New Mexico’s oil and gas industry is a touchy subject if you ask anyone. Supporters say it’s the lifeline to the state’s economy and without it, New Mexico wouldn’t have the luxuries or cashflow that it does. But on the flip side, opponents argue the industry is allowing contaminants to pollute the environment, putting communities’ health and future sustainability at risk.  

To understand a professional’s perspective on this debate, Missi Currier, president and CEO of the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association, joins the latest “Conversations Different” podcast episode.   

Currier discusses with host Inez Russell Gomez what energy production means for the state and how it correlates to other industries that affect our economy and daily lives, from personal use products to public infrastructure.  

In the episode, Currier is asked about whether she thinks the state can transition away from oil and gas production and what that would look like given modern day environmental challenges.  

She also offers her view on the controversial topic of produced water.