AZTEC, N.M. – A New Mexico woman who has spent her life in the San Juan Basin near hundreds of oil and gas wells says she'll continue her fight for a cleaner environment despite her own health issues.

Shirley McNall is profiled in a report by the group Moms Clean Air Force about the consequences of living near oil and gas drilling. In the town of Aztec, McNall takes journalists and other visitors on what she calls a "Toxic Tour of Hell" in northwest New Mexico, which she said includes residential neighborhoods dotted with leaky gas tanks, oil on the ground, fumes venting into the air and nonstop compressor noise.

McNall said it's important to demonstrate to others what many people live with, "to show 'em how we live, all over the United States now, with these dangerous little industrial sites right next to our homes and our schools and our churches. Aztec has over 110 gas wells in our little town."

Under the Trump administration, oil and gas is experiencing major growth and contributing to New Mexico's economy, but health and environmental groups have said the boom also means increased rates of asthma, cancer and other health ailments related to air pollution.

The oil and gas industry is allowed to drill as close to a house as 100 feet in San Juan County, and McNall said she lives about a half-mile from eight gas wells.

"Because they just come in, and if they want to drill by your house, they drill," she said. "You don't have any control over whether or not they can drill."

McNall said she realizes that as one of the poorest states in the nation, the boom-and-bust energy industry benefits New Mexico's economy when times are good. However, she also said she worries about the thousands of children who attend school or day care in close proximity to oil and gas infrastructure.

"I always make a point of saying, 'I realize we need the energy and we need the jobs. But our health and our safety shouldn't be at risk'," she said.

The Moms Clean Air Force report profiled six other women, in states from California to Pennsylvania, who are "face to face" with oil and gas pollution in their daily lives.

More information is online at momscleanairforce.org.


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Oregon salmon populations had some significant wins in 2024, including a record number of sockeye salmon passing through the Columbia River's Bonneville Dam last summer. But there is still a long way to go to restore wild salmon populations.

Lauren Goldberg, executive director of the environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper, said they are focused on resisting new fossil-fuel infrastructure along the Columbia. She pointed out proposals include an unconventional diesel refinery from NXTClean Fuels and the expansion of an existing interstate gas pipeline, Gas Transmissions Northwest.

Goldberg argues the projects are dangerous for the fish and people in the area.

"We defend our nation's bedrock environmental laws to make sure that everybody can drink water without fear of getting sick, can eat locally caught fish," Goldberg explained.

Last week, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality approved a water quality certification for NXTClean Fuels' massive refinery along the Columbia River. Goldberg noted NXT still needs several more permits before it can begin construction and Columbia Riverkeeper will ask the department to reconsider its decision.

Despite challenges, Goldberg emphasized the Northwest is on track for significant salmon recovery, in part thanks to the 2023 Columbia River Basin agreement.

Signed by the Biden administration, local tribes, Oregon, Washington, and nonprofits, the agreement includes more than $1 billion in federal funding for wild fish restoration and clean-energy development for the next decade.

"There is so much momentum right now to restore abundant salmon and to support the cultures and the economies that rely on salmon," Goldberg stressed.

Goldberg added the group will continue working alongside Tribes and local communities this year, and has added four new board members to aid its efforts.

A Michigan expert weighs in on an historic shift in 2024 - wind and solar power surpassed coal on the U.S. grid.

According to research from Ember - a nonprofit focused on advancing the transition to clean energy - from January to November of last year, renewable energy sources in the country provided a record 17% of U.S. electricity, while coal supplied 15%.

In Michigan, several coal-fired power plants have closed, with more set to come.

Dan Scripps, who chairs the Michigan Public Service Commission, said he believes economics is the largest driver of the shift.

"Coal plants, starting in sort of 2010 era, needing to start adding pretty significant pollution abatement and reduction technologies, in order to continue operating," said Scripps, "that really did have pretty fundamental impact on their price parity."

Many of the nation's coal plants were built in the 1970s and 1980s, making them some of the oldest power plants in the country.

Looking ahead, utilities are set to retire nearly 30 gigawatts of coal capacity between 2025 and 2027, marking a 12% decrease from earlier projections.

Scripps said another major factor in the shift away from fossil fuels is growing customer interest - evident through Michigan's voluntary renewable energy plans, offered by the utility companies.

"I've seen really significant uptick in participation - including, I think, two of the largest deals in U.S. history of corporate customers," said Scripps, "Ford Motor Company being the largest one, purchasing renewables through their utility. But, also just regular homeowners."

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has committed to achieving carbon-free electricity by 2040, as part of Michigan's Healthy Climate Plan.




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Connecticut environmental groups are dissatisfied with Gov. Ned Lamont's energy strategy for the state.

In his State of the State address, the governor called for increasing nuclear energy and bolstering natural gas pipelines. His plan comes as energy company Enbridge plans to extend a gas pipeline running through the state.

Lori Brown, executive director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, said many people are disappointed by lawmakers' direction on fossil fuels.

"The mindset of the governor and some lawmakers is really moving away from investments in the future in clean energy and in renewable energy that will absolutely be better for our state," Brown asserted. "It's the long-term thinking but there are much more desirable ends."

Lamont's intentions come several months after pulling Connecticut out of a multistate offshore wind deal. A Sierra Club report found offshore wind would be an abundant renewable energy resource for the state, potentially cutting utility bills by $630 million a year.

The state also still has a "pipeline tax," through which ratepayers pick up a $6.6 billion tab for energy company infrastructure improvements.

With the State of the State Address kicking off the legislative session, many want some climate-related bills passed, since there has been almost no headway on climate legislation in the last two sessions.

Samantha Dynowski, state director of the Connecticut Chapter of the Sierra Club, said this year, the General Assembly will see some bills coming back for another look, which could bolster the state's climate-friendly future beyond generating more clean energy.

"We are keenly aware of how heat impacts public health, and are looking to make sure we're doing more to protect vulnerable populations from high-heat days and the health impacts that those have," Dynowski explained.

For Connecticut, 2024 was the state's second-warmest year, with projections showing it will be a continuing trend. Other legislation being considered this year would ban certain pesticides harmful to people and wildlife.