Members and supporters of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light have prepared testimony for hearings held by the Environmental Improvement Board. The hearings, held the week of Sept. 20-24, are in support of the The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) strong proposal to cut ozone-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane released by the oil and gas industry. This testimony comes from Ruth Striegel, co-chair of the NM-IPL board of directors and chair of the advocacy committee.

To the members of the Environmental Improvement Board,

My name is Ruth Striegel. I live in Albuquerque, where I’m a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, and I serve as a board member of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light. I appreciate this opportunity to comment on methane regulations.

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit oil fields around Carlsbad. I met many citizens there who were suffering from asthma, bronchial conditions, rashes and odd cancers that citizens felt could be related to methane and associated gases that they were breathing daily. I was able to see gas escaping from several oil facilities through a FLIR camera, which makes gas emissions visible. I’m asking you to require frequent inspections to find and a leaks to protect the people living near oil and gas facilities. I’m asking you to create strong requirements for operators to control escaping gases during the completion of a well, or redevelopment of an existing well. I am asking your support of strong methane rules to protect health and God’s creation.

People living in oil and gas producing regions should not be made to suffer simply because they live near these wells. More often than not, the people impacted are children, the elderly, our native communities, and those living in rural communities. I’m asking you to enact strong methane regulations to help address health, environmental justice and climate justice concerns that affect people’s lives and the future.  Almost half the native American residents of San Juan County live within a half-mile of a wellsite. A half mile! Think of what it would mean to them to get up in the morning and breathe clean air!

Colorado and other states have enacted regulations curbing methane waste while still allowing for growth in the industry. Methane regulation actually creates jobs in mitigation and manufacturing. Cleaning up our air will result in healthier children, adults, and elders, making our communities stronger and more resilient. The idea that strong regulation will reduce our tax income and take away jobs simply isn’t true. That short-sighted narrative serves only to increase our societal imbalance and make our planet and our communities sicker and less able to cope with a climate, health and economically changing world.

In my faith tradition, we are asked to repent when we’re not living in a life-giving way. The word “repent” means to turn around, change course, and go in a new and better direction. In this time of climate crisis, we are all faced with a moral reckoning, but also the opportunity to head in a new direction, one that seeks to protect without fail the health and wellbeing of our communities. Please, help New Mexico find that new direction by enacting strong methane regulations that protect us all.

Thank you.