Vice President Mike Pence made a stop in Artesia Thursday to discuss the current state of energy production. He met with energy industry leaders and elected officials in an hour-long energy roundtable. 

In his opening remarks, Pence touted the Trump-Pence record on energy independence and low gas prices. “I’m going to keep traveling all across this country with a very simple message: We have got to end the dependence of the American people and the American economy on nations that do not share our values or our interests. We should not be buying from Venezuela and Saudi Arabia so much as we should be developing the energy resources of America.”

Pence was visiting Artesia as a representative of his non-profit foundation, Advancing American Freedom, an organization established to advocate for conservative values and policies, including American energy independence.

City of Artesia Mayor Jon Henry opened the meeting by acknowledging the value and contributions of the energy industry. He said, “Our energy businesses strive to be the best, safest, and most forward-thinking energy producers. They believe in community and contribute so much to Southeastern New Mexico’s quality of life. We welcome every opportunity to share our experiences and expertise with those who will listen.” He thanked Pence for giving the participants an opportunity to speak with him about their work.

Industry representatives discussed topics including permitting, refining, electricity, grid reliability, the struggles to find enough workforce, and the rising costs of filling the gas tank and heating or cooling homes.