Oil and gas operators must put up a bond that is supposed to cover the cost of cleanup after operations are completed. Due to outdated bonding rules, the public ends up paying to plug wells to prevent them from releasing toxins into the air and water. In the last five years, over $100 million in public funds–state and federal–has been spent to clean up abandoned wells. We still face up to $1.6 billion in future cleanup costs.

The first Environmental Improvement Board hearing is happening Monday, September 22nd, 2025, and it’s the perfect time to tell the Board to support the strongest possible clean transportation fuel program. New Mexico has a real opportunity to lead here. As the second largest producer of oil and gas in the country, a strong clean transportation fuel program may encourage other states to follow what we do.