SB303 (2024) Compare Changes


Unchanged Version

Text to be removed highlighted in red.

79:1 Reporting Date by Department of Energy. Amend RSA 362-F:10, IV to read as follows:

IV. The department of energy shall make an annual report by October 1 of each year, beginning in 2009 , to the house science, technology and energy committee, and the senate energy and natural resources committee detailing how the renewable energy fund is being used and any recommended changes to such use. The report shall also include information on the total peak generating capacity that is net energy metered under RSA 362-A:9 within the franchise area of each electric distribution utility, and the percentage this represents of the amount that is allowed to be net metered within each franchise area. Information shall be provided on net metered group host registrations and the associated customer groups, including number and location of group host facilities, generation by renewable source and size of facility, and group load served by such facilities.

79:2 Department of Energy; Authority for Incentive and Rebate Programs; Political Subdivision Projects Added. Amend RSA 362-F:10, VIII to read as follows:

VIII. The department of energy may, after notice and hearing, by order or rule, establish additional incentive or rebate programs and competitive grant opportunities for renewable thermal and electric energy projects sited in New Hampshire .

79:3 Renewable Projects Funding. Amend RSA 362-F:10, X and XI to read as follows:

X. Consistent with RSA 362-F:10, VI, The department of energy shall, over each 2-year period commencing July 1, 2010, reasonably balance overall amounts expended, allocated, or obligated from the fund, net of administrative expenditures, between residential and nonresidential sectors. Funds from the renewable energy fund awarded to renewable projects in the residential sector shall be in approximate proportion to the amount of electricity sold at retail to that sector in New Hampshire, and the remaining funds from the renewable energy fund shall be awarded to projects in the nonresidential sector which include commercial and industrial sited renewable energy projects, existing generators, and developers of new commercial-scale renewable generation in New Hampshire, provided no less than 15 percent of the funds shall annually benefit:

(a) Low-moderate income residential customers, including, but not limited to, the financing or leveraging of financing for low-moderate income community solar projects in manufactured housing communities or in multi-family rental housing.

(b) Residents of a public housing authority created pursuant to RSA 203, or a housing project as described in RSA 78-B:2, XXIII, where the electric bills are either paid directly by the residents or by the public housing authority or housing project, provided that at least a majority of the residents benefiting are at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

XI. The department of energy shall issue requests for proposals that provide renewable projects in the nonresidential sector, which include commercial and industrial sited renewable energy projects, existing generators, and developers of new commercial-scale renewable generation in New Hampshire, with opportunities to receive funds from the renewable energy fund established under RSA 362-F:10. The requests for proposals shall provide such opportunities to those renewable energy projects that are not eligible to participate in incentive and rebate programs developed by the department of energy under RSA 362-F:10, V and RSA 362-F:10, VIII. The department of energy shall issue a request for proposals no later than March 1, 2011 and annually thereafter,and select winning projects in a timely manner.

79:4 Repeals. RSA 362-F:10, V through VII, and IX, relative to a residential small renewable generation incentive payment program, are repealed.

79:5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 14, 2024

Effective Date: June 14, 2024

Changed Version

Text to be added highlighted in green.

79:1 Reporting Date by Department of Energy. Amend RSA 362-F:10, IV to read as follows:

IV. The department of energy shall make an annual report by November 1 of each year, beginning in 2024 , to the house science, technology and energy committee, and the senate energy and natural resources committee detailing how the renewable energy fund is being used and any recommended changes to such use. The report shall also include information on the total peak generating capacity that is net energy metered under RSA 362-A:9 within the franchise area of each electric distribution utility, and the percentage this represents of the amount that is allowed to be net metered within each franchise area. Information shall be provided on net metered group host registrations and the associated customer groups, including number and location of group host facilities, generation by renewable source and size of facility, and group load served by such facilities.

79:2 Department of Energy; Authority for Incentive and Rebate Programs; Political Subdivision Projects Added. Amend RSA 362-F:10, VIII to read as follows:

VIII. (a) The department of energy may, after notice and hearing, by order or rule, establish additional incentive or rebate programs and competitive grant opportunities for renewable thermal and electric energy projects sited in New Hampshire , or may modify existing programs or opportunities . Funding allocations shall be subject to the apportionment requirements under paragraph X.

(b) The department of energy shall, after notice and hearing, by order or rule, develop incentive or rebate programs or competitive grant opportunities for renewable thermal and electric energy projects for political subdivisions. Any project that receives funding shall be sited in New Hampshire. Funding allocations for political subdivision projects under this subparagraph shall not be subject to the apportionment requirements under paragraph X.

79:3 Renewable Projects Funding. Amend RSA 362-F:10, X and XI to read as follows:

X. The department of energy shall, over each 2-year period commencing July 1, 2010, reasonably balance overall amounts expended, allocated, or obligated from the fund, net of administrative expenditures, between residential and nonresidential sectors. Funds from the renewable energy fund awarded to renewable projects in the residential sector shall be in approximate proportion to the amount of electricity sold at retail to that sector in New Hampshire, and the remaining funds from the renewable energy fund shall be awarded to projects in the nonresidential sector which include commercial and industrial sited renewable energy projects, existing generators, and developers of new commercial-scale renewable generation in New Hampshire, provided no less than 15 percent of the funds shall annually benefit:

(a) Low-moderate income residential customers, including, but not limited to, the financing or leveraging of financing for low-moderate income community solar projects in manufactured housing communities or in multi-family rental housing.

(b) Residents of a public housing authority created pursuant to RSA 203, or a housing project as described in RSA 78-B:2, XXIII, where the electric bills are either paid directly by the residents or by the public housing authority or housing project, provided that at least a majority of the residents benefiting are at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

XI. The department of energy shall issue requests for proposals that provide renewable projects in the nonresidential sector, which include commercial and industrial sited renewable energy projects, existing generators, and developers of new commercial-scale renewable generation in New Hampshire, with opportunities to receive funds from the renewable energy fund established under RSA 362-F:10. The requests for proposals shall provide such opportunities to those renewable energy projects that are not eligible to participate in incentive and rebate programs developed by the department of energy under RSA 362-F:10, V and RSA 362-F:10, VIII. The department of energy shall issue a request for proposals annually and select winning projects in a timely manner.

79:4 Repeals. RSA 362-F:10, V through VII, and IX, relative to a residential small renewable generation incentive payment program, are repealed.

79:5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 14, 2024

Effective Date: June 14, 2024