NH
New Hampshire Senate Bill SB68

New Hampshire 2023 Regular Session

New Hampshire Senate Bill SB68

Introduced
1/12/23  
Refer
1/12/23  
Report Pass
1/25/23  
Engrossed
3/20/23  
Refer
3/20/23  

Caption

Relative to municipal host for purposes of limited electrical energy producers.

Impact

The enactment of SB 68 is expected to have various effects on state and local laws governing electricity generation. By permitting municipal hosts to encompass members from different municipalities, the bill may encourage investment in energy production initiatives that can offset collective electricity usage. This change is anticipated to lead to potential cost savings on electricity for participating political subdivisions, as they may benefit from reduced energy rates through collaborative group efforts. The fiscal impact at the state and local levels is categorized as indeterminable, which could fluctuate based on actual participation rates in net metering programs.

Summary

Senate Bill 68 proposes an important amendment to the Limited Electrical Energy Producers Act by removing the requirement that a municipal host must be located within the same municipality as all group members. This modification aims to facilitate the creation of energy generation facilities by allowing entities from different municipalities, as long as they are within the same utility franchise territory. The updated definition acknowledges that municipal hosts could be owned by either public or private entities, thereby promoting development opportunities in the energy sector.

Contention

Despite its potential benefits, SB 68 has generated discussions around the implications of removing location restrictions for municipal hosts. Supporters argue that it could enhance cooperation and cost savings among municipalities, thus promoting energy efficiency and economic development. On the other hand, critics worry that this legislative change might lead to unintended consequences, such as cost shifts for non-participating municipalities due to variations in electricity costs. There is also ongoing scrutiny regarding the impact of net metering structures and how they may shift costs among competing local governments.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

NH SB259

Relative to the definition of "municipal host" for purposes of limited electrical energy producers.

NH SB69

Relative to allowing certain nonprofits to participate as a customer-generator group hosts under net energy metering.

NH HB1258

Relative to the implementation of the department of energy and relative to the definition of "municipal host" for purposes of limited electrical energy producers.

NH SB370

Allowing the university system and community college system to be municipal host electric customer generators.

NH HB1600

Relative to participation in net energy metering.

NH HB1596

Relative to net energy metering limits for individual and business customers.

NH SB228

Relative to the limitations on community customer generators.

NH SB303

Relative to the use of renewable energy funds by the department of energy.

NH SB106

Relative to the participation of customer generators in net energy metering.

NH HB281

Relative to least cost integrated resource plans of utilities; municipal hosts for purposes of limited electrical energy producers; the cost of compliance with disclosure of electric renewable portfolio standards; repealing the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board; and procedures for energy facility siting by the site evaluation committee.

Similar Bills

NH HB524

Relative to regional greenhouse gas initiative funds.

NH HB418

Relative to eliminating the rebates distributed by the energy efficiency fund.

NH SB56

Relative to payments for restoration of certain jurisdictional resource losses.

NH HB1601

Relative to funding of the NHsaves program

NH HB233

Relative to useful thermal energy under the renewable portfolio standards.

NH HB114

Removing fees and charges for governmental records under the right-to-know law and reinstating potential liability for disclosure of information exempt from disclosure.

NH HB1170

Requiring public benefit and community impact assessments from the department of environmental services.

NH HB1145

Prohibiting the private ownership of landfills.