Editor:
As I was reading an article in The Daily Times on Friday, Oct. 23, I came across a statement made by Mr. Bob Gallagher, president of New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. The statement was, "There's been no conversation about oil and gas. Either people are in denial or people have their head in the sand." This statement relates to the fact that the state is down to about a half a billion dollars in revenue from the oil and gas industry.
We, the state of New Mexico, have become so dependent upon the oil and gas industry that approximately one-third of our revenue comes from them.
Hello, how many times in the last 60 years have we had the distinct problem of a bust in the "patch"? Granted, this time the pitiful economy has played a key role in this bust but why, oh, why are we so dependent upon one industry to the point that this county alone sports at least an 8-percent unemployment rate with no end in sight,?
Throw in the climate change and trouble with a capital-T looms in our faces. And maybe, just maybe, it is not us but the oil and gas industry and Mr. Bob Gallagher, who has, pardon the pun, "their collective heads in the sand."
These people are not stupid — on the contrary, some of the most brilliant minds in this nation are employed by oil and gas. So why, given the problems we are facing and our children and their children, namely climate change plus a deficit in the state budget, can't we all work together to bridge the gap and make
There are vast areas in this county alone that lend themselves to solar and wind projects. In some parts of our state thermal energy spots are present and we boast the National Defense Lab in Los Alamos who could apply those brilliant minds in conjunction with oil and gas people to hydrogen power. These are just the beginning to the answers.
So rather than complain about how abused oil and gas is, Mr. Gallagher, why not put that wonderful mind to good use and help us get out of this mess, namely a continued dependence on one industry?
DIANA C. MESCH
Aztec
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