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HOUSE MEMORIAL 41

47

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

SECOND SESSION

, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Hector H. Balderas

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A RENEWABLE FUELS TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE,

PROMOTE AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR THE PRODUCTION AND

UTILIZATION OF RENEWABLE FUELS IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, while New Mexico currently enjoys abundant oil,

coal and natural gas resources that greatly contribute to the

state's economy and to state government's revenues, these

energy sources are finite and ultimately may be exhausted; and

WHEREAS, the United States' heavy dependence on foreign

sources of oil renders the country extremely vulnerable to

price spikes and fluctuations in international production; and

WHEREAS, renewable fuel sources, or fuels derived from

agricultural and forest waste products that meet American

society for testing and materials specifications containing

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ethanol and biodiesel, can provide for rural economic

development, a sustainable energy future and reduced air

emissions; and

WHEREAS, on September 23, 2005, the governor issued an

executive order that requires the increased use of renewable

fuels in New Mexico, making state government responsible for

facilitating and reaching the goal of the fifteen percent

renewable fuels usage for state fleets; and

WHEREAS, the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, recently

enacted by congress, provides for a national renewable fuels

standard that mandates that seven and one-half billion gallons

of renewable fuels be consumed annually by 2012, which will

require significant expansion of ethanol and biodiesel

production in the future and will provide significant benefits

to the economy; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico Abengoa bioenergy corporation operates

an ethanol production facility in Portales, New Mexico, and has

expanded ethanol production capacity from fifteen to thirty

million gallons per year; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico currently is ranked seventh in the

nation for milk production and eighth in the nation for cheese

production, and dairy waste has significant potential for use

in renewable fuels development; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico's agricultural industry has the

capability for and interest in participating in the renewable

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fuel initiative; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico's congressional delegation, including

the senators who serve on the United States senate committee on

energy and natural resources, has a unique opportunity to

promote policies in federal energy legislation to benefit New

Mexico and the nation;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of energy, minerals and

natural resources be requested to convene a renewable fuels

task force to evaluate the potential for New Mexico

agricultural entities to contribute to the production of

renewable fuels in-state, to develop strategies to enhance the

development of the renewable fuels industry in New Mexico and

to recommend legislation for renewable fuels standards for

2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the renewable fuels task force

include the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources

or the secretary's designee; the secretary of taxation and

revenue or the secretary's designee; the director of the New

Mexico department of agriculture or the director's designee;

representatives from petroleum marketers and refineries, the

dairy and agricultural and forest industries, the renewable

fuels industry, the clean energy nonprofit community and

automobile dealers; and any other entities deemed necessary by

the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources; and

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the renewable fuels task force

report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate

legislative interim committee by October 1, 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, the members of the New Mexico

congressional delegation, the secretary of energy, minerals and

natural resources, the secretary of taxation and revenue, the

director of the New Mexico department of agriculture and the

New Mexico legislative council.

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