The energy industry in New Mexico provides around 100,000 jobs and billions in tax revenue. And now it appears money from that revenues has another beneficiary: high-level government bureaucrats! According to this investigative report, the highest paid government employees in Albuquerque are receiving big raises. The top-level officials, who already earn six-figure salaries, received raises anywhere from $12,000 to $19,000 a year.  Part of the reasoning behind the windfall salaries is that the City of Albuquerque has to compete with increased salaries being offered by the State of New Mexico. At this point, it’s worth noting the average salary in…

There are seven natural gas stations across New Mexico which provide over 12% of the electric power to families in the Land of Enchantment. All those stations, all that power and all those jobs could be on the chopping block thanks to the controversial Energy Transition Act or ETA. As New Mexico’s version of the Green New Deal takes effect in the years ahead, much of the attention is justifiably focused on the 1,500 jobs lost in Northwest New Mexico from the closure of the San Juan Generating Station. Lost in much of the debate are these seven natural gas plants that…

There are 112 members of the New Mexico Legislature and it’s impressive when all of them agree on one thing. Such was the case recently when House Bill 610 (HB 610) passed the Legislature. The purpose of HB 610 was to start a program within the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to make it easier for women to get high-paying jobs in New Mexico’s booming oil and natural gas industry. The idea had such strong support that not a single member of the Legislature voted against it. In fact, even the Senator who wants to ban fracking in…

Santa Fe politicians are not listening to the needs of energy workers and the communities that rely on them, and it’s threatening New Mexico’s future. That’s the message from Power The Future Western States Director Larry Behrens in his new op-ed in the Farmington Daily Times. “The disconnect between Santa Fe and the rest of New Mexico has become more glaring to the point where I don’t believe energy workers and their way of life are recognized for all they do,” said Behrens. “Santa Fe politicians are being pushed by special interests from out-of-state funders passing laws that jeopardize our way of life. Ideas…