A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE ECONOMIC AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT HEARINGS PERTAINING TO
THE USE OF WOOD PELLETS AS A HEAT SOURCE IN NEW MEXICO.
WHEREAS, providing heat to New
Mexicans with renewable and sustainable fuel is an important goal; and
WHEREAS, densified wood pellets
and other biomass products are a clean source of heat for industrial,
commercial and residential facilities; and
WHEREAS, the densified wood
pellet heating industry could promote economic growth in New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to
thin New Mexico forests to protect them from wildfires; and
WHEREAS, a partnership between
federal, state and local governments and businesses to thin forests could
create jobs, provide New Mexicans with an alternative fuel source and provide
necessary material for New Mexico leadership in the biomass and densified wood
pellet industry; and
WHEREAS, the partnership would
promote energy independence for New Mexico;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the economic and rural
development and telecommunications committee conduct hearings during the 2003
interim period that pertain to methods of using wood pellets as a heat source
in New Mexico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
hearings include discussions that focus on the use of waste wood from forest
thinning projects as source material for biomass and densified wood pellets;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
hearings include discussions on the long-term economic impact that a thriving
densified wood pellet heating industry could have on New Mexico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
copies of this memorial be transmitted to members of the economic and rural
development and telecommunications committee.