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New Mexicans Saved Over $3.4 Billion Over 10 Years Thanks to Low Priced Natural Gas

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Thanks to increased production and safer, state-of-the-art technologies – which together have decreased the price of natural gas – New Mexico families and businesses saved more than $3.4 billion between 2006 and 2016, according to a report from Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA).

Per the report, titled “Energy for New Mexico,” residential users saved nearly $1.6 billion and commercial and industrial users saved more than $1.86 billion. The report is being released today at a CEA Affordable Energy Forum at Rio Bravo Brewing Company in Albuquerque.

The analysis details how the national, and local, energy revolution – particularly the one that is now unfolding in the Permian Basin and Four Corners regions – has helped local energy consumers increase disposable income, job growth, and economic investment, plus revitalize communities.

CEA’s analysis also found that New Mexico’s oil and gas industry has a $12.8 billion total economic impact and provides more than 100,000 jobs statewide, employing one in every eight New Mexicans, directly or indirectly. In addition, New Mexico receives about $2 billion annually via severance and property taxes, royalties from production on state and federal lands, and rental income included, the Legislative Finance Committee reports.

Additional highlights from the report include:

  • Sales and income taxes on oil and gas drilling and service activity generate an additional $300 million for the state.
  • Based on the production in any given year, oil and gas production revenue make up 15 to 25 percent of New Mexico’s total general fund revenue and is used to fund state environmental improvements and municipal services including public schools and hospitals.
  • In FY 2017, the state’s oil and gas sector provided $711 million to public schools and almost $223 million to colleges and universities.
  • The agricultural industry spent nearly $90 million for fuels and oils and $49.6 million on electricity to power farm equipment, manufacture fertilizer, and transport products.
  • On average, each New Mexico resident spent $3,088 on energy-related needs like fuel and electricity in 2016. These expenses ate up at least a quarter of take-home pay for the roughly 19.6 percent of New Mexicans living at or below the poverty marker.

“Despite these benefits – which help residents affordably light and heat their homes and power and charge their electronics and allow farmers to fertilize and harvest their crops cost-effectively – New Mexico’s energy resources and critical pipeline network remain under attack by out-of-state activists, despite cleaner-burning natural gas’s well-known environmental benefits,” CEA President David Holt said. “These anti-development efforts lack solutions to help meet consumer demand and threaten our environmental goals.”

Holt added: “With the savings that have occurred in recent years, New Mexico policymakers, regulators and leaders must continue to come together in support of local energy production and infrastructure that will help the state thrive and ensure hardworking families, seniors, households, and small businesses have the low-cost energy they need to reduce expenses, find work and improve their communities.”

To view the report, click here.

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 500,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

Energy Consumer Protection Pledge Reaches Milestone of 250 Signatories

Signing a letter

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), a national advocate for families and businesses who rely on safe and affordable energy, is pleased to announce that the CEA Energy Consumer Protection Pledge has passed a new milestone – with 250 local, state and federal candidates now having signed the pledge. CEA’s Consumer Energy Pledge is a way for officeholders and candidates to show their support for an all-of-the-above energy policy that protects the environment while benefitting American households and small businesses. CEA believes that with sound energy and environmental policies, decision makers can help all families, especially those living at or below the poverty line, as well as small businesses trying to make payroll, by continuing to create access to affordable and reliable energy.

This non-partisan initiative signed by Democrats, Republicans, and candidates from third-party groups was introduced by CEA in April 2018. Since then, the number of Pledge signers from across the country has substantially increased. CEA will continue to identify elected officials and candidates – regardless of party affiliation – who recognize that both affordable energy costs and the environment are vital to communities across the nation.

“With a major election season underway, and recent polling showing that 92 percent of the nation supports a safe, bipartisan policy that promotes American energy self-sufficiency, CEA believes voters have a right to know how their local, state and federal candidates feel about key energy and environmental issues,” said David Holt, President of CEA. “Energy is a non-partisan issue. It impacts every man, woman, and child, regardless of political affiliation. By signing the non-partisan Energy Consumer Pledge, candidates of all parties are sending a clear message to their constituents about where they stand on these issues and their commitment to sensible energy and environmental solutions.”

Holt added, “Too much of the recent energy debate has divided the nation, forcing a false choice between energy solutions and environmental protection. Voters would be wise to choose candidates who support balanced policies, regardless of party. We all support greater environmental protection, but we must have viable, diverse energy solutions, too.”

