Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, and the Trump administration is gambling with our future by rolling back protections against methane pollution. Methane is responsible for a quarter of the climate crisis impacts we see today and the natural gas industry is the largest industrial source of methane in the United States. Not surprising since methane leaks occur at every phase of natural gas production.
As a mother of four young children, I am deeply concerned about how climate change and air and water pollution affect our health. This is why our family took an oil-and-gas tour south of Carlsbad with Earthworks, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting communities and the environment. They use cutting-edge optical gas imaging FLIR cameras to make air pollution visible and regularly file violations. The giant Permian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexico is now the top-producing shale field for oil and natural gas in North America.
New Mexico is facing some big challenges and, across state government, we have ambitious goals to turn these challenges into opportunities. For the New Mexico Environment Department and the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, the executive order signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham committing New Mexico to climate action lays out a road map toward leading on climate change solutions.
Hat tip to the dads in our lives and to Colorado’s head Dad, Gov. Jared Polis. Polis led the charge to expand opportunities and protections for Colorado kids and their future. As parents reviewing our state’s recent accomplishments our hearts are full of hope. It’s not just the obvious advancements like full-day kindergarten, which gives all of our kids a leg up, but several new policies helping Colorado’s kids, providing climate safety and security for the next generation.
As our state and Gov. (Michelle) Lujan Grisham’s administration begin a process to assess how to manage methane emissions, New Mexico’s oil and natural gas industry is a willing partner.
Each day, thousands of New Mexicans go to work in the oil and natural gas industry. Together these men and women drive New Mexico’s economy, working tirelessly to ensure New Mexico safely produces the energy we need to power our daily lives. Their hard work has provided New Mexico with a billion-dollar budget surplus, and more funds to support our public schools and roadways.