Biodiesel Regs Near Passage in New Mexico; Similar Rules Sought Elsewhere
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A measure that would require all diesel fuel sold in New Mexico to have at least a five-percent blend of biodiesel is headed to the governor's desk. Similar efforts are being pursued in other states.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A measure that would require all diesel fuel sold in New Mexico to have at least a five-percent blend of biodiesel is headed to the governor’s desk. Similar efforts are being pursued in other states, according to the Web site www.landlinemag.com. The Senate approved the bill (SB489) in early-March. The House followed suit on a 50-14 vote that cleared the way for the bill to head to Gov. Bill Richardson’s desk. The governor already indicated he will sign it into law.
Sponsored by Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, the bill would require that all diesel fuel used in state vehicles be five percent biodiesel by July 2010. All diesel fuel sold in the state to consumers would need to be the biodiesel blend by July 2012.
The New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture would have the authority to suspend the state’s requirement if it is determined there is not an adequate supply or if the requirement results in a substantial price increase.
Among the states where lawmakers are pursuing similar standards is Montana. The state’s Senate overwhelmingly approved bill that would require the same five-percent blend sought in New Mexico. The Montana version (SB432) would allow for the biodiesel requirement to be suspended if the mixed fuel costs 15 percent more than traditional diesel. Exceptions also would be made if the mixed fuel was causing engine problems or if there wasn’t enough biodiesel being produced in the state.
The Oregon House approved a bill that includes a requirement that at least a two-percent biodiesel blend be offered as soon as state production of biodiesel reaches 5 million gallons per year. A five-percent biodiesel blend would be required when production reaches 15 million gallons per year. The bill (HB2210) has been sent to the Senate, according to the Web site www.landlinemag.com.
Another biodiesel bill is nearing passage in the Missouri Senate. A bill there would require all diesel fuel sold at retail in the state to be a biodiesel blend. The bill (SB204) would require at least five-percent biodiesel at the pumps by April 2009. Retailers would not be forced to carry the blended product if the price is not competitive with the price of petroleum diesel. The Missouri Department of Agriculture would be responsible for developing cold temperature operability standards for biodiesel.
More Operations

Family Ties Inside the Fleet Families Building Careers Across Generations
Three fleet families share what it really takes to work together, learn across generations, and keep business from following them home.
Read More →
Shades of Fleet Call for Voices: Fleet's Hidden Heroes
Fleet’s hidden heroes are often the ones keeping everything moving behind the scenes. September’s Shades of Fleet is looking for dispatchers, coordinators, parts specialists, and other support pros to share their stories.
Read More →
Truck Centers, Inc. Celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with $1,000 Fuel Card Giveaways
During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Truck Centers, Inc. is offering customers a chance to fuel up for free. Customers at all Truck Centers locations can enter to win one of four $1,000 fuel cards from Sept. 14 - 18.
Read More →
Fleet Guides, AI Time-Savers, Truck Tariffs & Fuel Strategy Lead the News
This week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet covers new fleet vehicle guides, practical AI use cases, U.S.-Canada truck production, mixed-energy strategy, and more.
Read More →
What Fleet Employers Are Missing When Hiring Veterans
What if some of the strongest candidates for fleet are already out there, but their experience is written in a language our industry does not always recognize?
Read More →
Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Less than two weeks left! Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →
What Resilient Fleets Do Differently When Conditions Change
Fleet resilience is about more than reacting to disruption. Lauren Fletcher talks with AP Fleet’s Alex Coveney about flexibility, planning, scaling, and what helps fleets adapt when business conditions shift.
Read More →
If We Want the Next Generation in Automotive, We Have to Give Them a Reason to Care
The automotive industry talks constantly about its workforce shortage. But before we can recruit the next generation, we may need to do a better job giving kids a reason to care about automotive in the first place.
Read More →
Ram ProMaster City Under $40K, Truck Tariffs, and AI Maintenance Lead the News
A sub-$40K commercial van, tariff questions, AI-powered maintenance, and a new EV production strategy headline this week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet.
Read More →Bob Adamsky Shares the Fleet Lessons You Usually Learn the Hard Way
After more than 30 years in fleet, Arrow International’s Bob Adamsky has learned that the job is about far more than vehicles. He shares the lessons he wishes every fleet manager could learn a little earlier.
Read More →
