Revision: March 14, 2018, 9:14 a.m.
HB 141 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
15Feb2018... 2472h
2017 SESSION
17-0119
06/04
HOUSE BILL 141
AN ACT relative to electric renewable energy classes.
SPONSORS: Rep. Murotake, Hills. 32; Rep. Vose, Rock. 9; Rep. J. Edwards, Rock. 4; Rep. Aldrich, Belk. 2; Rep. Gauthier, Sull. 3
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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This bill permits the public utilities commission to modify renewable energy portfolio standards according to expected annual output provided such requirement does not exceed the requirement of RSA 362-F:3.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15Feb2018... 2472h 17-0119
06/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT relative to electric renewable energy classes.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Electric Renewable Portfolio Standard; Electric Renewable Energy Classes. Amend RSA 362-F:4, V and VI to read as follows:
V. [For good cause, and] After notice and hearing, the commission may either: (i) for good cause, accelerate or delay by up to one year, any given year's incremental increase in class I or II renewable portfolio standards requirement under RSA 362-F:3, or (ii) modify the class I or II renewable portfolio standards requirements under RSA 362-F:3 for calendar years beginning January 1, 2018 such that the requirement is equal to the reasonably expected potential annual output of available eligible sources after taking into account demand from similar programs in other states; provided such modified requirement does not exceed the applicable class requirement under RSA 362-F:3.
VI. After notice and hearing, the commission may modify the class III and IV renewable portfolio standards requirements under RSA 362-F:3 for calendar years beginning January 1, 2012 such that the requirements are equal to [an amount between 85 percent and 95 percent of] the reasonably expected potential annual output of available eligible sources after taking into account demand from similar programs in other states; provided such modified requirement does not exceed the applicable class requirement in RSA 362-F:3.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
17-0119
Amended 3/13/18
HB 141- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2017-2472h)
AN ACT relative to electric renewable energy classes.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2019 | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
Expenditures | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
Funding Source: | [ ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Renewable Energy Fund | |||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill, as amended by the House, allows the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adjust the required levels of Class I (new) and Class II (solar) renewable energy certificates providers of electricity are required to purchase in any year in order to match supply and demand; and therefore reduce alternative compliance payments for that compliance year. The adjustment may not exceed the maximum class requirement provided in the RSA 362-F. In addition, the bill clarifies that any adjustment to Class III (existing biomass) and Class IV (existing small hydro) cannot exceed maximum statutory levels. The PUC indicates by reducing the number of alternative compliance payments required in a compliance year, the PUC would reduce the level of funding of the renewable energy fund and the funds available to pay for rebates and other programs supporting renewable energy project development in the State. The amount of reduction cannot be determined because it depends on the regional market for renewable energy certificates.
To administer the bill, PUC staff will need to better understand and track the regional renewable energy certificate market, including, understanding regional renewable energy policies, regional renewable energy facilities and eligibility status in other regional states. With this bill, several areas of regional market data and analysis, electricity sales projections, and general market conditions will be needed for the Commission to administer the adjustments. The PUC may require a subscription to a market service or consulting services to understand and track this market data. This bill requires the Commission staff to perform additional data collection, tracking, and analysis. The PUC assumes the additional work would involve re-prioritizing the work of existing staff. County and local governmental entities generally do not participate in the renewable energy certificate market.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Public Utilities Commission