CHAPTER 19
HB 415-FN – FINAL VERSION
06Mar2007… 0257h
02Jan2008… 2578h
2008 SESSION
03/01
HOUSE BILL 415-FN
AN ACT establishing a geothermal assessment project.
SPONSORS: Rep. Theberge, Coos 4; Rep. L. Ober, Hills 27; Rep. Phinizy, Sull 5; Rep. M. Allen, Rock 11
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
This bill requires the state geologist to conduct a geothermal assessment project. This bill also requires the reporting of geologic information by persons installing geothermal systems or exploring hydrothermal or geothermal resources.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
06Mar2007… 0257h
02Jan2008… 2578h
07-0101
03/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT establishing a geothermal assessment project.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
19:1 Geothermal Assessment Project.
I. The state geologist shall conduct a geothermal assessment project, which shall:
(a) Assess the current state of technology relating to harvesting geothermal energy in New Hampshire to generate electricity.
(b)(1) Determine the location of known and potential geothermal deep sites and their characteristics, such as steam, hot water, temperature, and deleterious materials that limit use.
(2) Identify promising geothermal sites that have the proper rock quality, quantity, and temperature.
(3) Perform deep well temperature tests and evaluate the results.
(4) Classify geothermal energy into types within the tested wells.
(c) Identify opportunities for the most economically viable near-term applications of geothermal as an alternative energy source.
(d) Determine the geothermal resources in New Hampshire by county and assess their potential for fostering the development of geothermal energy to generate electricity. The assessment shall identify opportunities for economically viable near-term applications of geothermal direct use, including:
(1) The location of reservoirs, known and potential.
(2) The location of existing and proposed wells.
(3) An estimate of the ultimate magnitude of geothermal resources.
(4) The types of geothermal resources (e.g., steam, hot water), temperature, whether the potential use is electric or non-electric, and deleterious materials that limit use.
(5) Temperature measurements to ascertain the available types of potential hot dry rock (HDR) capabilities.
(e) Create a manageable search effort by geothermal regions within each county and rate each region for its potential direct use development to generate electricity.
(f) Collect and record for accessibility and feasibility survey data for each county.
(g) Recommend a program for progressively more intensive exploration of geothermal resources in the state to determine the existence of exploitable resources and to delineate the extent and characteristics of the resources. The exploration program may include existing wells, as well as the testing of shallow temperature gradient wells, “slim-hole” exploration wells, and production-sized exploration wells. The recommendation shall include proposals for:
(1) Analyzing types of geothermal resources.
(2) Surveying by reconnaissance and exploration to identify the most suitable prospect areas by recognizing favorable geological settings and locating surface thermal discharge. Reconnaissance studies shall also involve mapping surface, thermal features, and identification of favorable geological structures.
(3) Defining areas identified as having high potential for exploitation or that are favored because of proximity to an energy use center, which shall be explored by more comprehensive scientific survey methods.
(4) Producing a detailed geological and geochemical study. The assessment shall propose using a range of geophysical techniques, including gravity, magnetic, and, in particular, resistivity surveys, to locate anomalies that are directly related to the presence of geothermal fluids.
(5) Interpreting integrated geoscientific studies to prioritize targets for exploration drilling programs to measure actual subsurface temperatures and test reservoir productivity.
II. The state geologist shall make a preliminary report of the results of the geothermal assessment project to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before July 1, 2010. The state geologist shall make a final report of the results of the geothermal assessment project to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before July 1, 2011.
III. Any person exploring hydrothermal or geothermal resources, or any person installing a geothermal energy system who drills at least 3 boreholes 1,000 or more feet deep on one site, shall report to the state geologist a description or log of the geological formations and materials encountered in the borehole that achieved the greatest depth. The report shall include any temperature measurements from fluids or temperatures measured at the bottom of one of the boreholes. Each report shall be prepared by a geologist licensed in this state within 30 days of the completion of drilling.
19:2 Repeal. Section 1 of this act, relative to the geothermal assessment project, is repealed.
19:3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 2, 2011.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: May 12, 2008
Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect July 2, 2011.
II. Remainder shall take effect July 11, 2008.