Last month New Mexican oil and gas operators completed a pilot program aimed at treating and reclaiming water used in oil and gas operations. Texan oil supply company Gradiant Energy…
The recently created New Mexico Methane Advisory Panel (MAP), along with the state Environmental Department, and New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Division has released a draft of their technical…
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According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Lea County was the No. 2 oil-producing county, just behind North Dakota's McKenzie County, while Eddy County was ranked 6th.HOBBS, N.M.…
The New Mexican oil and gas industry continues to do great work for our state. In spite of increased levels of natural gas consumption nationwide, the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have fallen to their lowest levels since 1992. New Mexico's oil and gas industry is making incredible progress in reducing methane emissions as production surges in our own portion of the Permian Basin - the world's top producing oilfield and some of the highest natural gas production in the country.
Commentary by Carla J. Sonntag, President and Founder, New Mexico Business Coalition
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In the case of the Sandoval County oil and gas ordinance, we seem to be playing that game, but with new features that add to the craziness.
Oil and gas operations have been in the County since the 1950s. While the idea of an ordinance isn’t new, Commissioners can’t seem to reach a decision on how to handle it. At least five times now, the Commission has had ordinances in front of them and have been unable to act.
Why? Because irrational activists have drowned out the voice of reason on what constitutes a judicious and useful ordinance. Hysteria booming through the halls of the Sandoval County Government Building controlled the conversation. “Tribal consultation hasn’t happened!” (The County has no authority over tribal lands.) “The ordinance is being rammed through at the last minute!” (Sandoval County has considered an ordinance for two years.) “It will destroy our land and water!” (There has never been a documented case of contaminated water due to oil and gas operations in New Mexico.)