- Environmentalists are opposing New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's efforts to fund oil industry wastewater treatment and recycling.
- Critics say the plan relies on unproven technology and could lead to water-guzzling hydraulic fracturing of oil and natural gas.
- Grisham is pushing for legislative changes that would allow states to develop new water sources by buying and selling treated water.
Environmentalists on Monday pushed back against New Mexico's governor's initiative to fund oil industry wastewater treatment and recycling, saying the plan relies on unproven technology and hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas. He warned that there is a possibility that this could be further promoted.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants the state to develop new strategic water sources by buying and selling spent salty byproducts from oil and gas drilling and treated water that comes from underground. They are calling for changes in laws and regulations to make funding available. saline aquifer.
The aim is to help conserve freshwater sources by providing a new source of recycled water for industry, while also helping the dry state attract businesses ranging from microchip manufacturers to hydrogen fuel producers. It is.
New Mexico officials propose regulations for reusing hydraulic fracturing wastewater
An array of environmental and social justice groups gathered outside the state Capitol to denounce the governor's plan as a handout to the oil and gas industry that won't necessarily alleviate pressure on the state's ancient underground aquifers. .
Democratic New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks in Belen, New Mexico on August 9, 2023. Mr. Grisham's proposal to take over the treatment and recycling of oil industry wastewater has been criticized by environmentalists. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Mariel Nanashi, executive director of the environmental and consumer advocacy group New Energy Economy, said: “Oil and gas producers, especially in the Permian Basin, need to solve major problems with wastewater treatment so they can continue to extract oil. The aim is to make it happen,” he said.
Julia Bernal, executive director of the environmental justice group Pueblo Action Alliance, sees the effort as an attempt to secure more water supplies for hydrogen production.
Hydrogen can be produced by splitting water using electricity from solar, wind, nuclear, or geothermal sources, but it does not produce nearly any greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. However, most of today's hydrogen is not made this way, but from natural gas, contributing to climate change.
“I'd like to see more investment in wind and solar power, and more community-based projects,” said Bernal, a Sandia Pueblo tribal member.
New Mexico Gov. Grisham proposes plan to turn oil field waste into clean water supply
Inside the Capitol, state Department of Environment Secretary James Kenney challenged the state Senate's budget to support up to $500 million in bond projects over two years to encourage private investment in water treatment and desalination infrastructure. He explained the administration's plan to take over the project. .
It would require parliamentary approval under a construction spending bill that has not yet been introduced. The state's annual legislative session ends on February 15th.
The Ministry of the Environment has proposed a new regulatory framework for the reuse of petroleum industry wastewater and the desalination of naturally occurring brine. On Monday, it also announced related requests for technical and economic clarifications from businesses, academia, government agencies, or other interested individuals.
New Mexico has salty water stored underground, but its uses are limited. This brackish water is a key ingredient in hydraulic fracturing and advanced drilling techniques that have made New Mexico the second-largest oil producing state in the United States.
