44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WITH COOPERATION OF THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT AND PASO DEL NORTE CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS, TO STUDY AND REPORT TO THE INTERIM REVENUE STABILIZATION AND TAX POLICY COMMITTEE ON THE POTENTIAL COSTS AND BENEFITS OF USING ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR TRANSPORTATION.

WHEREAS, New Mexico is the country's third largest onshore producer of natural gas and has the capability to provide substantial quantities of other alternative fuels for vehicular transportation; and

WHEREAS, revenues from the production and sale of natural gas contribute substantially to public schools and universities in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, vehicle technologies for use of alternative fuels have significantly advanced during the past five years, and there is a wide variety of reliable vehicle products available from New Mexico automobile dealerships with the service personnel and facilities to accommodate maintenance of vehicles adapted to run on alternative fuels; and

WHEREAS, alternative fuel vehicles have been certified as low- to zero-emission vehicles by the United States environmental protection agency, and many government agencies are using them for selected operations; and

WHEREAS, the national conference of state legislatures has investigated various incentives employed by states to promote the use of alternative fuels; and

WHEREAS, the land of enchantment clean cities coalition, a group of more than thirty public and private stakeholders located in Bernalillo, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Valencia, Socorro and Santa Fe counties, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the United States department of energy to promote the use of fuels such as natural gas, propane, electricity, fuel cells, E-85 and biodiesel that burn cleaner than gasoline or diesel; and

WHEREAS, the paso del norte clean cities coalition, a group of over forty public and private stakeholders that includes the city of Las Cruces and Dona Ana county, has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the United States department of energy to promote the use of alternative fuels; and

WHEREAS, the potential economic and environmental benefits from increased use of alternative fuels should be examined with an unbiased perspective and legislative participation; and

WHEREAS, the land of enchantment clean cities coalition and the Paso Del Norte clean cities coalition have the expertise to assist a legislative interim study;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy, minerals and natural resources department, with cooperation from the land of enchantment and paso del norte clean cities coalitions, be requested to collect information, conduct a study and report to the interim revenue stabilization and tax policy committee by September 2000 on the costs and benefits of alternative fuels use for vehicular transportation in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the general services department, the taxation and revenue department and the state land office cooperate and assist the energy, minerals and natural resources department to identify, compile and analyze data and report to the committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report include the status of alternative fuel infrastructure and use, identification of barriers to increased alternative fuel use and promising mechanisms to overcome those barriers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department use the report and its findings in developing a comprehensive, statewide plan to expand alternative fuels infrastructure and use in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the alternative fuels plan be developed in consultation with the land of enchantment and paso del norte clean cities coalitions and other appropriate stakeholders by no later than December 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the secretary of general services, the secretary of taxation and revenue, the commissioner of public lands, the chair of the interim revenue stabilization and tax policy committee and the directors of the land of enchantment and paso del norte clean cities coalitions.