By Christopher Coon
Managing Editor,
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Magazine

The New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau is participating on a task force that is making recommendations for renewable fuels legislation.

The task force, which is being administered by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, began meeting in May to develop policy that will be introduced to the N.M. legislature in hopes of enacting a renewable fuels standard. In 2005, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. The legislation includes a nationwide renewable fuels standard that will double the use of ethanol and biodiesel by 2012.

Aron Balok, a regional director for the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, is representing Farm Bureau on the task force.

“The goal of this task force is to draft realistic legislation that will meet minimal opposition by the state’s legislature,” said Balok. “We are trying to stimulate exploration and use of alternative energy, including biodiesel and ethanol to boost New Mexico’s economy and possibly reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

The group is attempting to craft new language from HB 282, which did not make it through the last New Mexico legislative session. That bill called for enacting the Renewable Fuels Standards Act; requiring contents of ethanol and biodiesel fuel in gasoline and fuel; establishing reporting requirements for distributors and dealers; and called for providing penalties for non-compliance.

“The problem we face is trying to find a way to encourage renewable fuel production and consumption, without placing an undue burden on industry or the consumer, said Balok.

One of the task force’s current items of discussion is calling for a requirement that gasoline contain at least 10 percent renewable fuel, including biodiesel and ethanol.

All major automobile manufacturers approve the use of up to 10% ethanol in their vehicles.