The city of Carlsbad is located in one of the most scenic areas in the United States with plenty of opportunities to have outdoor fun. It’s also emerging as a regional hub for the oil and gas industry.
Its mayor of 11 years, Dale Janway, is very proud of that.
“We’ve had the greatest period of growth in the history of our community over the past decade thanks to the oil and gas industry but also thanks to other industries including potash, WIPP, tourism and agriculture,” said Janway. “The growth has been wonderful – and it is good to see so many families come to Carlsbad because of all of the opportunities here.”
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the City of Carlsbad maintains a population just shy of 30,000 people while showing about a 13.6% growth in population since 2010.
“This is a very special place and there are so many outstanding citizens who come together whenever it is needed,” Janway told the New Mexico Sun. “One good example is our recent successful effort to have our college go independent — we had residents age 16 through 85 all working together.”
Janway is particularly bullish on its high quality of life and economic opportunity.
According to Data USA, in 2019, the median household income was just over $69,000, which significantly exceeds the $49,750 median income level statewide. The largest industries in Carlsbad are related to mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, with a highly specialized workforce in that field.
“We want to see Carlsbad continue to grow and add more businesses, services, and recreational opportunities,” Janway said in an interview. “We also want to preserve what has always been special about our community, which is the closeness and support the members of our community give to one another.”
In addition to oil and gas, active industries in Carlsbad include mining and quarrying.
“We hope to attract more spinoffs related to WIPP and the nuclear industry,” Janway said. “One of our greatest challenges right now is with what’s called State House Bill 6.”
As the Carlsbad Currant Argus previously reported, HB 6 could potentially divert tax income from cities that depend on it the most.
“Municipalities such as Carlsbad stand to lose millions of dollars in gross receipts tax while the state stands to benefit,” Janway said. “We are hoping for legislative assistance with adding reporting exemptions so that rural municipalities don’t lose their tax base.”
One area that’s particularly challenging for Janway as the mayor is the negative consequences of additional regulation on the oil and gas industry both at the state and federal levels.
“Our state has a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of education and infrastructure, and the oil and gas industry is a huge part of that solution,” he said. “The energy industry is making great progress on its own on environmental issues, and we should work with them, not against them. We hope that the state and members of our federal delegation will come to recognize how essential the oil and gas industry is to our state as we plan for the future."