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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Wallace

 

DATE TYPED:

1/29/03

 

HB

HJM 6

 

SHORT TITLE:

Support Fuel Cell Research

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Collard

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From                                                       

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department   

Economic Development Department

 

Responses Not Received From

Department of Environment

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Joint Memorial 6 states the Secretary of Economic Development be requested to appear before appropriate 2003 legislative interim committees for the purpose of reporting on the Economic Development Department’s plan for hydrogen and fuel cell research and development in New Mexico and any suggested legislation.

 

      Significant Issues

 

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department indicates the emerging “hydrogen economy” offers significant economic development potential for New Mexico.  New Mexico is ideally situated to be a leader in these technologies, given Los Alamos National Laboratory’s strong historic and ongoing research in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development and the state’s abundance of both fossil fuel and renewable energy resources.

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There is no appropriation or significant fiscal impact associated with this joint memorial.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department indicates that assistance and involvement with the joint memorial and the Economic Development Department can be handled with existing personnel.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

The Economic Development Department notes that this joint memorial requires the department to prepare a strategic description of the plan for hydrogen and fuel cell research and development.

 

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department believes this memorial will compliment the Energy Conservation and Management Division’s alternative fuels mission and indicates that the promotion of hydrogen development will enhance the potential applications for using renewable energy.  The department is currently involved with the multi-agency “Hydrogen Technology Partnership” investigating the creation of a hydrogen and fuel cell economic development industry cluster for New Mexico. 

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. What efforts can the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources department bring to this joint memorial?
  2. What has the Hydrogen Technology Partnership accomplished?

 

KBC/njw