Bill Text: NH HB233 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relative to useful thermal energy under the renewable portfolio standards.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-08-09 - Signed by Governor Sununu 08/04/2023; Chapter 182; eff: 10/03/2023 House Journal 17 [HB233 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2023-HB233-Amended.html
HB 233-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
9Mar2023... 0576h
04/13/2023 1321s
2023 SESSION
23-0396
10/05
HOUSE BILL 233-FN
AN ACT relative to useful thermal energy under the renewable portfolio standards.
SPONSORS: Rep. Vose, Rock. 5; Rep. Cambrils, Merr. 4; Rep. Plett, Hills. 29; Rep. D. Thomas, Rock. 16; Rep. McGhee, Hills. 35; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows for the verification of useful thermal energy under the electric renewable portfolio standards by methods approved by the department of energy.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
9Mar2023... 0576h
04/13/2023 1321s 23-0396
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to useful thermal energy under the renewable portfolio standards.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Electric Renewable Portfolio Standards; Useful Thermal Energy. Amend RSA 362-F:2, XV-a to read as follows:
XV-a. "Useful thermal energy" means renewable energy delivered from class I sources with a total gross nameplate heating capacity of its renewable energy certificate eligible units combined, of greater than 1,000,000 btu per hour that can be metered and that is delivered in New Hampshire to an end user in the form of direct heat, steam, hot water, or other thermal form that is used for heating, cooling, humidity control, process use, or other valid thermal end use energy requirements and for which fuel or electricity would otherwise be consumed. For sources with a total gross nameplate heating capacity of its renewable energy certificate eligible units combined of 1,000,000 btu per hour or less, energy delivered shall be verified by a method that is approved by the department of energy.
2 Renewable Energy Certificates; Useful Thermal. Amend RSA 362-F:6, V to read as follows:
V. A qualified producer of useful thermal energy with a total gross nameplate heating capacity of its renewable energy certificate eligible units combined, of greater than 1,000,000 btu per hour shall provide for the metering of useful thermal energy produced in order to calculate the quantity of megawatt-hours for which renewable energy certificates are qualified, and to report to the department of energy under rules adopted pursuant to RSA 362-F:13. For sources with a total gross nameplate heating capacity of its renewable energy certificate eligible units combined, of 1,000,000 btu per hour or less, energy delivered shall be verified by a method that is approved by the department of energy in order to calculate the quantity of megawatt-hours for which renewable energy certificates are qualified, and to report to the department of energy under rules adopted pursuant to RSA 362-F:13. Monitoring, reporting, and calculating the useful thermal energy produced in each quarter shall be expressed in megawatt-hours, where each 3,412,000 BTUs of useful thermal energy is equivalent to one megawatt-hour.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
23-0396
Amended 3/21/23
HB 233-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2023-0576h)
AN ACT relative to useful thermal energy under the renewable portfolio standards.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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STATE: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ X ] Highway [ X ] Other - Various Government Funds | |||
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COUNTY: |
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Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease |
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease |
METHODOLOGY:
State Revenue
The Department of Energy states this bill, as amended, would make it easier for small thermal generators to qualify to generate renewable energy certificates (RECs). Current statute requires metering, which for small systems can often cost more than the system itself. Assuming that these small systems avail themselves to an alternative method to verify output in order to generate RECs, it would increase the number of RECs available, reducing the need for electric distribution utilities and competitive electric suppliers to make alternative compliance payments (ACPs). If ACPs decrease, state revenue to the renewable energy fund (REF) will also decrease.
State Expenditures
If ACP revenues fall, then expenditures from the REF would also likely be reduced, leading to a decrease in state expenditures. In addition, with additional RECs available at a lower cost than what is currently met by the electric distribution companies and competitive electric suppliers through ACPs, this would lead to a decrease in electric rates for all ratepayers, including the state.
County and Local Revenue
With less revenue coming in through ACPs, there is the potential that expenditures from the renewable energy fund will decrease, leading to less grant and rebate money available for counties and local governments. To the extent that counties and local governments were considering applying for these funds, there is the potential that less would be available. For Counties and Local government that were not considering applying for these funds, there would be no impact.
County and Local Expenditures
With additional RECs available at a lower cost than what is currently met by the electric distribution companies and competitive electric suppliers through ACPs, this would lead to a decrease in electric rates for all ratepayers, including the County and Local government.
It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2023.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Energy
