Revision: March 15, 2013, midnight
SB 191-FN-A – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/14/13 0805s
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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
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, public health, and other important goals.
2 State Energy Strategy; Findings. The general court finds that a comprehensive energy strategy will provide useful information about important issues including the supply of and demand for electricity, natural gas, and thermal energy sources; the state’s role in regional energy markets; siting policies; fuel diversity and renewable and local energy resources; and the role of energy efficiency and demand-side policies and programs in meeting the state’s energy needs. The general court further finds that use of the energy efficiency portion of the system benefits charge and other available funding sources under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission 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 council established in RSA 4-E:2, with input from the public and interested parties, shall prepare a 10-year energy strategy for the state. The office shall revise and update the plan in consultation with the council, after opportunity for public comment, at least every 2 years. 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 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 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 in the region.
(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 state policies related to the issues in paragraph I, and recommendations for policy changes necessary to ensure the reliability, safety, fuel diversity, and affordability of New Hampshire’s energy sources. 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 Council.
I. There is established the New Hampshire state energy 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 consumer advocate;
(4) The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development;
(5) The commissioner of the department of environmental services;
(6) The state energy manager;
(7) The chairperson of the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board;
(8) The president of the business and industry association;
(9) The chairperson of the board of the New Hampshire Municipal Association;
(10) The chairperson of the board of New Hampshire Legal Assistance;
(11) A representative of small business interests appointed by the governor; and
(12) Two representatives from not-for-profit groups representing energy or environmental interests, appointed by the governor.
(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 house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(3) The chairperson of the science, technology and energy committee.
(4) The chairperson of the energy and natural resources committee.
II. Legislative members may receive mileage for attendance at meetings and hearings of the council.
4-E:3 Hearings. At least 4 public hearings shall be held around the state to seek public input during the development of the energy strategy, and public comment shall be sought for the biennial strategy updates.
4-E:4 Costs. The office of energy and planning is authorized to expend up to $200,000 in the development of the strategy, funded by the energy efficiency portion of the system benefits charge or other funding sources under the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission, or any other sources available to the office. The office of energy and planning is encouraged to seek other funding to support the updating of the strategy as needed.
4-E:5 Reports. A draft state energy strategy shall be completed no later than May 1, 2014, and a final state energy strategy shall be completed no later than October 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 energy and natural resources committee, the chairperson of the 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 October 1, 2014.
II. The remainder of act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
13-0538
02/04/13
SB 191-FN-A – FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a state energy strategy plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Public Utilities Commission states this bill, as introduced, may increase restricted state expenditures by $250,000 in FY 2014. There would be no impact on state, county, and local revenues, or county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) states this bill would create a state energy council tasked with developing a 10-year energy strategy plan every two years. The bill calls for four public hearings to be completed on or before November 1, 2013 and requires a state energy strategy plan be issued by July 1, 2014. This bill also directs the PUC to fund the council up to $250,000 to complete the state energy plan from funds under its control, including either the renewable energy fund or systems benefits charge revenue. The PUC states taking revenues from the renewable energy fund or from systems benefits revenues would decrease money available for those designated purposes.