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A new analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund has identified more than 81,000 orphaned oil and gas wells across the country—an increase of more than 50% above previous estimates. Orphaned oil wells—those whose owners have gone bankrupt—are major climate problems, often spewing significant quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
According to the analysis, all 50 states contain orphaned wells, and roughly 9 million Americans live within a mile of one, including more than 550,000 children under the age of 5. "I think what you get out of this map is a sense of how big this problem is," said Adam Peltz, a senior attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund. "It's a coast-to-coast problem. It's a rural and urban problem."
In the West, an analysis by the Carbon Tracker Initiative found that New Mexico taxpayers could be on the hook for more than $10.6 billion to clean up more than 73,000 abandoned oil and gas wells. Remarkably, only 23% of the state's wells are currently producing, one of the lowest rates of major oil producing states. “That is a substantial risk for the people of New Mexico,” said Rob Schuwerk, executive director of the Carbon Tracker Initiative. “If companies don’t pony up that money, the wells are going to sit there and contaminate the land, or the state of New Mexico’s taxpayers are going to pay it. These are obligations that sit with the companies that operate those wells.”
Vice President Harris to visit Lake Mead
On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Lake Mead to discuss drought in the southwest and the need for climate action. In recent years, the key reservoir has fallen rapidly, leading federal officials to trigger consumption cuts in several Western states.
The visit comes as Congress is debating two major infrastructure bills that could provide significant funding for water infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate resilience. Unfortunately, recent reporting suggests two key senators, including Arizona's Kyrsten Sinema, are seeking to reduce or eliminate key climate provisions in the legislation.
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Utah’s elected leaders will never sue or bully Congress into relinquishing the nation’s claim to national parks, national recreation areas, national forests and national monuments.”