Signers of CEA’s Pledge agree that supporting sensible energy and environmental solutions benefits all Americans.

“I’m honored to be a signer of CEA’s pledge to support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that protects the environment and takes into consideration the benefits energy provides to households and small businesses,” stated Florida Representative Jason Fischer. “A sound energy policy, nationally and here in the Sunshine State, will help all Florida families and small business have access to affordable and reliable energy.”

“From Columbus to Washington, D.C., the discussion needs to center on energy solutions. What are we doing to meet the needs of our families, small businesses and communities?” said Brett Hillyer, a candidate to represent Ohio’s 98th State House District. “With energy resources bringing consumer savings and an increase in economic investment and job creation, I support CEA’s Pledge and look forward to continuing to discuss how we can best make energy affordable and safe for everyone in Ohio.” CEA looks forward to more policy and decision makers signing the Pledge and have called for more officials to consider being a part of this important debate.

“Do you believe the environment should be protected and preserved as part of energy production and development?” Holt asked. “Should responsible energy solutions be supported instead of just saying no? How can we meet our energy needs to lower prices, create jobs and protect our environment? These are critical questions that should drive thoughtful, civil discussions this election season, and consumers on both sides of the political aisle deserve good answers.”

CEA’s Energy Consumer Protection Pledge and Campaign for America’s Energy movement target the forgotten voices in the energy discussion — American families and businesses who deserve responsible energy solutions and sensible energy prices.

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 500,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org

Energy Undersecretary Pitches Energy Diversity at Southpointe

Electric Car Charging Station

Undersecretary Mark Menezes provided remarks at Consumer Energy Alliance’s latest Energy and Manufacturing Forum in Pennsylvania, discussing the importance of traditional and renewable energy resources.

At Southpointe’s Hilton Garden Inn Tuesday, Mark W. Menezes, an undersecretary in the U.S. Energy Department, said the energy crisis was not about a lack of petroleum, but a lack of innovation.

“We never had an energy shortage,” Menezes explained. “What we had was a shortage of ingenuity. We had lost our confidence in our ability to innovate.”

Read more – Observer-Reporter

Energy Grows Exports for New Mexico

Many people may not know this, but the United States is the number one oil producer in the world.

And that’s pretty big news if you consider how far we’ve come. Some people might remember a time when the U.S. was caught in a foreign oil embargo and Americans across the country were forced to wait in enormous lines for limited amounts of gasoline – paying outrageous amounts of money for a single gallon.

This is example alone is why it is important to remember what production means. It means we are drilling for, and “making” oil here in America.

It’s also important to think about that in terms of consumption. If we are consuming more than we produce than we have to continue importing to meet our needs. The opposite is also true— if we are producing more than we consume, we can export excess oil.

In New Mexico, oil companies recently leased nearly $1 billion dollars’ worth of federal land to access even more domestic oil. Which means our exports are unlikely to change anytime soon.

What does that mean for local communities in New Mexico?

For starters, half the revenue from that $1 billion dollar lease sale goes directly to the state of New Mexico. That’s money for education, roads, parks, conservation and much-needed services such as police, fire, and other emergency services. More than that, New Mexico has millions of acres of state-owned and private lands scattered throughout Lea and Eddy counties, the heart of the oil-rich Permian Basin in New Mexico. Private landowners and the state can also lease land to energy companies and receive revenue for doing so and supplement whatever income they are receiving. For farmers when they have years of low yield or stymied growth, these royalty payments can make all the difference in the world.

Outside of the benefit it brings to landholders, that kind of economic activity not only means new jobs directly in the energy industry, it also means there will be new jobs in supporting industries such as steel-making, construction, transportation, hotels, and restaurants. More than ever, New Mexicans are working in energy exploration and production, as well as in the ancillary jobs, which means more tax revenue for federal, state and local governments. More importantly, however, it will mean economic opportunities in areas that have been ignored for decades.

Being number one at just about anything is fantastic, but being the number one producer of such an important and desirable product such as oil is even better. Thankfully, there are plenty of places to export any surplus oil, and we think that’s a good thing for the state of New Mexico, our country and our allies abroad.

