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New Hampshire
State Programs
Related Links
State Planning and Incentive Structures | Energy Efficiency Actions | Energy Supply Actions
State Planning and Incentive Structures
Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency in Public Facilities
Status: Completed
Details: Executive Order 2005-4, issued on July 14, 2005, requires state agencies to reduce energy use by 10% in buildings, in accordance with the ENERGY STAR Challenge. State facility design criteria for all construction and renovation must exceed the state energy code by 20%. Executive Order 2004-7 (October 2004) authorized a committee to develop an energy reduction goal and plan, a procedure for conducting audits of facilities that score between 40 and 60 on the ENERGY STAR benchmarking system, new energy efficiency standards for new construction, and a procedure for commissioning new facilities that ensures adoption of energy-efficient design specifications and equipment operations.
- http://www.nh.gov/governor/orders/documents/Executive_order_2005-4.pdf
- http://www.sos.nh.gov/EXECUTIVE%20ORDERS/Benson2004-7.pdf
Lead By Example—Energy Efficient Appliance and Equipment Purchase Requirements for Public Facilities
Status: Completed
Details: Executive Order 2005-4 (July 14, 2005) requires state agencies to purchase ENERGY STAR equipment.
Lead By Example—Clean Energy Goals for Public Facilities
Status: Proposed
Details: The New Hampshire State Energy Plan (Nov. 2002) recommends that the state consider purchasing a fixed percentage of its power from renewable generation.
Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Goals for Public Fleets
Status: Completed
Details: Executive Order 2005-4 (July 14, 2005) requires every state agency to implement a Clean Fleets program, requiring that all new passenger and light-duty vehicles achieve a highway fuel economy rating of at least 27.5 mpg, and that all new light-duty trucks achieve a highway fuel economy rating of at least 20 mpg, excluding emergency and law enforcement vehicles. State agencies and departments must also implement anti-idling policies.
State and Regional Energy Planning
Status: Completed
Details: In 2005, Governor Lynch issued an executive order on lead-by-example in energy efficiency, calling for the state government to reduce its energy use in state facilities by 10% and created the state energy manager position to oversee its implementation. In 2004, the legislature created the Energy Planning Advisory Board to monitor and assist in implementation of the 10-year energy plan the legislature charged the Governor's Office of Energy and Community Services with developing. The plan included demand projections for electricity and natural gas, adequacy of generation and transmission, and fuel diversity, encouraging energy efficiency in new construction, continuing to support statewide energy efficiency programs, establishing a renewable portfolio standard, and purchasing renewable power for use by the state.
- http://www.nh.gov/oep/programs/energy/StateEnergyPlan.htm
- http://nh.gov/oep/programs/energy/EnergyPublicationsPlansReports.htm
Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (NOX Budget Trading Program)
Status: No Activity Identified
Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (CAIR Budget Trading Program)
Status: No Activity Identified
Energy Efficiency Actions
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards
Status: No Activity Identified
Public Benefit Funds for Energy Efficiency
Status: Completed
Details: New Hampshire's 1996 electric-industry restructuring legislation authorized the creation of a system benefits charge (SBC) to support energy-efficiency programs and energy programs for low-income residents. The efficiency fund, which took effect in 2002, is financed by a non-bypassable charge on electric customers' bills. The surcharge has been set at 1.8 mills per kilowatt-hour ($0.0018/kWh); approximately $19 million is collected annually to support the efficiency fund.
H.B 129, passed in July 2005, stipulates that any utility collecting funds for the PBF must set aside 1/3 of those for school construction and improvements in energy efficiency.
- http://www.nh.gov/oep/programs/energy/resources.htm
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2005/HB0129.html
- http://www.aceee.org/briefs/apr04_03.pdf
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Commercial Programs
Status: Goes Beyond ECPA
Details: The New Hampshire Energy Code is a state code that references the 2006 IECC amended to Climate Zone 6, mandatory statewide; COMcheck can be used to comply.
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Residential Programs
Status: Goes Beyond ECPA
Details: The New Hampshire Energy Code is a mandatory, statewide code that references the 2006 IECC and REScheck can be used to comply with it. The code became active on August 17, 2007.
State Appliance Efficiency Standards
Status: Completed
Details: SB 259, signed by Governor Lynch on July 2, 2008, establishes energy efficiency standards that certain appliances and equipment must meet to be sold or installed in the state, starting in 2009.
Energy Supply Actions
Renewable Portfolio Standards
Status: Completed
Details: On May 11, 2007, Governor John Lynch signed into law HB 873, the Renewable Energy Act, which establishes a renewable energy portfolio standard for the state. The new law requires that utilities acquire renewable energy certificates (RECs) equivalent to 23.8% of retail electricity sold to end-use customers by 2025. Of the 23.8% target, 16.3% is to be derived from sources installed after January 1, 2006, whereas the remainder is to be derived from existing resources. The RPS sets different standards for renewable resources in four categories, or tiers: New Renewbale Energy, New Solar, Existing Biomass/Methane, and Existing Small Hydroelectric.
- http://www.nh.gov/governor/news/2007/051107.html
- http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=NH09R&state=NH&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1
Public Benefit Funds for Clean Energy Supply
Status: No Activity Identified
Output-Based Environmental Regulations
Status: Completed
Details: New Hampshire’s Clean Power Act regulates emissions of CO2, SO2, NOx, and requires a cap to be set for mercury emissions from fossil fuel fired plants owned by the Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH). The act became effective on July 1, 2002 and targets must be met beginning in 2007. The state’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) oversees this legislation. The Clean Power Act works as a “cap and trade” program. Affected units are allowed to purchase emissions credits through a national, regional, or other trading program. The legislation also provides incentives for energy efficiency. Emission allowances are allocated to PSNH for investment in energy efficiency, renewable projects, or other energy saving measures. Allocations are distributed based on electrical output.
Interconnection Standards—Clean Distributed Generation
Status: Proposed
Details: On January 22, 2008, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued Order 24,819 in Docket #06-061, which directed PUC staff and various interested stakeholders to make their recommendations regarding the federal interconnection standard to the PUC no later than February 15, 2008. The PUC held a hearing on this issue on October 10, 2007, but no decision was reached at that time.
- http://www.irecusa.org/uploads/media/February_-_2008_Interconnection_Newsletter.pdf
- http://www.puc.state.nh.us/Regulatory/Orders/2008orders/24819e.pdf
Interconnection Standards—Net Metering
Status: Completed
Details: Statewide net metering for all utility types. New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed H.B. 1628 on May 15, 2008, to provide a financial incentive for small renewable energy systems located on the owner’s property. The bill includes benefits for those who feed electricity into the grid from systems of up to 5 kW.
HB 447, signed by the governor on June 18, 2007, revised the state's laws to raise the limit on eligible systems to 100 kW. New Hampshire's 1998 net metering law requires all utilities selling power in New Hampshire to provide, upon request, net metering to customers who generate a portion of their own electricity using wind, solar or hydroelectric power systems with a capacity of 25 kW or less.