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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

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

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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

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

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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

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,

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the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture and

the New Mexico legislative council.