Rio Rancho Fire & Rescue Automatic Aid to Sandoval County (Attachment V5) report, I have identified serious inconsistencies and omissions in the project’s fire-suppression planning, environmental protections, and oversight structure. These discrepancies directly contradict prior public statements made by project proponents and expose significant risks to Rio Rancho residents, first responders, and taxpayers.

The attached analysis details these contradictions and provides documented evidence demonstrating why this project cannot lawfully or safely proceed without a comprehensive independent environmental, fire-risk, and transportation-hazard review, followed by a properly noticed public hearing in full compliance with the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA).

https://gofund.me/8d1246c26