State and Local Climate and Energy Program
New Hampshire
Definitions
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Energy Efficiency Actions
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.
Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards
Status: No Activity Identified
Public Benefits 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://aceee.org/energy-efficiency-sector/state-policy/new%20hampshire/201/all/191#Energy Efficiency Program Funding
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
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.
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2008/HB1628.html
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/HB0447.html
- http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=NH01R&state=NH&Curr
entPageID=1&RE=1&EE=0
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.
Public Benefit Funds for Clean Energy Supply
Status: No Activity Identified
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&Curr
entPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1
Power Sector
Advanced Coal Technology
Status: No Activity Identified
CO2 Offset Requirements
Status: No Activity Identified
GHG Performance Standard
Status: No Activity Identified
Power Sector GHG Cap and Trade
Status: Completed
Details: Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to establish a regional cap-and-trade program initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the region. On September 25, 2008, participating states held the first carbon dioxide allowance auction as part of a cap-and-trade program to take effect beginning January 1, 2009. The majority of CO2 allowances issued by each participating state will be distributed through quarterly auctions. The program will begin by capping emissions at current levels in 2009 and will reduce emissions 10% by 2018. On June 11, 2008, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed HB 1434, a bill that authorizes the state to participate in RGGI. The legislation addresses both environmental and economic concerns, and sets up a system for auctioning emission allowances with the goal of improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. New Hampshire proposes to auction 70 percent of its allowances annually until 2011 and 83 percent annually thereafter.
Reporting
GHG Registry
Status: Completed
Details: Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), under which entities in the power sector will be required to report (and reduce) their GHG emissions. RGGI's first compliance period will begin January 1, 2009. Member of The Climate Registry — a collaboration aimed at developing and managing a common GHG emissions reporting system across states, provinces, and tribes. It will provide an accurate, complete, consistent, transparent, and verified set of GHG emissions data from reporting entities, supported by a robust accounting and verification infrastructure. Members released a final General Reporting Protocol in May 2008. The Climate Registry began accepting data in June 2008. In July 1999, Governor Shaheen signed into law the New Hampshire Greenhouse Gas Reduction Registry, which tracks emissions reductions back to 1990 and rewards companies for certain levels of participation.
- http://www.rggi.org
- http://www.theclimateregistry.org
- http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/tps/climate/ghgr.htm
Mandatory GHG Reporting
Status: Completed
Details: Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), under which entities in the power sector will be required to report (and reduce) their GHG emissions. RGGI's first compliance period will begin January 1, 2009. On June 11, 2008, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed HB 1434, a bill that authorizes the state to participate in RGGI. The legislation addresses both environmental and economic concerns, and sets up a system for auctioning emission allowances with the goal of improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2008/HB1434.html
- http://www.rggi.org/
- http://www.rggi.org/docs/program_summary_10_07.pdf
State Planning and Incentive Structures
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.
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—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://128.121.25.104:8080/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=57977
Climate Change Action Plan
Status: Completed
Details: The Climate Change Action Plan Working Group, under the direction of the Climate Change Policy Task Force, completed its final climate acton plan in March 2009. Signatory to the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) Regional Climate Change Action Plan in 2001. Completed first state plan in 2001.
GHG Inventory
Status: Completed
Details: The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) published a regional GHG inventory for the New England states in 2004 with support from EPA. State-specific inventory completed in 1993.
- http://www.nescaum.org/documents/rpt040315ghg.pdf
- http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/tps/climate/action_plan/documents/080118_
skoglund1.pdf
Regional Initiatives
Status: Completed
Details: Member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to establish a regional cap-and-trade program initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the region. The cap-and-trade program will take effect beginning January 1, 2009. The majority of CO2 allowances issued by each participating state will be distributed through quarterly auctions. The program will begin by capping emissions at current levels in 2009 and will reduce emissions 10% by 2018. On June 11, 2008, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed HB 1434, a bill that authorizes the state to participate in RGGI. The legislation addresses both environmental and economic concerns, and sets up a system for auctioning emission allowances with the goal of improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. In 2000, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) adopted resolution 25-9 on global warming, recognizing its potentially harmful impacts on the environment and the economy and the need for a regional approach to address it. In 2001, NEG/ECP released a Climate Action Plan which establishes regional goals and identifies steps to address those aspects of global warming which are within the region's control.
- http://www.rggi.org/
- http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2008/HB1434.html
- http://www.negc.org/main/?do=page&id=39
State Advisory Board
Status: Completed
Details: In December 2007, Governor Lynch issued Executive Order Number 2007-3, which established a Climate Change Policy Task Force and charged the task force with developing a Climate Change Action Plan for the State of New Hampshire. The Executive Order directed the task force to submit the action plan to the Governor by September 1, 2008. In mid-June 2008, the Governor granted the Task Force an extension. The Action Plan is now scheduled to be delivered to the Governor in December 2008.
- http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/tps/climate/action_plan/index.htm
- http://128.121.25.104:8080/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=58044
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
Targets and Caps
Lead by Example Target
Status: No Activity Identified
Statewide GHG Cap
Status: No Activity Identified
Statewide GHG Target
Status: Completed
Details: Signatory to New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Action Plan which calls for the following GHG targets: 1990 emission levels by 2010, 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and further reductions in the long term as needed to prevent a dangerous threat to the climate.
Transportation Sector
GHG Auto Standards
Status: No Activity Identified
Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Status: No Activity Identified