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Heinrich seeks federal funds for states to transition from oil and gas

A shift away from oil and gas could be coming to Congress as U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) sought to provide federal relief to communities that rely on the boom and bust of fossil fuels.

Heinrich introduced legislation in the Senate this week to assist state and local governments in transitioning away from reliance on oil and gas.

New Mexico could be poised to see significant impacts as federal lawmakers sought to embrace a future with less pollution and lower-carbon energy sources, Heinrich said, and he intended to preserve the viability of oil and gas communities like Carlsbad in the Permian Basin amid the transition.

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That shift was inevitable, Heinrich said, due to energy market forces pushing for lower-carbon sources and to address environmental concerns from investors.