Top 5 Energy Vampires of 2018

If you’ve visited our site before then you know we love to talk about “Energy Vampires.” It is a term that is used to describe electronic items that sap electricity while they are plugged in and not in use. There are dozens of household electronics and appliances that affect your electric bill more than you know simply by remaining plugged into your wall socket. Here are our Top 5 Energy Vampires for 2018 that are increasing your electric bill without you even knowing it. Many of these items are often left plugged in for convenience, but unknowingly lots of extra electricity is used without even knowing it.

Hair Dryers

One of the least suspecting culprits of being an energy vampire is your hair dryer. Oftentimes, we use hairdryers and leave them plugged in until the next time we use them since it’s easier than putting them away each and every time. By doing this, you leave your home vulnerable to electricity being drained by this appliance. Curling irons and electric shavers are also high priority items that should be unplugged after use. If you make it a habit to regularly unplug these devices after using them, you can help not only cut down on your electric bill but also save and use energy more efficiently in your home.

Kitchen Appliances

It’s safe to assume that most people leave their kitchen appliances plugged in 24/7 after they use them. Some of these kitchen appliances include coffee machines, toasters, and blenders. Though these kitchen appliances only use 1-3 watts when they are turned off, it can add up over time if you’re not careful.

Televisions and DVD Players

Our living rooms are a place for us to come together in the evenings and catch up on the news or watch our favorite TV shows after a long day. Unfortunately, everything that is hooked up to our entertainment centers can drain a lot of energy if they are left plugged in after use. In America, televisions, DVDs, cable boxes, Wi-Fi and video game consoles in our entertainment centers consumed 7% of the electricity used in this country. If these appliances are plugged into a power strip, you can easily unplug it each day to prevent these items from draining electricity and help to lower your electric bill.

Home Office Electronics

Another big culprit of vampire energy is computers. Outside of our work and office computers, many people have home computers they also use. Oftentimes, people put their computers in sleep mode overnight instead of turning them off – leaving them plugged in and on for days or weeks at a time. Though the computer is not actively burning any energy during this time, it can still drain wattage if it is not fully turned off. It is better to turn off your computer when you are done using it for the day to prevent any energy from being drained.

Portable Fans

Many people sleep with a portable fan during the night. While people fall asleep when it is cooler and feel relaxed from the noise the fan makes, it can really drain a lot of energy. Sometimes people leave their fans on for 8 hours overnight – and some even leave it on during the day while they’re gone at work. This can hurt your electric bill if you rely on this too much during the night or into the day. Your best option is to not use the fan at night and find other ways to cool down. Sleep in less clothing, remove extra layers of blankets or open a window if you are too hot at night.

Energy vampires can be a major problem if we let them drain our energy undetected. Use this guide to educate yourself on how unplugging various devices in your home can save you energy and reduce your electric bill.

STEM Education Is Needed for Next Generation Energy Workers

Sparking students’ interest in STEM education is vital.  This is why Consumer Energy Alliance and the Consumer Energy Education Foundation sponsor Energy Day and provide free STEM educational activities to teachers and families.

According to the Consumer Energy Alliance, STEM Education a must for the next generation of energy workers and a coordinated response is needed to address the education deficit.

The U.S. based organization is calling for businesses, industry groups and universities to work together cohesively to tackle the shortfall in terms of knowledge and experience, in order for the energy sector to innovate and meet efficiency expectations.

Read more – Digital Journal

How Companies Are Innovating in the Energy Sector

Computer programming

CEA President David Holt was quoted discussing how innovation in the energy sector is improving the environment while allowing families and small businesses to see reductions in their energy bills.

It has never been more important to marry technological innovation with environmental solutions to help build a stronger, more resilient energy future for our country. It is important that our policymakers work together to find policies that help to ensure that energy is affordable for all citizens, including low-income families and small businesses, by offering a roadmap for a brighter future for generations to come.

Read more – hackerearth

Enbridge Pipeline Major Topic at Forum

CEA recently hosted an Energy and Manufacturing Conversation in Monticello, MN where Congressman Tom Emmer provided remarks, touching on the importance of Line 3 to the state’s economy.

“This is important to the economy of northern Minnesota because if this doesn’t get done, they’ll just build that pipeline anyway, and they’ll build it right around the state of Minnesota and those jobs most likely will move to Chicago.”

Read more – KNSI – AM

We Must Protect Our Electrical Grid

Electric transmission lines

Recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast have reinforced the need to modernize our critical energy infrastructure as CEA’s Brent Greenfield discusses.

