Legislative Update
As many of you are surely aware, significant legislative changes to renewable energy and energy efficiency have been proposed in the NH Legislature this session. Several of these changes would substantially impair the development and penetration of clean renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and programs in New Hampshire.
Many of the bills proposed to make these changes will be heard next week and the week after in the NH House. This update is to make you aware of key hearings next week and ask you to participate by attending these hearings if there is any way you can. A large turnout sends the strongest possible message to legislators. We also hope you will contact members of the House Science, Technology and Energy (STE) Committee (listed sidebar left)—as well as your own legislators—to let them know your concerns.
Proposed Bills
HB-302 - An act modifying the laws relative to renewable energy portfolios.
This is a bad bill that would effectively kill off Class II (Solar PV) under NH's RPS and make large hydropower (e.g., HydroQuebec power over the proposed Northern Pass transmission line) eligible for REC credit. The impact of the latter would be to flood New England REC markets, depress REC prices, and disadvantage small distributed renewable generation (and small businesses serving this market). HB-302 is being heard February 8th; please come to oppose it.
HB-311 - An act relative to solar renewable energy.
This is a good bill that would enhance solar PV in NH by clarifying Class II under the RPS and improving PUC flexibility in estimating, aggregating, and crediting customer-sited generation.
This bill was heard by STE on Tuesday, February 1st, and NHSEA submitted a letter in support.
PDF of NHSEA Letter submitted to committeeHB-519 - An act repealing New Hampshire's regional greenhouse gas initiative cap and trade program for controlling carbon dioxide emissions.
This is another bad bill that would withdraw NH from participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which has funded significant energy efficiency investment in NH homes and businesses over the last year. This is a particularly bad bill, because power clearing prices in ISO-NE include RGGI, so NH ratepayers would continue to pay the same amount, but would no longer receive any benefit. In addition, businesses would suffer from the regulatory uncertainty of flip-flopping public policy. Additional information about RGGI is attached below.
HB-519 is being heard on February 10th; please come to oppose it.
HB-543 - An act relative to biomass combined heat and electricity facilities.
This appears to be a good bill that would add credit for thermal energy to the RPS, thereby encouraging biomass-based combined heat and power (CHP) installations in NH.
A hearing for this bill has not yet been scheduled.
HB-559 - An act establishing a committee to study methods of encouraging the installation and use of small scale renewable energy resources by homeowners and businesses and authorizing the development of a solar photovoltaic renewable energy project in Manchester.
This bill re-introduces last year's attempt by PSNH and Manchester to install PV on the Manchester landfill—an effort that NHSEA strenuously fought—and prevailed on—last year. This bill requires amendment to ensure that it would not consume resources from the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) and that the PUC would have adequate approval.
A hearing for this bill has not yet been scheduled.
You can review these bills and their sponsors, text, and schedule directly by going to the NH General Court Website and typing in the specific bill number.
Congratulations NH for keeping up the PACE!
On May 12, 2010 the NH Senate passed HB 1554, AKA the "PACE Bill." PACE is an acronym for Property Assessed Clean Energy—its final passage will enable municipalities to establish revolving loan funds to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for both residential and commercial properties. The Senate chose not to attach SB 334 to HB 1554, permitting this great legislation to go forward without a controversial amendment. As of May 14, 2010, SB 334 is not attached to any other legislation.
HB 1554 will provide an important tool for financing energy efficiency improvements in existing homes and businesses in a manner that is consistent with the local control ethic of New Hampshire government. It will enable the State's municipalities to provide access to bond-based or other capital for the residents' and businesses' clean energy projects. Eligible projects include weatherization and a variety of innovative renewable energy projects. Financing for these improvements will be achieved through mechanisms that provide for a positive cash flow for the property owner, based on demonstrable energy efficiency savings. (The arrangement authorized by the bill is similar to special assessment or betterment district mechanisms used to finance street upgrades, utility line burial or other improvements benefitting certain properties, except that participation by property owners in energy efficiency and clean energy districts would be purely voluntary)
Click here for the full text of HB 1554
Beacon Communities and PACE
The state of New Hampshire was recently awarded $10 million from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to fund the Beacon Communities Program, a comprehensive energy savings initiative in Berlin, Nashua and Plymouth, and then other communities. "Property assessed clean energy" or "PACE" financing such as House Bill 1554 will authorize could play a large part in the Beacon Communities project. The DOE funding announcement was released in conjunction with two federal reports endorsing PACE financing: one by the Vice President's Middle Class Task Force, "Recovery Through Retrofit," and another released by the White House—"Policy Framework for PACE Financing Programs"—that set out recommended best practices for PACE programs. House Bill 1554 incorporates the recommended best practices. The bill will help position New Hampshire to secure federal funding to capitalize financing programs in 2010 and subsequent years and allow all communities to set up programs on a voluntary basis.
Click here for Beacon Communities press release
SB 334 Update
During the 2009-2010 legislative session, the New Hampshire Legislature considered a proposal by PSNH (SB 334) to fund a single solar energy project in Manchester with funds the company is supposed to pay into the State's Renewable Energy Fund (REF). The REF funds are intended to be available throughout the State for renewable energy projects to benefit residents, small businesses, and municipalities.
On Wednesday, May 5, the House of Representatives voted 300 to 46 to reject this proposal. On Thursday, May 13, the New Hampshire Senate completed its review of potential bills and did not include SB 334 on any of its legislation. As of Friday, May 14, this proposal was not included in any live legislation.
