New Mexico’s Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has concerns about President Biden’s moratorium that disrupts the leasing of oil and gas on federal land that she said “hurt New Mexico”.
In his first week in office, Biden signed an executive order to temporarily suspend new oil and gas leases on public land and offshore waters for drilling and fracking for 60 days.
“I’m clearly concerned that right away, with very little guidance, we have an announcement to postpone … a moratorium on lease applications, and the reality is: a lot of oil and gas … in the Permian [Basin] is on private land in Texas, “she said during an event on Wednesday with the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.
The Delaware Basin is a component of the Permian Basin – the largest oil basin in the United States – located partially in southeastern New Mexico.
More than 60% of New Mexico’s oil and gas production is on federal land, while 55% of state wells are located on federal land, according to the New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources (EMNRD).
ALASKA WAS ‘OPENLY’ TARGETED BY THE ORDER OF BIDEN, MURKOWSKI CLAIMS
More than 50 gas companies produce more than one million barrels a day in Delaware, sustaining some 18,000 jobs and helping to generate millions in tax revenue for the state, Forbes reported in January. The New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee confirmed to Fox News that 18,000 is a “fair estimate”.
Twenty-four wells located in Delaware, about half of which are on federal land, produced more than 500,000 barrels of gas in 2020, Forbes reported.
BIDEN PROHIBITION ON OIL AND GAS LEASE ON FEDERAL LANDS A ‘DIRECT ATTACK’ ON WYOMING, SAYS THE GOVERNOR
Grisham continued, “So, wherever you are – wherever you are in the country or in the chamber, how you feel about it – you can just move around, and it hurts New Mexico, and there are no environmental standards there.”
She added that her government “initiated talks and a letter with very strong words that it does not make sense”.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“The last question is: it is an economic problem for the state, but yes, it is also a message to the states to do nothing and wait for you to do it, and you will not go so far. is looking for innovation [in] environmental policy, you will delay it, “said the governor.
The Biden moratorium is an effort to combat climate change in the United States. The White House did not immediately respond to a Fox News inquiry.