Nov 1 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Tania Soussan Albuquerque Journal, N.M.

New Mexicans will be driving cars easier on global warming, living in more energy efficient homes and getting more power from the sun and wind if Gov. Bill Richardson has his way.

On Monday, he called for a range of initiatives to secure New Mexico's place as the clean-energy state.

"We're going to go on a frontal attack to basically retain our status," the governor said, adding that California made some strides ahead of New Mexico this year.

Richardson's proposals, some to be taken up in the 2007 legislative session, amount to a $35.6 million energy and environment agenda.

"The biggest challenge to America is the need to become energyindependent," he told a news conference in the new "green" library at Santa Fe Preparatory School.

His plan includes:

Regulations for new cars and trucks sold in New Mexico to emit 22 percent less greenhouse gases by 2012 and 30 percent less by 2016.

That is similar to standards already adopted by California and 10 other states.

A $2.5 million program to give families at 150 percent of the poverty line and below low- and nointerest loans to make their homes more energy-efficient.

Also, a one-month tax holiday for purchases of Energy Star appliances and an income tax credit for buying Energy Star-certified central heating and cooling systems.

Building codes that promote lower energy and water use, and a tax credit to promote green homes and offices.

Investing an extra 4 percent -- or about $9.5 million -- in building public schools that can show a 50 percent increase in energy efficiency.

Tax credits for biodiesel distributors, and a requirement that 5 percent of every gallon of diesel sold in New Mexico come from agricultural sources by 2012 and 20 percent by 2020.

Ramping up the renewableportfolio standard to require utilities to get 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2015 and 25 percent by 2020.

Public Regulation Commission Chairman Ben Lujan endorsed that change.

And Ben Luce, chairman of the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, said it will help get large-scale solar projects off the ground.

Trying again to have the Legislature create a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to help get solar, wind and other clean power to markets in other states.

Taking a portion of the money from the oil conservation tax -- about $9.6 million this year -- to pay for land conservation, wildlife and cleanenergy projects.

Putting $10 million into an Energy Innovation Fund to spur new technologies.

Republican John Dendahl, who is challenging Richardson for governor, called the plan "a whole basket full of gimmicks."

He said he likes the idea of energy-efficient buildings, but he criticized the tax breaks as a big-government tactic and said promoting nuclear energy would be a better way to address climate change.