As many of you have seen, a proposal calling for New Mexico to halt issuance of new fracking permits over the next four years passed through the Senate Conservation Committee on a 5-4 vote Saturday. 

There are numerous bills of significant importance to Carlsbad and its residents being debated by the state legislature this year, but they all would largely become irrelevant should this bill pass. Such a pause on new permits would cost New Mexico between $1.7 and $3.8 billion a year in revenue through 2025, according to an analysis by the legislature’s chief economist. Beyond the incredible loss to state government, local government and schools, tens of thousands of people would lose their jobs.

This harmful bill still has to clear two more committees on the Senate side before going up for a vote. On Saturday, Senator David Gallegos said it best during the debate when he voted against the bill. 

“I don’t know if you understand totally how much New Mexico depends on fracking and the oil and gas industry. They do so much for our communities, our schools and our children,” the Senator told the committee. 

Let’s hope wiser heads prevail and that this bill doesn’t go any further. 

From the office of Mayor Dale Janway