Virgin Galactic to start paying rent

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Virgin Galactic says it will start paying rent at the Spaceport, but it is doing so under protest and is not waiving its right to walk away from the project.
 
According to letters obtained by the associated press Virgin Galactic says the state has not finished the work necessary to trigger activation of the $1 million a year rent and says if the work is not complete by March 31st it may stop paying to give notice to terminate it's lease.
 
The state claims its obligations have been met and say they want a meeting with the company to clear up the issue.

The battle over the Spaceport has been heating up in the last few months with Virgin Galactic saying the facility is not a bustling spaceport the state promised it to be and the state has failed to pass a law that protects manufacturers, suppliers and anyone else who builds a spacecraft from liability lawsuits.
 
The legislature is working to pass that bill. It just passed a senate committee and is heading to the full senate for consideration.