45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THAT THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT STUDY ALTERNATIVE FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, more than four thousand eight hundred motor vehicles capable of operating on alternative fuels have been purchased by government agencies since 1992, creating increasing demands on the alternative fuels infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of alternative fuel motor vehicles operate on ethanol or compressed natural gas; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico is the nation's third largest producer of natural gas and has the capability to provide substantial quantities of other alternative fuels that can be used for motor vehicles; and

WHEREAS, revenues from the production and sale of natural gas are used to fund public schools and universities in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the use of alternative fuels has the capability to provide environmental and health benefits to New Mexico and its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the alternative fuels infrastructure currently in place in New Mexico is inadequate and presents a barrier to the increased 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 natural gas, propane, electricity, bio-diesel and other fuels that burn cleaner than gasoline or diesel fuels; and

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

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy, minerals and natural resources department, in conjunction with the land of enchantment clean cities coalition and the paseo del norte clean cities coalition, be requested to study alternative fuels infrastructure needs in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include an inventory of the current alternative fuels infrastructure and its use, the infrastructure improvements needed to increase alternative fuels use and the mechanisms necessary to meet those needs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the general services department, the taxation and revenue department, the state highway and transportation department and the state department of public education be requested to assist the energy, minerals and natural resources department with the collection and analysis of data regarding alternative fuels infrastructure needs in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and natural resources department report its findings to an appropriate interim legislative committee during the 2002 interim; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the general services department, the taxation and revenue department, the state highway and transportation department, the state department of public education, the land of enchantment clean cities coalition and the paseo del norte clean cities coalition.