CHAPTER 177

SB 440-FN - FINAL VERSION

02/16/2022 0596s

2022 SESSION

22-3011

12/08

SENATE BILL 440-FN

AN ACT relative to the office of offshore wind industry development.

SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Rep. Cali-Pitts, Rock. 30; Rep. McGhee, Hills. 27; Rep. Wall, Straf. 6

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill directs the office of offshore wind industry development to advise on the development of clean energy resources in the Gulf of Maine and the purchase of power by New Hampshire public utilities from these resources. This bill also requires the office to generate a report relative to the same.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/16/2022 0596s 22-3011

12/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT relative to the office of offshore wind industry development.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

177:1 New Subparagraph; Department of Energy; Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development. Amend RSA 12-P:7-b, II by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following new subparagraph:

(f) Advise the governor, state agencies, the public utilities commission, and the legislature on the development of clean energy resources in the Gulf of Maine and the purchase of power by New Hampshire public utilities from these resources.

177:2 Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development; Report; Clean Energy Resources.

I. The office of offshore wind industry development shall report, after consultation with other state agencies, public utilities, and any relevant stakeholders, on its recommendations regarding the development of clean energy resources in the Gulf of Maine and the purchase of power by New Hampshire public utilities from these resources. The report shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Recommendations on the criteria for evaluating power purchase agreements for procurement of electricity or hydrogen produced by wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. These recommendations shall include criteria for determining whether such contracts: are commercially reasonable and cost effective for electric ratepayers in New Hampshire; provide adequate energy with enhanced electricity distribution reliability; have environmental benefits; and create and foster employment, training, manufacturing, and other economic development in New Hampshire.

(b) Recommendations concerning actions necessary to comply with consistency and mitigation recommendations by the New Hampshire coastal program and other actions to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to wildlife, natural resources, ecosystems, and traditional or existing water-dependent uses, including but not limited to, commercial and recreational fishing and transit lanes and other commercial and recreational maritime activities.

II. The office shall issue its report on or before June 30, 2024. Said report shall be delivered to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chair of the senate energy committee, the chair of the house science, technology and energy committee, and the governor.

177:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 07, 2022

Effective Date: June 07, 2022