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New Mexico lawmakers seek more data on limiting drilling near homes and schools

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New Mexico lawmakers seek more data on limiting drilling near homes and schools


In the last legislative session, no reforms were made to oil and gas regulations despite bills to impose fines for oil spills, limit fresh water use and create buffers around schools. Looking forward to next year’s session, the Legislative Finance Committee met in oil-rich southeastern New Mexico Tuesday to discuss reintroducing one of those failed proposals — setbacks for wells.

Setbacks would prohibit oil and gas drilling within a certain distance of homes, highways, schools and surface waters.

Republican Senator William Sharer questioned the effectiveness of such a buffer, arguing more data is needed.

“If we’re going to setback, how far do you have to set it back for it to make an actual difference? 100 yards, 100 miles, 1000 miles?” he said.

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Republican Representative Cathrynn Brown echoed those concerns, she said the committee needed more information about the health impacts of emissions before moving forward.

“I think we all want to live healthy. There’s no debate about that. But what I see here is a true lack of science,” she said.

Democratic Senator George Muñoz, chair of the interim committee, criticized the state Environment Department for not attending the meeting to share its expertise with the panel. While the department was absent due to scheduling conflicts, according to Muñoz, he said the committee could use its subpoena power to compel it to testify in the future.

“If we need to get to the truth and really need to resolve some issues, we’ll get there,” he said.

Reached for comment, spokesperson for the Environment Department Jorge Estrada declined to comment on what was said in the meeting since department officials weren’t there. He added that, although the agency regulates oil and gas emissions, it does not have authority to establish or enforce setbacks.

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Support for this coverage comes from the Thornburg Foundation.





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New Mexico

State Police investigate shooting involving US marshals in Deming

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State Police investigate shooting involving US marshals in Deming


DEMING, N.M. — New Mexico State Police are investigating a shooting involving the U.S. Marshals Service that happened Thursday in Deming.

Police have an active presence near the 200 block of Cedar Street. They’re asking you to avoid the area “until further notice.”

Details are limited. However, State Police will share more information once it becomes available.

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14 indicted in alleged Permian Basin crude‑oil theft scheme spanning New Mexico and Texas, prosecutors say

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14 indicted in alleged Permian Basin crude‑oil theft scheme spanning New Mexico and Texas, prosecutors say


A federal grand jury in Lubbock has indicted 14 people accused of stealing crude oil in eastern New Mexico and hauling it into Texas to resell at cut‑rate prices.

Prosecutors say the scheme targeted the Permian Basin’s vast production network, the oil‑rich region spanning southeastern New Mexico and West Texas that covers more than 86,000 square miles and accounts for the majority of U.S. crude oil production.

All 14 defendants are charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, and several also face counts of interstate transportation and receipt, possession, or sale of stolen property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

Indictment outlines alleged operation 

Returned April 8, the indictment alleges the group stole crude oil in eastern New Mexico, some stored on U.S. government-leased land, and resold it to co‑conspirators at prices below the standard U.S. market benchmark.

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Prosecutors say the conspirators transported the stolen oil into Texas for resale at a profit, knowing it was stolen.

Texas, New Mexico defendants identified by prosecutors

Texas defendants are James Darrell Reid, 65, and Randell Wayne Reid, 41, owners of Texas-based Reidco Enterprises and both of Electra – about 25 miles northwest of Wichita Falls and 115 miles from Fort Worth – along with Christopher Frederick Harris, 22, of Seminole, about 80 miles west of Midland.

The remaining 11 defendants are from Lovington, a southeastern New Mexico community of about 11,690 people, roughly 20 miles west of the Texas state line and squarely inside the Permian Basin.

They include:

  • Louis George Edgett, 68;
  • Brenden Floyd Strickland, 25;
  • Sixto Herrera-Estebane, 43;
  • Gyardo Gonzalez, 47;
  • Jesus Martin Hernandez-Borja, 51;
  • Diana Marquez Rojo, 45;
  • Jose Luis Rojo, 49;
  • Jose Mario Rivas-Mendoza, 37;
  • Miguel A. Soto, 41;
  • Tavares Montrail Cole, 48; and
  • Danny Dale Brown Jr., 42.

Potential penalties outlined by DOJ 

According to prosecutors, the defendants face up to five years in prison for conspiracy and up to 10 years per count for interstate transportation, possession, or sale of stolen property.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Land Management, the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Division, and sheriff’s offices in Lea and Eddy counties in New Mexico.

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CBS News Texas will provide updates as additional information becomes available.



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Governor establishes Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council – 13-member council designed to protect ratepayers, modernize the grid  – Office of the Governor – Michelle Lujan Grisham

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Governor establishes Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council – 13-member council designed to protect ratepayers, modernize the grid  – Office of the Governor – Michelle Lujan Grisham


SANTA FE — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham today signed an executive order establishing the New Mexico Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council to address the rising cost of electricity in a rapidly changing energy landscape.

The Council will convene state agency leaders, utility executives and experts in rural cooperative utilities, tribal energy, consumer advocacy, and energy policy and infrastructure to develop strategies for keeping energy affordable while ensuring the grid can meet the demands of a growing, modernizing New Mexico economy.

“At a time of dramatically rising energy prices, it’s imperative that we do everything we can to protect New Mexico ratepayers while ensuring abundant clean energy supply,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “The experts I’ve appointed to the New Mexico Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council are well-positioned to make smart, insightful recommendations and I look forward to their findings.”

The Council will evaluate and recommend strategies across four interconnected areas:

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  • Ratepayer protection: Ensuring that large-load growth — including data centers and onshore manufacturing — does not disproportionately increase costs for residential, rural, tribal and small business customers.
  • Grid modernization and reliability: Recommending rate designs and financing strategies that enable prudent infrastructure investment while minimizing long-term rate escalation.
  • Clean energy progress: Advancing New Mexico’s net-zero goals under the Energy Transition Act by expanding zero-carbon generation and storage while maintaining affordable access.
  • Permitting efficiency: Identifying opportunities to streamline and coordinate state and local permitting for electricity infrastructure — accelerating deployment of clean energy projects without compromising environmental review, tribal consultation, or regulatory safeguards.

The Council will deliver a final report — including legislative, regulatory and administrative recommendations — to the Governor and the Legislature by November 1, 2026.

The Council consists of 13 members representing state government, utilities, rural cooperatives, tribal communities and independent experts:

  • Erin Taylor, acting secretary, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
  • Rob Black, secretary, Economic Development Department
  • Cholla Khoury, chief of staff, Public Regulation Commission
  • Lynn Mostoller, executive director, Renewable Energy Transmission Authority
  • Sunalei Stewart, deputy commissioner for operations, State Land Office
  • Don Tarry, president and CEO, TXNM Energy (PNM)
  • Kelly A. Tomblin, president and CEO, El Paso Electric
  • Zoe Lees, regional vice president, regulatory policy, Xcel Energy
  • Vince Martinez, CEO, New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  • Javier Bucobo, vice president of markets and regulatory affairs, Avangrid (grid infrastructure expert)
  • Joseph Yar, attorney, Velarde & Yar (consumer/ratepayer advocate)
  • Sandra Begay Keeto, retired, Sandia National Laboratories; member, Navajo Nation (tribal energy expert)
  • Rep. Meredith Dixon, New Mexico House of Representatives, District 20 (energy policy expert)

The Council is administratively attached to the Department of Finance and Administration. Members will serve without compensation, other than per diem and mileage as permitted by law.

The executive order can be viewed here.



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