This week, we feature an interview with Charlie Barrett. He’s an ecologist and has worked as a wildland firefighter, and he’s a thermographer with Oilfield Witness. Laura interviewed him earlier this summer about what he sees down in the Permian Basin — and what New Mexico is, and isn’t, doing when it comes to addressing climate change.

According to Oilfield Witness, they’re a group of “methane hunters” and organizers who use optical gas imaging technology to track and expose the unseen emissions from the oil and gas industry. They’ve done work in the San Juan and Permian basins here in New Mexico — and also exposed that xAI in Memphis is emitting plumes of nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, and fine particulate matter.

Also mentioned in this podcast:

New Mexico News Port

Last dance for the lesser prairie chicken? Endangered species listing is vacated (Santa Fe New Mexican)

Homeland Sec. Noem visits NM, says Trump wants border wall painted black (Danielle Prokop, Source NM)

Wildlife and the Border Wall (2019, NMPBS)

NM Republicans — and one Democrat — tour Otero ICE Detention Center (Patrick Lohmann, Source NM)

Advocates raise alarm after feds kill a Mexican gray wolf blamed for ranch conflicts (John Leos, The Arizona Republic)

Thanks for listening to the Lesser Known New Mexico Podcast! You can find us on Substack, Spotify or Apple and follow us on Instagram. And if you really want to, you can drop us a note at lesserknownnmpodcast@gmail.com.

Music credits: Get Through it (Instrumental) by Neu Song and Mirror Mirrow (Instrumental) by Juniper Vale

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