Central New Mexico Community College announced on Thursday that it will build a quantum science lab and develop a training boot camp as a means to bolster workforce needs in the field of quantum computing. 

The new lab and workforce development program at the community college are supported by more than $800,000 in federal funding and through partnerships with Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico. The community college has deployed other “deep dive” bootcamps, which consist of 10-12 week courses focused on coding, data science, digital media and other technical areas. 

“Quantum computing may seem like science fiction, but it is a reality and New Mexico will be a leading center for its practical applications across a multitude of fields,” said Kyle Lee, who leads workforce development programs at the college, in a press release. “We will be one of the first and most accessible programs to build out this exciting opportunity for individuals and companies who want to harness quantum systems’ extraordinary capabilities.”

Students will be able to learn about quantum computing processes through a 10-week boot camp program and leave with skills to build, operate, maintain quantum systems and enter the workforce, the release said. Brian Rashap, an instructor with the college’s workforce training program, said that the lab is projected to welcome its first cohort of students in spring 2025. 

“There are very few formal quantum training programs like this, so it’s incredibly special that CNM is paving the way in that sense,” Rashap said. “We’re designing this program to serve employers and students in a really cutting-edge way, so if you’re interested in this kind of hands-on, innovative training this is the place to be.”

Water is New Mexico’s most precious resource. We must ensure it is conserved and utilized to the greatest extent and encourage innovative technologies that result in safe, responsible water reuse. As directed by the 2019 Produced Water Act, state officials are working diligently to create a framework for water reuse through the Water Quality Control Commission rulemaking.

All viable and safe options to address our declining water availability should be considered, including finding ways to safely use treated produced water. The oil and gas industry is truly one of the few industries capable of attaining “net positive” water balance by saving more fresh water than it uses. Achieving this is a win for all New Mexicans.

In New Mexico, oil and natural gas production uses less than 1 percent of the state’s annual freshwater consumption, while the vast majority of water continues to be consumed by individuals or other water-necessary industries.

Produced water is mostly naturally occurring, highly saline water brought to the surface as part of oil and gas production. Leading universities, like New Mexico State, New Mexico Tech, and Texas Tech, are on the forefront of treated produced water use research. Developments in water recycling technology show that high-quality water can be extracted from produced water for appropriate and regulated reuse. With additional treatment, the water can be cleaner than some natural river ecosystems.

Currently, produced water is injected back into deep subsurface formations as one of the few approved disposal methods. The reinjection of produced water can contribute to seismic events. Coupled with depleting water supplies, it is crucial to find ways to best utilize produced water.

Due to technological advancements, produced water could be used for industrial applications such as municipal landscaping, road construction, and irrigation for non-edible agriculture like cotton. To ensure its safe utilization in approved applications, the use of any produced water will be extensively tested and monitored to guarantee it meets stringent water-quality standards.

Every gallon of treated produced water used for irrigation or industrial uses frees up a gallon of native fresh water.

Concerns that the oil and gas industry introduces Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances – or PFAS – into its produced water are unwarranted. To be clear, the oil and gas industry is not a source of PFAS in produced water. A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found PFAS concentrations in the Pecos River near Artesia (upstream of oil and gas fields) averaged 15 nanograms per liter. Water from the Pecos River downstream of oil and gas fields had the same or lower levels. The trace amounts of PFAS found in the surface water are introduced before water reaches the Permian Basin. The study also found PFAS levels in the Pecos River were lower than samples taken from the Rio Grande south of Albuquerque.

We urge state officials to make data- and science-based decisions in the upcoming WQCC rulemaking hearing to ensure proper utilization of all our water resources, preserve our limited supply of fresh water for future generations, and enable economic diversification. To learn more about the rulemaking and treated produced water facts, we urge you to visit NM Environment Department, the WQCC, NMSU, NMT, and TTU sites to learn more the safe usage of produced water and its benefits to New Mexico’s future.

Missi Currier is a Carlsbad native, and President and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — On National Small Business Week, one New Mexico business is receiving recognition for its success.

The Albuquerque-based Triskelion Group took the top overall honor this week from the New Mexico office of the Small Business Administration.

Watch the video above to see how CEO Chris Sweetin and the staff have provided needed security services, grown the company to more than 80 employees and formed plans for further expansion.

“It has been a very big passion,” Sweetin said. “Every day is a new challenge, and we figure out how to fix it.”

“He’s seen substantial growth in his company. He’s a great example of a success story,” said John Garcia, district director for the New Mexico office of the Small Business Administration.

Garcia said New Mexico small businesses are “thriving.” Ones that survived the COVID-19 pandemic grew stronger, and there’s been a surge of new ones in the last few years.

“Because of the pandemic, they became very resilient. They bounced back. They created some new thoughts and new ideas,” Garcia said.

If anyone is running a business, or wants to, they can reach out to the Small Business Administration office for information and connections to resources – including for loans and access to capital.