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Recent Press

New Mexico Court of Appeals: Oil and gas producers can't reassign cleanup duties

5.27.2025   SANTA FE, N.M. — Clean up your own mess.

NM reps say GOP bill will gut Medicaid and also reduce oil money that could help state save it

5.19.2025 SANTA FE – The “big, beautiful” bill making its way through the United States House of Representatives this week not only would cut federal spending on healthcare on which 40% of New Mexicans rely, but state and federal officials say it also would reduce revenue the state could use to pay for that healthcare itself.

SunZia saga offers transmission lessons, NM official says

4.17.25   SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico officials hope that better community consultation means the next SunZia doesn’t get caught in a permitting labyrinth

New Mexico's energy and climate balancing act under Trump

4.17.2025 SANTA FE – New Mexico officials are trying to hang on to their climate goals as they fight President Trump’s energy policies.

Renewable energy continues to grow on public lands

4.11.2025   SANTA FE, N.M. — Renewable energy development on public lands has skyrocketed in recent years amid efforts at both the national and state levels to transition away from fossil fuels.

NM Land Commissioner Garcia Richard bans mineral mining in a portion of the Upper Pecos Watershed

3.12.2024 SANTA FE – An executive order banning mineral mining on approximately 2,500 acres of state trust land in the Upper Pecos Watershed will remain in place through 2045 and takes effect immediately, New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced on Wednesday.

Land commissioner hopes mining ban on state lands in Upper Pecos spurs federal action

3.12.2025   SANTA FE, N.M. — The Upper Pecos is under “attack,” according to State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard.

Managing New Mexico public lands: Q&A with Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard

1.16.2025   SANTA FE, N.M. — Former state Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of Los Alamos was elected as the New Mexico’s Commissioner of Public Lands in 2018, becoming the first woman and first Latina to manage the office responsible for stewardship of state trust lands and maximizing revenue through leases on those holdings.

Commissioner Garcia Richard Partners With Department Of Defense, NM Land Conservancy To Protect Chupadera Mesa

1.16.2025 SANTA FE – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard today announced that she has entered into a partnership with the United States Department of Defense and the New Mexico Land Conservancy to protect more than 60,000 acres of state trust land covering portions of Socorro and Torrance counties in the White Sands region known as Chupadera Mesa

State land commissioner protects portion of Caja del Rio from mining

12.11.2024 SANTA FE – A 3,400-acre section of the Caja del Rio Plateau near Santa Fe will be protected from mining, new transmission lines or major thoroughfares for the next 20 years.

New Mexico reports more than $2B in revenue for the third year in a row

12.5.2024   SANTA FE, N.M. — It was the third straight year the state broke the $2 billion threshold from its land, and its second-biggest windfall of that type ever.

Affordable Solar project headed to Doña Ana County state land

11.15.2024 SANTA FE – Some of the State Land Office’s renewable projects have had a lot of competition, and this is because land is a finite resource, according to Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, and companies are vying for the opportunity to develop on state land.

Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard Awards Leases For Major Wind Projects On State Lands

8.22.2024   SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard today executed long-term leases for two major wind projects on state lands

A looming legacy issue

5.26.2024 PERMIAN BASIN — You can smell it before you see it.

New Mexico: If you made the mess, you clean it up: State pushing oil and gas operators to plug and restore abandoned sites

5.26.2024 PERMIAN BASIN — Her eyes through dark sunglasses focusing on the ground, a state environmental specialist scraped off a top layer of dirt with her boot to reveal darker, potentially contaminated soil underneath it.

New Mexico halts some oil-field lease sales in standoff over royalty rates in Permian Basin

3.7.2024 SANTA FE – New Mexico’s State Land Office will withhold lease sales indefinitely on its most promising tracts for oil and natural gas developmentas it seeks approval by the state Legislature to increase royalty rates, Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard said Thursday.

Q & A with Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard

2.28.2024   SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard oversees 9 million surface acres and 13 million mineral acres, with the mission of raising money for public education and other public institutions.

New Mexico halts some oil-field lease sales in standoff over royalty rates in Permian Basin

2.11.2024 SANTA FE – After a lengthy debate on Saturday, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would result in higher royalty rates on premium oil and gas leases offered by the State Land Office on a 39-28 vote.

 

New Mexico land commissioner increases oversight of oil and gas operators

2.7.2024   SANTA FE, N.M. — Oil and gas operators must abide by their contractual obligations to run productive wells on public lands and clean up when they’re finished — or face a new enforcement hammer.

N.M. State Land Office raises record revenues

12.22.2023 SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Land Office received a record $2.75 billion dollars in revenue and distributed more than $2.71 billion for schools, universities and other grantees this year, officials said.

 

Equal footing: Conservation leasing proponents say proposal will place the environment on the same level as other land uses

7.6.2023   SANTA FE, N.M. — Joseph Yaroch visits the public lands in southern New Mexico twice weekly to hike or run.

Government agency is the No. 1 midsize company

6.26.2023 SANTA FE – Employees at this state government agency say they feel their work is important and there is no room for “stagnation or redundancy.” They also say what they do is important for beneficiaries in the state

 

Oil and gas setbacks may help protect children from harmful emissions

6.20.2023   SANTA FE, N.M. — Environmental advocates say a moratorium on future oil and gas leasing on state lands within a mile of schools is a good first step in protecting children’s health, but more needs to be done to ensure the industry that largely funds the state’s education system doesn’t also poison the students.

