SB 46 – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/09/11 0517s
2011 SESSION
06/09
SENATE BILL 46
AN ACT extending and revising the commission to develop a plan for the expansion of transmission capacity in the north country.
SPONSORS: Sen. Gallus, Dist 1; Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. Remick, Coos 2; Rep. H. Richardson, Coos 2
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
This bill extends the term of and revises the commission to develop a plan for the expansion of transmission capacity in the north country.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/09/11 0517s
11-0982
06/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven
AN ACT extending and revising the commission to develop a plan for the expansion of transmission capacity in the north country.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Membership of the Commission. Amend 2008, 348:3, I and II, as amended by 2009, 248:2, and 248:3 to read as follows:
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) [Two members] One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) [Two members] One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The director of the office of energy and planning, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development, or designee.
(e) A commissioner of the public utilities commission, or designee.
(f) [The governor, or designee.
(g)] Three representatives of the north country, appointed by the governor and council.
[(h)] (g) The chairperson or designee of the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board established pursuant to RSA 125-O:5-a.
II. The commission [shall] may include as nonvoting participants the following:
(a) Representatives of proposed New Hampshire renewable generation projects which either have active applications in the ISO-NE Generator Interconnection Study Queue or are subject to New Hampshire jurisdictional interconnection administration, one member appointed by each U.S. Senator [Judd Gregg, one member appointed by U.S. Senator John Sununu] representing New Hampshire, and one member appointed by each U.S. Congressman [Paul Hodes, and one member appointed by U.S. Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter] representing New Hampshire.
(b) A representative of the unregulated energy supply industry, appointed by that industry.
(c) [A representative of the (FERC) Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner or an individual with expertise in the area of federal electricity transmission regulation, appointed by that commission.
(d)] A representative of Public Service of New Hampshire, appointed by that organization.
[(e)] (d) A representative of National Grid Group, appointed by that organization.
[(f)] (e) A representative from New England Power Generators Association, appointed by the association.
[(g)] (f) A representative of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, appointed by the association.
2 Duties of the Commissioner. 2008:348:4, I as amended by 2009, 248:4 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
I. The commission shall:
(a) Coordinate and oversee efforts to upgrade the electric transmission system in the north country consistent with the findings contained in 2008, 348:1.
(b) Provided federal funds are available, retain a consultant to assist in developing an interim plan for the upgrade of the Coos county transmission loop no later than December 1, 2011, or such other date approved by the transmission commission. A 5-member subcommittee composed of the chairperson of the transmission commission, the chairperson or designee of the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board established pursuant to RSA 125-0:5-a, the 3 representatives of the north country serving on the transmission commission, and such other members as may be designated by the chairperson, shall have the authority, with the approval of the transmission commission, to retain and oversee the work of the consultant. The consultant’s responsibilities shall include:
(1) Working with developers of proposed New Hampshire renewable generation projects which either have active applications in the ISO-NE Generator Interconnection Study Queue as of the effective date of this act or are subject to New Hampshire jurisdictional interconnection administration, electric transmission companies, the consumer advocate, the public utilities commission, this subcommittee, the congressional delegation, and state officials.
(2) Developing the framework for a proposal for the upgrade of the transmission system in the north country for filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that fairly balances the costs and benefits of the upgrade between developers and ratepayers. “Community benefits” shall be included as part of deliberation and as part of the final framework.
(3) Meeting periodically with the subcommittee of the transmission commission established under this subparagraph and the full transmission commission to report on the progress of the development of the proposal and taking direction from the commission.
3 Amend RSA 2008, 348:5 to read as follows:
348:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this act. [Six] Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The commission shall meet monthly to receive updates from the public utilities commission on the progress that is being made and to provide input to the public utilities commission with regard to achieving the necessary transmission capacity expansion in a timely fashion.
4 Report. Amend 2008, 348:6 as amended by 2009, 248:6 to read as follows:
2008, 348:6 Report. The transmission commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library in the form of an interim report on or before December 1, [2008 2009 and a final report on or before December 1, 2010] 2011. The commission’s [final] report shall include a detailed plan of action to accomplish an upgrade of an electric transmission line in Coos county, which is capable of transmitting electrical power generated in Coos county from renewable energy sources in New Hampshire to the electrical power market.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.