New Mexico

Report: Shale Saved New Mexicans More Than $3.4 Billion Over 10 Years

The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) released a new report last week detailing the incredible savings New Mexico consumers have enjoyed thanks to the shale revolution. The report shows that increased natural gas production, made possible by fracking, saved New Mexico families and businesses more than $3.4 billion between 2006 and 2016. According to the report, residential users saved nearly $1.6 billion while commercial and industrial users saved more than $1.86 billion.

As “Keep It In the Ground” activists attempt to stymie energy growth and production in New Mexico’s neighbor to the north, this new analysis highlights how the energy revolution helps to revitalize communities and contribute to local job growth and economic investment. According to the report, New Mexico’s oil and gas industry provides more than 100,000 jobs statewide, employing one in every eight New Mexicans.

The industry is also filling New Mexico’s state coffers, helping to fund municipal services and environmental improvements. According to the report, the oil and gas industry provides New Mexico $2 billion annually in severance and property taxes, royalties from production on state and federal lands, and rental income. Sales and income taxes on oil and gas drilling and service activity generate an additional $300 million for the state.

This revenue stream helps to fuel New Mexico’s public education system. Roughly 45 percent of the state’s General Fund revenue is allocated to public education. In FY 2017, the state’s oil and gas sector set a new record for oil production and provided $711 million to public schools and almost $223 million to colleges and universities. As New Mexico Oil and Gas Association executive director Ryan Flynn recently noted:

“Growing New Mexico’s oil and natural gas industry means growth in jobs, the economy, and funding for our public schools and state budget. New Mexico is blessed with abundant natural resources, and safely and responsibly developing our oil and natural gas economy is key to New Mexico’s future.”

CEA President David Hold commended the study’s finding and urged New Mexico’s leaders to continue supporting the industry:

“With the savings that have occurred in recent years, New Mexico policymakers, regulators and leaders must continue to come together in support of local energy production and infrastructure that will help the state thrive and ensure hardworking families, seniors, households, and small businesses have the low-cost energy they need to reduce expenses, find work and improve their communities.”

These positive trends continue to grow. In August, the New Mexico Consensus Revenue Estimating Group released a report estimating that revenues for the fiscal year that began July 1 will outpace spending obligations by $1.2 billion, about 15 percent more than what was expected. This revenue influx is largely attributable to booming oil production in New Mexico’s share of the Permian Basin, which has vaulted the Land of Enchantment to become the country’s third-largest oil producing state. This continued growth will continue to fill state coffers and fund public education across the state.

 This most recent CEA analysis comes on the heels of a number of similar previous reports from the organization finding total savings of more than $152 billion from 2006 to 2016. The CEA recently reported that Appalachian Basin states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia saved more than $80 billion combined during this time period. CEA also found that Colorado and Texas consumers saved nearly $12.4 billion and $60 billion, respectively, over the decade.

 These remarkable figures are an important reminder that record U.S. oil and natural gas production mean much more than improved bottom lines for producers. The shale revolution is not only fueling our economy, but is providing savings to families and businesses, support for public education, and a wealth of job opportunities for those living in resource abundant states.

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