IPANM (April 15, 2021) -- In response to final deliberations and passage of a New Mexico Ozone Precursor Methane Rule, IPANM releases the following statement:

"The Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico believes the goal of the New Mexico ozone precursor methane rule should have been to reduce emissions while preserving well economics and minimizing potential job losses. An initial draft of the rule allowed for a reasonable regulatory framework for low-volume production, however, the state removed that provision in the 11th hour after pressure from out-of-state environmental groups who subverted a good-faith collaborative stakeholder effort. IPANM is disappointed by provisions in the final rule that disproportionately target low volume producers, which will lead to premature plugging of still-productive wells that are already environmentally safe and contribute significantly to state revenues.

IPANM’s concern throughout this process is that the state would appease out-of-state environmental groups pushing provisions based on anti-oil and gas ideology instead of real emissions data and facts. Unfortunately, the state’s own news release seems to confirm our suspicion by offering the celebratory quotes of environmental groups and a Biden administration that has blatantly declared war on domestic production while encouraging foreign adversaries to produce, pollute, and export fuels to the United States without any accountability. The combination of these new federal and state oil & gas restrictions will continue to punish New Mexicans at the gas pump, undermine our domestic security, increase our dependency on foreign adversaries at a time when we should be increasing domestic production."

--Jim Winchester, IPANM Executive Director