Relative to the elimination of useful thermal energy from renewable energy classes.
Impact
The implications of HB166 are far-reaching, primarily affecting providers of electricity in New Hampshire. By excluding useful thermal energy sources from the renewable portfolio standards, the bill will likely reduce the diversity of energy sources that providers can count toward meeting their renewable energy requirements. This may place further reliance on other forms of renewable energy that continue to be considered valid under the law. Critics may argue that this change could hinder the transition to a more diversified energy portfolio that includes thermal technologies, which can be crucial in various scenarios, such as heating applications.
Summary
House Bill 166 seeks to amend the current definitions and standards within New Hampshire's renewable energy laws by removing the inclusion of technologies that produce useful thermal energy from the minimum electric renewable portfolio standards. This legislative change is a significant shift in the way renewable energy sources are categorized and measured, particularly focusing on those technologies previously recognized for their thermal outputs. The bill specifies that only certain classes of electricity sources will be classified under state regulations, effectively redefining what constitutes a renewable energy source under state law.
Contention
A notable point of contention surrounding HB166 is its potential impact on the biomass and renewable thermal energy sectors. Stakeholders in these industries may express concerns that removing the recognition of thermal energy technologies undermines existing investments and disincentivizes future projects within this domain. Additionally, advocates for renewable energy innovation may voice apprehensions that the change could throttle advancements in the thermal energy sector, which has been seen as an integral component of comprehensive renewable strategies. As such, this bill raises questions about the balance between advancing renewable energy goals and fostering a diverse range of technologies within that framework.
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.