TWS applauds New Mexico Governor’s action to address natural gas waste
Governor takes action to tackle New Mexico's natural gas waste problem
Today, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an Executive Order acknowledging the urgent need to act on climate change and followed through on her campaign commitment to address the state’s growing natural gas waste issue. The order, the second of the Governor’s administration, highlights the role fossil fuels play in contributing to climate change and the impacts already being felt by New Mexicans.
Among other things, the EO directs the state’s Oil Conservation Division and Environment Department to initiate a rulemaking process to establish best-in-the-nation methane waste and pollution requirements. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a climate pollutant.
The Wilderness Society’s New Mexico State Director Michael Casaus applauded the announcement stating, “New Mexico’s outdated oil and gas standards result in rampant pollution and the loss of millions of dollars worth of taxpayer revenue each year. Following the repeal of federal standards in 2018 it's incumbent upon states like New Mexico to take a leadership role. We support the Governor’s initiative and urge her to act swiftly.”
More methane is wasted from oil and gas production on federal and tribal lands in New Mexico - 570,000 tons annually - than any other state in the country.
In fact, according to The State of Methane report, released in late 2018 by The Wilderness Society and Taxpayers for Common Sense, between $182 and $244 million worth of natural gas is wasted each year, causing taxpayers to lose out on as much as $27 million in tax and royalty revenues annually. That revenue is enough to meet the annual. This is enough natural gas to meet the annual heating and cooking needs of every home in the state.
CONTACT:
- Alex Thompson, Communications Manager, The Wilderness Society, 202-429-3940, alex_thompson@tws.org
The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. Visit www.wilderness.org.
