Category: Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources

The Center for Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources

Vision: Harmonizing our energy and natural resource goals with the sustainable stewardship of our cherished environment.

About the Center: The American Southwest’s natural bounty is both a treasure and a responsibility. The Center for Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources delves deep into the nexus of energy production, environmental conservation, and resource extraction. Through rigorous research, we aim to guide sustainable resource utilization that fuels our economies while preserving the beauty and health of our environment for future generations.

The Washington Post: New Mexico knows Trump’s BLM nominee. Back away.

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date November 22, 2025
No Comments on The Washington Post: New Mexico knows Trump’s BLM nominee. Back away.

Former New Mexico Republican chairman Steve Pearce is the opposite of what the complex agency needs.

Tags Administrative Leadership, American West, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Climate Policy, Conservation Policy, Donald Trump, Economic Development, Energy Policy, Environmental Policy, Environmental Protection, Executive Branch Appointments, Federal Agency Leadership, Federal Appointments, Federal Land Oversight, Federal Land Use, GOP Infighting, Government Competence, Government Reform, Grazing Permits, Land Management Policy, Mineral Rights, Natural Resources Management, New Mexico Legislature, New Mexico Politics, Oil And Gas Industry, Opinion Editorial, Otero Mesa, Partisan Politics, Patrick M. Brenner, Political Accountability, Political Analysis, Political Appointments, Political Polarization, Public Land Stewardship, Public Lands, Public Policy, Public Trust, Republican Leadership, Republican Party, Rural Policy, Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), State Politics, Stevan Pearce, Susana Martinez, Tribal Nations, Trump Administration, Trump Second Term, Washington Post Opinion, Western Communities, Western Conservation, Western States Politics

Agriculture Alaska Arizona California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Colorado Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economy Energy & Environment Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation Illinois Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Political Thought Press Progressivism Public Opinion Texas Top Issues Updates Utah

SPPI Opposes Steve Pearce’s BLM Nomination

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date November 18, 2025
3 Comments on SPPI Opposes Steve Pearce’s BLM Nomination

The Institute warns that the Pearce nomination could undermine western land management

Tags Ben Ray Luján, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Energy Policy, Environmental Policy, Federal Appointments, Government Accountability, Land Management Policy, Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Politics, Political Leadership, Public Lands, Senate Confirmation, Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI), Steve Pearce, Washington Post Op-Ed, Western Land Stewardship

Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Energy & Environment Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation Government Spending Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Press Top Issues

Albuquerque Journal: The first of its kind? A tribally owned professional sports team

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date October 19, 2025
No Comments on Albuquerque Journal: The first of its kind? A tribally owned professional sports team

Originally published at abqjournal.com on October 18, 2025. Jeff Tucker is right about one thing: New Mexico needs to think big. His recent call for a billion-dollar NBA arena in Albuquerque is exactly the kind of visionary thinking our state has lacked for decades. But where Tucker sees an opportunity for government to build a […]

Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Education Freedom and Reform Energy & Environment Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Health Care Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Press Security Top Issues Updates

SPPI Launches Champions Program

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date August 18, 2025
No Comments on SPPI Launches Champions Program

New partnership program invites leaders to advance liberty, transparency, and prosperity across the nation.

Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Education Freedom and Reform Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Transparency and Accountability Policy Centers Political Thought Press Top Issues Updates

SPPI Ranked #1 in State SEO Rankings by Tallest Tree

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date August 12, 2025
No Comments on SPPI Ranked #1 in State SEO Rankings by Tallest Tree

SPPI debuts at #1 in Tallest Tree’s State SEO Rankings, delivering over 20 times the expected online reach per dollar spent.

Tags Digital Efficiency, Efficiency Ratio, Online Traffic Growth, Policy Research, Public Policy Institute, Public Policy SEO Rankings, Search Engine Optimization, SEO Rankings, Southwest Policy, Southwest Public Policy Institute, SPPI, State SEO Rankings, Tallest Tree Digital, Think Tank Performance, Website Performance

Alaska Budget and Spending Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation Government Spending Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Taxes Top Issues Updates Welfare

National Review: Share, Baby, Share; How a Permanent Oil and Gas Fund Dividend Could Empower New Mexicans

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 7, 2025
1 Comment on National Review: Share, Baby, Share; How a Permanent Oil and Gas Fund Dividend Could Empower New Mexicans

And benefit the nation, too.

Tags Alaska, Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, Drill Baby Drill, New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA), New Mexico Permanent Fund Dividend (NMPFD), Oil and Gas, Permanent Fund Dividend, Sovereign Wealth Funds

2025 Legislative Session Budget and Spending Conservatism Culture Cybersecurity Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Education Education Freedom and Reform Energy & Environment Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Health Care Health Care Reform Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Nuclear Energy Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Taxes Top Issues Transparency Updates

Ready for Action: SPPI Kicks Off the 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date January 21, 2025
No Comments on Ready for Action: SPPI Kicks Off the 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session

Senator Craig Brandt and SPPI President Patrick M. Brenner on the Senate floor for opening day—working together to champion freedom and opportunity for New Mexico.

SPPI kicks off the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, partnering with key lawmakers to advance a bold agenda for freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.

Tags Craig Brandt

2025 Legislative Session Alaska Budget and Spending Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Courts Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Energy & Environment Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Spending Legal and Judicial Life New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion The Constitution Top Issues Updates

An Oil and Gas Permanent Fund Dividend for New Mexico: Returning Prosperity to the People

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date January 19, 2025
1 Comment on An Oil and Gas Permanent Fund Dividend for New Mexico: Returning Prosperity to the People

How can we ensure these revenues benefit all New Mexicans while fostering economic sustainability?

Tags Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, Fred Nathan, Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Permanent Fund Dividend (NMPFD), Permanent Fund, Permanent Fund Dividend, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Think New Mexico

2025 Legislative Session Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Legal and Judicial New Mexico Renewable Energy Top Issues Updates

Power Grab: Why House Bill 45 is a Bad Deal for New Mexico Energy

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date January 15, 2025
1 Comment on Power Grab: Why House Bill 45 is a Bad Deal for New Mexico Energy

A misguided tax increase on renewable energy that contradicts conservative principles, risks distorting the energy market, and ignores the public’s clear preference for affordable, reliable energy solutions.