HB 1517-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2022 SESSION

22-2373

12/08

HOUSE BILL 1517-FN

AN ACT creating a pollinator solar scorecard.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hakken-Phillips, Graf. 12; Rep. McWilliams, Merr. 27

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

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ANALYSIS

This bill requires an owner of a ground-mounted solar energy generation site to follow certain site management practices that benefit native vegetation in order to claim beneficial habitat status.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2373

12/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT creating a pollinator solar scorecard.

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

1  New Section; Pollinator Habitat Program.  Amend RSA 362-F by inserting after section 15 the following new section:

362-F:16  Pollinator Habitat Program.

I.  An owner of a ground-mounted solar energy generation site may follow site management practices that:

(a)  Provide native perennial vegetation and foraging habitats beneficial to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators; and

(b)  Reduce storm water runoff and erosion at the solar generation site.

II.  The department of environmental services, in consultation with the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension and the department of energy, may establish a native vegetation habitat and pollinator management plan to be used as technical guidance for owners of ground-mounted solar energy generations ties.  The department of environmental services shall publish any such guidance on their website.

III.  An owner of a solar energy generation site implementing solar site management practices may claim that the site increases the habitat value by providing benefits to game birds, songbirds, pollinators, and small mammals only if the site adheres to guidance set forth by the wildlife habitat and pollinator plan provided by the department or any other game bird, songbird, or pollinator foraging-friendly vegetation standard established by the department.  An owner wishing to make a beneficial habitat claim must make the site's vegetation management plan available to the public.

IV.  The department may issue a certificate of compliance to the owner of a solar site meeting the plan guidelines that the owner may use to promote its participation in the program.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBA

22-2373

Redraft 12/2/21

HB 1517-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT creating a pollinator solar scorecard.

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill allows for the Department of Environmental Services to establish a native vegetation habitat and pollinator management plan to be used as technical guidance for owners of ground mounted commercial solar energy generations. The Department currently does not have staff with the experience to produce such a document and at this time is unable to estimate costs associated with establishing this program, should they choose to.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Environmental Services