During the eighth annual EnergyPlex Conference, discussions centered on the impact of New Mexico's oil and gas industry. The event highlighted efforts by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) to educate state residents about the benefits of this sector.
Missi Currier, NMOGA's CEO and president, addressed attendees at the Lea County Event Center in Hobbs. She explained that NMOGA is committed to promoting the oil and gas industry across New Mexico through regulatory work, legislative advocacy, and education. "Even if you don’t work for oil and gas... it does fund our schools, it does fund our roads," she stated.
Currier emphasized how vital oil and gas are to daily life in New Mexico, stating that these industries contribute significantly to public services such as roads, healthcare, and education. In 2024 alone, they generated over $13.26 billion for the state. "Texas is the number one oil producer; we are number two," she noted.
According to Currier, almost 49 percent of New Mexico’s budget is supported by revenue from oil and gas. This funding aids various sectors including education and infrastructure development. "We provide billions for education," she said.
Despite its economic contributions, Currier expressed concern over New Mexico's reliance on a single industry for growth. She advocated for diversification while maintaining responsible production levels: “We want to grow it in responsible and sustainable ways.”
Lea County received approximately $781 million from this revenue last year. Other counties also benefited significantly; Taos County received $89 million while Bernalillo gained more than $2.3 billion.
Currier pointed out challenges faced by the industry due to regulatory hurdles within the state: “There’s a ton of regulations they have to cut through... there’s understaffing of agencies.” These obstacles hinder progress within both local industries and businesses statewide.
