The Land of Enchantment’s job picture is very rosy, but employment growth is not a given. The truth is, we cannot take anything for granted, especially because of the new agenda we are seeing out of Santa Fe.
The new governor, new regulators and new legislators all are targeting the natural gas industry that the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research is sure will continue to create jobs. Regulators already have suspended a policy that would allow new wells.
The governor, in her previous post in the U.S. House, called for more regulation at both the state and federal levels. She also opposed moves to expand natural gas production. She’s made it clear she’ll do the same as governor.
Not only would these restrictionist policies impact the number of new jobs the economy will create over the coming years, they’ll hinder efforts to transition to cleaner energy. Wind and solar aren’t yet plentiful enough to meet energy demand. Without natural gas, we’ll have to turn back to dirty coal. I know that’s not what policymakers want, but they do need to consider the unintended consequences of their actions.
Helen Guerra
Dexter, N.M.