SANTA FE (AP) - Over the objections of Republican lawmakers, the Senate has voted to require all diesel fuel sold to New Mexico drivers as of July 2012 to contain 5 percent biodiesel.
The legislation passed Wednesday sets an earlier deadline _ July 2010 _ for diesel fuel sold to state and local governments and public schools.
The measure, sought by Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson as part of his clean-energy initiative, went to the House on a vote of 19-14.
Supporters said biodiesel burns cleanly and efficiently, and its increased use would slow the growing dependence on foreign oil.
"With this in place, there will be a terrific incentive for this (biodiesel) to be produced," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque.
Two biodiesel plants already are planned for the Clovis area, and tax breaks for producers and distributors are under consideration in the Legislature.
Biodiesel is created by mixing petroleum-based diesel with a biofuel produced from agricultural products, such as soybeans.
"If it's so great _ and I believe it is great _ why must we mandate that it be used?" said Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington.
Another Republican lawmaker, William Payne of Albuquerque, said the measure could have an unintended consequence. Indian pueblos _ which would not be under the state's mandate _ could set up truck stops along New Mexico's interstates that would sell regular diesel fuel, he suggested, allowing commercial truckers to sidestep the new regulation.
The bill includes a "safety valve" that authorizes state officials to suspend the requirement when there's not enough biodiesel available or when biodiesel "significantly exceeds" the price of diesel fuel for at least two months.
The biodiesel bill is
SB489.
On the Net:New Mexico Legislature:
http://www.legis.state.nm.us
