Though we at New Energy Economy often report on our wins in the regulatory arena, the truth is that we, collectively, are failing. We are failing to halt the rapid expansion of oil and gas extraction in New Mexico, we are failing to halt the harm to the beautiful land that we love, and we are failing to protect our children from a catastrophically warming climate. Scientists from the Global Carbon Project have just reported that methane levels in the atmosphere are tracking the worst-case climate scenarios. That methane will have short term impacts because it is a short-term greenhouse gas, trapping 30 times more heat than carbon dioxide, but over a shorter period of time, making it nearly impossible for the world to meet its climate goals.
Their report finds that our methane emissions grew 20% between 2000 and 2020, with the largest growth coming from expanding landfills, booming livestock production, increased coal mining and surging consumption of natural gas. The report also detailed evidence that human disruptions are increasing the amount of methane released by lakes, marshes and other ecosystems. Rob Jackson, a Stanford University climate scientist and chair of the Global Carbon Project is quoted in the Washington Post saying:
“It’s the only greenhouse gas where we can reduce climate change in the next decade or two through emissions reductions...yet the inverse is also true. As long as methane releases continue to grow, the world will feel dramatic and immediate temperature rise every year that methane releases continue to grow...Warming that was once inconceivable is now perhaps likely.”
Given our failure, what will the next ten years feel like? The next twenty years? Will we be forced to remain inside during the day, emerging only at night to look up at a dark sky? Who will have that privilege and who will swelter and die in the sun? Will crops grow? Will our political and legal institutions collapse? How will the birds and the bees, the billions of wild creatures, or our pets and livestock survive? Who will starve? Whose home will burn? Who will be swept away in the next torrential rain? Will it be me? Will it be my child or my grandchild?
The failure to act is absolutely a failure of imagination!
Our Governor likes to point to New Mexico's methane rules to prove her climate bonafides, but those rules are not enforced and are riddled with loopholes. Under her watch oil and gas production in New Mexico has surged. We are now the 14th highest nation/state fossil fuel producer in the world.
Meanwhile our legislators are busy cozying up to fossil fuel executives at an energy symposium sponsored by Chevron and NMOGA, who have the audacity to sit on panels with titles like "Crafting an Economic and Environmentally Friendly Energy Strategy" and "Developer Insights: Navigating New Mexico’s Energy Evolution," where they pretend that incremental actions and bogus "Advanced Energy Technologies" are the answer to the climate destruction that is happening right now.This moment requires an urgency of purpose, integrity and bravery that our Democratic leadership appears to lack.
In what world does it make sense to look to the corporate climate criminals who are causing this climate crisis for the solutions and the leadership we need when they are STILL increasing their investments in fossil fuel extraction and combustion every day??! We are outraged, and you should be too.
Should fracking be banned? Yes! Should fossil fuel executives be excluded from the conversation? Yes! Should our legislators stop taking fossil fuel blood money and start listening to the science? Yes! It's now or never.
Also published yesterday, a study in the Lancet Planetary Health co-authored by more than 60 scientists that defines four categories of systemic transformation necessary to achieve a just transition to a livable planet, including reducing and reallocating consumption while ensuring minimum access, transformations of economic systems for sustainability and justice, expanding sustainable and affordable technologies, and transforming governance. These are not easy or simple transformations, but they are necessary if we want to live.
These scientists and policy leaders, and the frontline communities most impacted by climate emergencies and polluting industries, should be leading the conversation. They should be the ones invited to teach and work with our leaders to develop policy solutions. If we don't start talking to the right people, we will never start the work that needs to be done.
WE ARE SHARING BELOW ANNI HANNA'S HEARTFELT TRIBUTE TO MARLENE "PENNY" AUCOIN, A KIND AND COURAGEOUS WOMAN WHO SUFFERED FOR YEARS DUE TO OIL AND GAS POLLUTION AND DIED THIS WEEK, JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER TOXIC FRACKING WASTE WAS SPEWED ALL OVER HER HOME
It’s with sadness that I share that Penny Aucoin died earlier this week, after suffering from a brain aneurysm in Clovis, New Mexico. Her loving husband Dee George has been by her side every minute and Penny’s organs are being donated today, Thursday, September 12th, to 111 people–very fitting for Penny to donate, as she was always thinking of ways to nurture and care for people.
What I will always remember about Penny is her deep laugh and her warmth–she would open her arms wide and give you the biggest hug. Many of us knew Penny because she spoke out to the media and at the Roundhouse about the everyday difficulties of raising a family in the oil fields–she shared her most personal stories as a window into what was happening in the Permian Basin.
There were 7 flares and crisscrossing pipelines near their house in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Many of you will remember reading the news articles in January 2020 when there was a fracking fluid accident that sprayed radioactive waste all over Penny and Dee’s home in the middle of the night. Penny’s 18 chickens had to be put down and their dog died a few months later. Their daughter Skye could no longer go out to play in the backyard and they were confined inside their contaminated house. After a legal battle with the fracking company WPX in which Mariel represented the family, and a settlement agreement, they eventually moved away to a home in Clovis, NM.
I feel so lucky that Penny, Dee, and Skye visited us in Albuquerque on several occasions and we shared meals altogether. On their first visit, during the winter of 2019, we happened to get good snow overnight and school was delayed– so the kids all played together making snowmen in our backyard– our kids are the same age.
At that time, Dee came to Albuquerque for doctor’s appointments. They found that oil and gas pollution was impacting his ability to swallow easily, and his throat frequently closed while he ate. During their visit, they told me about how Penny’s son was having gushing nosebleeds and Penny was experiencing headaches and blisters. Two of the family's vehicles had been rear-ended by oil trucks. Rocks and dust were being kicked up by oil trucks, making it unsafe for Skye to play on her trampoline, so the family got rid of it. Oil and gas impacted the family’s well-being and health, even before the fracking waste spill accident. Penny was never afraid to share her story and talk about these health consequences.
Penny’s death comes as a big shock to me, because many of us who know Penny were chatting with her on Facebook last week. She posted a beautiful drawing her son made in high school. On one side are green trees, and on the other is a barren landscape with oil and gas derricks. There is a broom between the images, sweeping the oil and gas away. Penny explained that his artwork was made into a mural, but the school took it down, saying that it was too controversial for Carlsbad–she was such a proud mother sharing his artwork with all of us. (Artwork featured above.)
My heart goes out to Dee, Skye, Penny’s sons, and her family as they grieve and honor Penny– she was the kindest, most caring mom and a blessing to everyone in her life and community. Thank you for your voice and our time together, Penny– you will be remembered!
Let’s honor Penny as we continue to advocate for protecting families and living every day amid oil and gas pollution. Our voices can be loud and clear and filled with the warmth and strength that Penny brought to this world.
Love you, Penny!
To read more about the Penny & Dee’s experiences living in the Permian Basin:
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