Bill Text - SB73 (2010)

(New Title) requiring the state government to reduce energy consumption in state buildings, to develop an energy conservation plan, and to make an annual report on the state’s energy consumption.


Revision: Feb. 10, 2010, midnight

SB 73-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

01/13/10 0095s

01/27/10 0326s

2009 SESSION

09-0987

09/10

SENATE BILL 73-FN

AN ACT requiring the state government to reduce energy consumption in state buildings, to develop an energy conservation plan, and to make an annual report on the state’s energy consumption.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24

COMMITTEE: Energy, Environment and Economic Development

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill requires the state government to significantly reduce energy consumption in state buildings on a square foot basis with a goal of reducing fossil fuel energy consumption by 25 percent by 2025. Each department is required to submit data and recommendations with the commissioner of administrative services on its compliance with this reduction goal. The commissioner of administrative services shall annually submit a report on the state’s energy consumption reduction efforts and, with the assistance of the department of environmental services and the office of energy and planning, shall develop an energy conservation plan to work towards this energy reduction goal, both of which will be submitted to the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board, the governor and the legislature.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01/13/10 0095s

01/27/10 0326s

09-0987

09/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT requiring the state government to reduce energy consumption in state buildings, to develop an energy conservation plan, and to make an annual report on the state’s energy consumption.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Findings.

I. The New Hampshire Climate Action Plan issued in March 2009 emphasized that future economic growth in New Hampshire as well as mitigation of and adaptation to a changing climate will depend in large part on more efficient use of energy. The New Hampshire Climate Plan also recommended that the state of New Hampshire lead by example in its activities to reduce energy use associated with heating and cooling buildings.

II. Energy costs are and will continue to be a significant portion of the state budget as the state government operations are the largest electricity consumer and energy unit costs are expected to continue to increase.

III. For these reasons, the general court supports establishing goals for reducing energy consumption in state buildings.

2 New Section; Energy Consumption Reduction Goal; Reports. Amend RSA 21-I by inserting after section 14-b the following new section:

21-I:14-c Energy Consumption Reduction Goal; Reports.

I. Each state department may use cost-effective measures to achieve an energy consumption reduction goal of 25 percent by 2025.

II. Beginning in calendar year 2012, each state department shall submit an annual report to the commissioner of administrative services on or before September 1 which details any cost-effective measures it is utilizing to comply with the energy consumption reduction goal established in paragraph I and its annual progress in complying with this goal.

III. Beginning in calendar year 2012, the commissioner shall submit an annual report on or before December 1 compiling the annual reports submitted under paragraph II, with findings on the departments’ annual progress in complying with the energy consumption reduction goal established in paragraph I and problems which may prevent the departments from achieving this goal, to the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board established under RSA 125-O:5-a, the governor, the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairman of the senate energy, environment, and economic development committee and the chairman of the house science, technology and energy committee.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBAO

09-0987

01/29/09

SB 73-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT requiring the state government to reduce energy consumption in state buildings, to develop an energy conservation plan, and to make an annual report on the state’s energy consumption.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Department of Administrative Services states this bill will have an indeterminable impact on state expenditures in FY 2009 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue or on county and local expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Administrative Services states this bill requires all state departments to use cost-effective measures to achieve an energy consumption reduction goal of 25% by 2025. The bill also requires the Department to compile an annual report of statewide progress on energy saving initiatives, using the reports submitted by the various state agencies. Work is underway within current budget constraints to address short-term energy consumption reduction targets, but to achieve the long term goal of 25% energy reduction, the Department anticipates some additional costs to address larger-scale concerns, including building envelope and HVAC system issues. The Department cannot accurately predict the initial costs of the energy efficiency upgrades, nor can it anticipate any potential savings due to these upgrades. For compilation of the statewide report, the Department does not anticipate a cost increase, absorbing any work required within its current resources.