These 640 acres in Doña Ana County to become a solar field that can power 20,500 homes

6.20.2023 LAS CRUCES – Six hundred forty acres of land in Doña Ana County owned by the state of New Mexico have been designated as a future solar array field

 

New Mexico temporarily bans new oil and gas leases near schools

6.2.2023   SANTA FE, N.M. — On Thursday, the state put a temporary halt on granting new fossil fuel leases near places where children and students gather.

New Mexico implements ban on oil and gas leases near schools amid pollution concerns

6.1.2023 SANTA FE – New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard issued an executive order banning new oil and gas leases within a mile of schools or educational institutions.

 

New Mexico imposes oil and gas moratorium on state land near schools

6.1.2023   SANTA FE, N.M. — Members of the Navajo community have complained to Samuel Sage for years about the noise and vibrations that rattle their homes.

Land commissioner bans new oil, gas leases near NM schools

6.1.2023 SANTA FE – New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard signed an executive order Thursday that bans new oil and gas leases on state trust land within one mile of a school, a step she said would help protect children’s health.

 

Holtec licensed to store nuke waste in New Mexico despite outcry from elected officials

5.9.2023   SANTA FE, N.M. — Federal nuclear officials gave the green light to a project which would store high-level nuclear waste at a facility in southeast New Mexico, despite concerns from state and federal leaders it would expose residents to radiation.

NM permanent funds are more flush than ever — and still growing — amid revenue windfall

4.25.2023 SANTA FE – New Mexico’s unprecedented revenue surge has led to roaring inflows into the state’s permanent funds, even as year-over-year spending levels have also spiked. Fueled largely by booming oil and natural gas production, the total amount of money in the state’s various investment funds has nearly doubled over the last five years — from $23 billion to nearly $43 billion —and lawmakers have created new funds for early childhood and conservation programs.

Thirsty? New Mexico brings drinking water to support desert wildlife amid drought

9.30.2022   LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A solution for wildlife in the deserts of southern New Mexico suffering from perilous drought conditions was installed amid the West Potrillo Mountains by state officials last week, hoping to quench the thirst of struggling animals in the region.

New Mexico leases 174,000 acres of public land for wind power, will triple state capacity

6.17.2022 SANTA FE – Renewable energy in New Mexico could triple after the State Land Office completed an auction of public land throughout the state to be used for wind energy production

State Land Office approves lease for new senior living community in Albuquerque

1.14.2023   ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new senior housing community will soon break ground in Albuquerque after a bid for a lease on state land was approved by the New Mexico State Land Office. The lease for the building of Farolito Senior Community, a 92-unit senior community at Eubank Boulevard and Central Avenue, was awarded to Farolito Apartments Limited Partnership

Done Deals: Lease awarded for affordable housing; treatment center acquired

1.8.2023 ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard last month announced that an 80- to 90-unit housing project will receive a lease for land at the interaction of Eubank Boulevard and Central Avenue in Albuquerque.

New Mexico oil and gas royalty audits net $2.3M

1.8.2021 SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Audits of oil and natural gas royalty collections turned up an additional $2.3 million for New Mexico in 2020, officials with the State Land Office said.

Premium oil and gas tracts in short supply in New Mexico

12.22. 2020 SANTA FE – There are fewer premium tracts available for leasing by oil and gas developers on state trust land in the Permian Basin, and New Mexico land managers say that’s having an effect on revenues generated by monthly lease sales.

New Mexico land boss ends fresh water sales for oil and gas

12.15.2020 SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State Land Office announced Tuesday that it will be halting the practice of allowing fresh water to be pumped from state trust land and sold for use in oil and gas development.

My View: Renewable energy powers forward in 2021

The New Mexico State Investment Council voted recently to approve a groundbreaking Renewable Energy Strategic Plan. The plan, adopted by the 11-member public investment board, of which I serve as vice chair, is a first for the council in terms of prioritizing targeted investment in renewable energy projects in New Mexico and beyond

City Council unanimously approves Netflix expansion

12.7.2020 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. The Albuquerque City Council on Monday unanimously approved Netflix’s planned expansion at Mesa del Sol, including millions of dollars in city incentives.

Netflix — which bought Albuquerque Studios two years ago — is planning to add 10 new sound stages, offices, training facilities and more, while boosting production spending by $1 billion by 2033.

Get outdoors, cut a tree, make a memory

12.6.2020 Not all traditions have to go by the wayside in 2020.

It’s still possible for a family to head to the forest and chop down a Christmas tree. And this year, obtaining a permit is easier than ever.

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Affordable Senior Housing Planned for New Mexico Trust Land

12.3.2020 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State officials say a blighted parcel along historic Route 66 in Albuquerque will be the new home of an affordable housing project for seniors.

State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has signed a lease for the state trust land that will allow a subsidiary of the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership to move forward with the project. The four-story senior living space will consist of more than 90 low-rent units.

Netflix plans significant expansion in ABQ

11.23.2020 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Netflix is elevating its New Mexico presence to blockbuster status.

Two years after purchasing Albuquerque Studios, the streaming giant is planning to boost its presence in New Mexico by adding 300 acres to its 30-acre existing property in Mesa Del Sol and making the city its biggest North American production hub.

State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has signed a lease for the state trust land that will allow a subsidiary of the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership to move forward with the project. The four-story senior living space will consist of more than 90 low-rent units.