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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR SCONC
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/31/07
2/24/07 HB
SHORT TITLE Require Biodiesel in Motor Vehicle Fuel
SB 489/SCONCS
ANALYST Williams
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicate of HB 218/HTPWCS
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Higher Education Department (HED)
New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
The Senate Conservation Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 489 extends the Petroleum
Products Standards Act to biodiesel. Biodiesel is defined. After July 1, 2010 and before July 1,
2012, all diesel fuel sold to state agencies, political subdivisions of the state and public schools
for use in motor vehicles on New Mexico streets and highways shall contain five percent
biodiesel. After July, 1, 2012, all diesel fuel sold to consumers for use in motor vehicles on the
streets and highways of New Mexico shall contain five percent biodiesel. These standards may
be temporarily suspended by the director, as discussed below.
The bill includes a “safety valve" which suspends the content requirement based on product
availability and price. The bill authorizes the Director of NMDA in consultation with the
Secretary of EMNRD to suspend sale of biodiesel for a period of up to six months under the
following circumstances: 1) when it is determined that sufficient amounts of biodiesel are not
available to meet the specified demand; or 2) the price of biodiesel blend fuel significantly
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Senate Bill 489/SCONCS – Page
2
exceeds the price of diesel fuel for at least two months.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The bill does not contain an appropriation.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The Petroleum Products Standard Act is administered by the New Mexico Department of
Agriculture, within the New Mexico State University Board of Regents. Within this regulatory
framework, the board shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to administer and enforce the
Act. The Director may take appropriate actions and enforce the provisions of the Petroleum
Products Standards Act to include quality standards, tests, and methods of conducting analyses
on petroleum products manufactured, stored, kept, sold or offered for sale in New Mexico.
NMDA expresses a number of concerns regarding implementing the “safety valve" mechanism
as follows:
Knowledge of produce location during distribution
Compliance determination at retail level
Possible commingling of varying biodiesel percentages in retail storage
Commingling would make product analysis difficult; therefore, effective enforcement
would be compromised
Significant time and resources for the determination of market conditions, product location, and
dispenser labeling would be necessary when market “safety valves" are triggered.
Some of these concerns may be addressed through the rule making process, requiring
wholesalers and retailers to notify NMDA when market triggers had been hit.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
Currently, under the regulatory function for the standards and consumer services division,
NMDA monitors the accuracy of over 25,000 fuel dispensers per year, and collects and analyzes
over 8,000 samples per year of petroleum products for compliance with state standards.
HED notes “as a member in the Chicago Climate Exchange, the State of New Mexico is required
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or be forced to purchase credits." Both HED and EMNRD
note HB 218 supports Executive Order 2005-033, 2005-049, and 2006-69 requiring the increased
use of renewable fuels in New Mexico state government.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
NMDA notes the fuel will be routinely collected and analyzed through its regulation of
petroleum products. Also, the department notes the extension to biodiesel products in 2010
(2012 retail) may necessitate additional personnel. EMNRD notes there will be temporary
administrative implications to ENMRD in the rule-making process.
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Senate Bill 489/SCONCS – Page
3
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
EMNRD notes:
“Biodiesel, specifically peanut oil, was the first fuel used by Rudolf Diesel in his demonstration
engines one hundred years ago. Biodiesel (B100) is a renewable fuel produced from domestically
produced oils such as soybean oil, animal fats or recycled cooking oil and can be blended with
diesel in any proportion with good emissions and lubricity performance. When blended with
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, biodiesel provides lubrication characteristics lost by reduced sulfur
content, benefiting fuel system and engine components. Lower friction because of higher
lubricity of biodiesel can improve fuel economy with power output and torque equal to
conventional diesel. Biodiesel has a higher cetane rating than conventional diesel as well as
higher oxygen content. Oil change interval frequency may be reduced. Biodiesel is non-toxic and
biodegradable. All diesel engine emissions are reduced depending on engine design; the
biodiesel fraction reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It is safer than conventional diesel because
of its higher flash point. Biodiesel reduces our dependence on foreign oil while benefiting
domestic agriculture. Biodiesel use in New Mexico will stimulate agricultural crop production
for biofuels feedstock and economic development in the agricultural sector. “
ALTERNATIVES
NMDA suggests “Letting the evolution of the industry, fuel requirements, auto manufacturers
recommendations, economics etc dictate what is needed in the future, would be a more
appropriate" mechanism, rather than mandating a content percentage in state statute.
AW/nt