As the recently published State of the Air Report makes clear - we have a moral imperative to act in solidarity with our neighbors in Southeast NM who are experiencing unacceptable and dangerous levels of pollution. In that spirit, we have the honor of uplifting a vital message from our amazing and intrepid colleague, Haley Jones, who is the organizer for Citizens Caring for the Future in the Permian Basin.
A message from Haley Jones with Citizens Caring for the Future:
"I’ve lived in Carlsbad for about 30 years, and in the last decade, the town I grew up in has changed dramatically. Out-of-state license plates outnumber New Mexico’s, traffic is unbearable, and rent has skyrocketed. Healthcare is scarce despite oil and gas wealth. It is risky to speak out in any way that can be construed as anti-oil, when we used to be able to agree to disagree.
On Earth Day, the American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report ranked Eddy County #12 in the U.S. for ozone pollution, up from #24 in 2021. We even outranked Albuquerque and Las Cruces/El Paso. State legislators fret over industry’s veiled threats to leave the state (they won’t, this is where the oil & gas are), instead of empowering state regulators to enforce existing emissions standards or codifying the governor’s executive order aiming for net zero emissions in the state by 2050. Worse, frontline communities are being pushed to accept toxic fracking waste as a “solution” to water scarcity—even though operators still use 45% groundwater in fracking. The proposals to discharge toxic fracking waste only target oil-producing counties, dumping risk onto those already suffering the most from this extractive industry.
New Mexico talks about a “just transition,” but we haven’t faced what it truly requires. Southeast New Mexico’s community colleges lack clean energy programs, and retraining is financially out of reach for many. How do we replace oil and gas revenue without another wave of unaffordable living costs? Carlsbad wasn’t always dependent on oil and gas—we have potash mines, national labs, and other industries. The state hasn’t always relied on it either. We need to remember that we hold the power, not the industry. They need our resources, and they should follow our rules to get them.
Communities like mine need people of faith to stand with us and remind our leaders, both elected and appointed, who they serve–the people of New Mexico, not the oil and gas industry. We need you to help us hold those speaking of a “just transition” accountable to coming up with real transition plans for frontline communities, not just vague words about “more jobs”. And we need you to stand with us as we fight for cleaner air to breathe."
Haley Jones, Organizer, Citizens Caring for the Future