We are fortunate to have a plentiful supply of reliable energy that comes from many sources, and a workforce dedicated to keeping that energy flowing in times of calm and turmoil. None of that happens by chance, which is why we must continue to support access to American energy, the infrastructure that support its delivery, and its workforce.

Read more – Times Daily

There’s Real Power in that Baseball Bat

Baseball bats

If you’re a professional baseball fan, you’ll appreciate all of the power that is generated by a piece of timber against a pitched baseball. Hitters dedicate hours of practice in an effort to perfect this art of connecting a wooden bat with a ball.

The goal of every swing is to drive the baseball as far as possible or at least where it can’t be caught to get a spot on the diamond. While a physicist would gleefully explain how all this energy is transferred to make the ball fly, there is a lot more energy necessary before a hitter can even take a bat into their hands. Here’s how energy has played a role in every wooden baseball bat.

The Tree

Before a bat can ever be made, it has to come from somewhere – and unlike the old adage for money – the wood for a bat actually does grow on trees. And there is a large amount of energy that is necessary to get the raw materials produced before a baseball bat can even begin to be made.

We won’t follow the steps individually in detail, but in short, the machines that drop the trees to the saws that cut them, require fuel. It takes energy just to get the lumber to the yard to begin carving out a baseball bat, and it’s not just the electricity that runs the machines that manufacture the bats, it’s also the various types of products that are used to produce the fuel that fills the tanks and lubricates the machinery.

The Bat

Ever since baseball was invented in the mid-1860s, many players use this finely tuned piece of timber to try and smack the ball out of the park. Baseball bats had to be rounded, but that was about the only stipulation. So early on, bats were either hand carved by the players themselves or turned on a lathe by a woodworker.

Since there wasn’t a lot put into making each bat, it didn’t take much more than a saw and a whittling knife to produce a usable piece of equipment. This gave rise to a tough problem that still exists – but only rarely – they break. This put hitters in somewhat of a predicament, especially if their favorite bat snapped in half during the middle of a game.

However, the problem of broken bats and the eventual evolution of the game of baseball gave rise to the manufacture of bats that were more efficient – partly leading the way for the legendary story behind the first bat maker.

It seems it all started when Pete Browning of the Louisville Eclipse baseball team snapped his bat in half during a game in the year 1884. Bud Hillerich, a wood carver who happened to be attending the game, invited Browning back to his shop to see what could be done to improve the design of the bat and ensure bats like Browning’s wouldn’t break during their games. It was then that Hillerich & Sons planted the seed to be the first company to design and manufacture their trademarked Louisville Slugger which eventually became the first real bat. The rest is folklore history that works to provide an account of how a famous baseball bat company got its beginnings. This story is also what people believe is still the same general process that is followed for producing the perfect baseball bats many players around the world use today.

And the business of making baseball bats is big business, especially if they are headed to Major League Baseball dugouts. This means dutiful employees from different companies work carefully to load and unload the lumber, work the saws, and monitor each step in the bat making process, which, of course, requires a lot of energy to produce.

The Energy behind the Bat

There is a lot of energy required just to get the timber and deliver it to where it will be processed. Once the wood makes it to the mill, conveyor belts move the crude lumber through a process of sizing to prepare it for the lathe.

Workers on site monitor each step of this process to ensure each block of timber is honed perfectly so that it can eventually become a bat. Each lathe is powered by industrial amounts of electricity, and to get the perfect diameter at each point in the manufacturing process, little-computerized lasers measure each bat from barrel to butt.

From there, every bat passes through quality control, using intense lighting, which helps skilled-workers detect bats with even the slightest imperfections so they can be discarded. There are also bookkeepers who log inventory, computers that track shipments, and wood burners that use electricity to imprint the company logo into each bat. From the lumber yard to the back office, the whole bat-making process requires lots of power and energy at a number of different levels to make something as seemingly innocuous as a baseball bat.

The bottom line is simple. Without access to energy, baseball players would be back to whittling their own equipment or having to hire someone to do it for them, game-after-game. Wooden baseball bats have certainly come a long way since 17-year-old Bud Hillerich saw a problem he thought he could fix.

While the baseball bat has evolved over the years with aluminum replacing wood at lower levels of the game, one fact still remains. Every time you see a player slug a baseball into the air, it took a lot more energy than just their swing to make it happen.

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