Revision: March 30, 2012, midnight
SB 215 – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/28/12 1398s
2012 SESSION
09/05
SENATE BILL 215
AN ACT establishing a study committee on updating and improving the procedures and criteria for review of projects by the site evaluation committee.
SPONSORS: Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Sen. Groen, Dist 6; Sen. Lambert, Dist 13; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. Ladd, Graf 5; Rep. Brosseau, Graf 6
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
This bill establishes a study committee on updating and improving the procedures and criteria for review of projects by the site evaluation committee.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/28/12 1398s
12-2834
09/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT establishing a study committee on updating and improving the procedures and criteria for review of projects by the site evaluation committee.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established.
I. There is established a committee to study and develop recommendations for proposed legislation to update and improve the procedures and criteria for review and siting of energy facilities.
II.(a) The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(1) Two members of the senate, including one member of the energy and natural resources committee, appointed by the president of the senate.
(2) Two members of the house of representatives, including one member of the science, technology, and energy committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
III. The committee shall:
(a) Study whether existing procedures and criteria for review of renewable energy facilities, large transmission facilities, and electric generating facilities having a capacity of 100 megawatts or greater, are adequate or could be altered to reflect the size and impact of different sized projects, while assuring that such facilities are in the public interest, that the impacts of such facilities on the state’s environment, economic development, and energy resources are comprehensively evaluated, and that all reasonable alternatives to such facilities are fully considered.
(b) Study whether RSA 162-H should be further updated in light of the Energy Policy Act of 2005; the New Hampshire Electric Industry Restructuring Act, RSA 374-F; and recent actions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding electric transmission projects.
(c) Determine how the site evaluation committee can assess charges for the costs of its proceedings, including evaluating how costs incurred by public counsel should be assessed.
(d) Solicit testimony from any person or organization with relevant information or expertise, including the members of the site evaluation committee.
(e) Develop recommendations for proposed legislation, if appropriate, to address concerns relative to subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c).
IV. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section.
V. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2012.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.