Bill Text: NH SB191 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishing a state energy strategy.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2013-07-25 - II. Remainder Effective 07/24/13 [SB191 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2013-SB191-Amended.html
SB 191-FN-A – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
03/14/13 0805s
5June2013… 1900h
2013 SESSION
06/09
SENATE BILL 191-FN-A
AN ACT establishing a state energy strategy.
SPONSORS: Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Rep. Borden, Rock 24; Rep. Suzanne Smith, Graf 8; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. Kaen, Straf 5
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
This bill establishes a state energy council to develop a strategy plan.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/14/13 0805s
5June2013… 1900h
13-0538
06/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT establishing a state energy strategy.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 State Energy Strategy; Purpose. Development of a state energy strategy is necessary to ensure that the state’s energy policies and programs support the state’s economic, environmental, and public health goals.
2 State Energy Strategy; Findings.
I. The general court finds that a comprehensive energy strategy will:
(a) Provide forward-looking guidance on electric, gas, and thermal energy strategies.
(b) Optimize the ready availability of energy supply, energy affordability, the retention in-state of energy expenditures, the retention of jobs, and the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency policies, including demand-side policies.
(c) Minimize negative impacts to the economy, the environment, and the natural beauty of our state.
II. The general court further finds that the use of funding sources under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission, notwithstanding requirements under other provisions of law, to fund the development of a state energy strategy is in the public interest.
3 New Chapter; State Energy Strategy. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 4-D the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 4-E
4-E:1 State Energy Strategy.
I. The office of energy planning, in consultation with the state energy advisory council established in RSA 4-E:2, with assistance from an independent consultant and with input from the public and interested parties, shall prepare a 10-year energy strategy for the state. The office shall review the strategy and consider any necessary updates in consultation with the senate energy and natural resources committee and the house science, technology and energy committee, after opportunity for public comment, at least every 3 years starting in 2017. The state energy strategy shall include, but not be limited to, sections on the following:
(a) The projected demand for consumption of electricity, natural gas, and other fuels for heating and other related uses.
(b) Existing and proposed electricity and natural gas generation and transmission facilities, the effects of future retirements and new resources, and consideration of possible alternatives.
(c) Renewable energy and fuel diversity.
(d) Small-scale and distributed energy resources, energy storage technologies, and their potential in the state.
(e) The role of energy efficiency, demand response, and other demand-side resources in meeting the state’s energy needs.
(f) The processes for siting energy facilities in the state and the criteria used by the site evaluation committee in giving adequate consideration to the protection of the state's ecosystems and visual, historic, and aesthetic resources in siting processes.
(g) The relationship between land use and transportation policies and programs on electricity and thermal energy needs in the state.
(h) New Hampshire’s role in the regional electric markets, how the regional market affects the state’s energy policy goals, and how the state can most effectively participate at the regional level.
II. The strategy shall include a review of all state policies related to energy, including the issues in paragraph I, and recommendations for policy changes and priorities necessary to ensure the reliability, safety, fuel diversity, and affordability of New Hampshire’s energy sources, while protecting natural, historic, and aesthetic resources and encouraging local and renewable energy resources. The strategy shall also include consideration of the extent to which demand-side measures including efficiency, conservation, demand response, and load management can cost-effectively meet the state’s energy needs, and proposals to increase the use of such demand resources to reduce energy costs and increase economic benefits to the state.
III. The strategy development process shall include review and consideration of relevant studies and plans, including but not limited to those developed by the independent system operator of New England (ISO-NE), the public utilities commission, the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board, legislative study committees and commissions, and other state and regional organizations as appropriate. The strategy shall also include consideration of new technologies and their potential impact on the state’s energy future.
4-E:2 New Hampshire State Energy Advisory Council.
I. There is established the New Hampshire state energy advisory council.
(a) Members of the council shall be the following, or his or her designee:
(1) The director of the office of energy and planning, who shall serve as the chairperson.
(2) The chairperson of the public utilities commission.
(3) The commissioner of the department of environmental services.
(b) Legislative members of the council shall be:
(1) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(2) One member of the senate, appointed by the senate minority leader.
(3) One member of the science, technology and energy committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(4) One member of the science, technology and energy committee, appointed by the house minority leader.
(5) One member of the house of representatives, appointed jointly by the speaker of the house and the house minority leader.
II. Legislative members may receive mileage for attendance at meetings and hearings of the council.
4-E:3 Public Participation. The state energy advisory council shall provide duly noticed opportunities for public and stakeholder participation in the development of the strategy. In addition, at least 4 duly noticed public hearings shall be held in different regions of the state to seek public input during the development of the energy strategy. Public comment shall be sought by the office of energy and planning, the senate energy and natural resources committee, and the house science, technology and energy committee prior to updating the strategy.
4-E:4 Costs. The office of energy and planning is authorized to expend up to $200,000 from the energy efficiency portion of the system benefits charge, the renewable energy fund established under RSA 362-F:10, the energy efficiency fund established under RSA 125-O:23, or other funding sources under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission for the development of the strategy, and may utilize any other sources available to the office necessary to fulfill the requirements of this chapter. The office of energy and planning is encouraged to seek other funding to support the development and updating of the strategy.
4-E:5 Reports. A draft state energy strategy shall be completed no later than May 1, 2014, and shall be provided to the public for comment. A final state energy strategy shall be completed no later than September 1, 2014. The final strategy shall be provided to the governor, the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairperson of the senate energy and natural resources committee, the chairperson of the house science, technology and energy committee, and the state library.
5 Repeal. RSA 4-E:2 through RSA 4-E:5, relative to New Hampshire state energy council, is repealed.
6 Effective Date.
I. Section 5 of this act shall take effect December 31, 2014.
II. The remainder of act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
13-0538
Amended 03/18/13
SB 191 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a state energy strategy.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2013-0805s), as it is awaiting information from the Public Utilities Commission and the Office of Energy and Planning. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.
