New Hampshire’s Gov. Sununu backs package of clean energy proposals

By Sarah Downey | The Center Square

Gov. Chris Sununu has announced his support for three key pieces of legislation that address clean energy needs in New Hampshire, calling them a home run for ratepayers and the environment.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu

“These bills would expand access to net metering, open new opportunities for clean energy development, and allow towns to better control their electric bills,” Sununu said in a news release. “Most of all, these bills protect ratepayers and remove government barriers instead of enacting new ones – something past clean energy-related legislation has not been able to accomplish. We are ushering in a new clean energy era in New Hampshire.”

The measures are:

  • HB1262, relative to the purchase of output of limited electrical energy producers.
  • HB1402, establishing procedures for municipal hosting of customer-generators of electrical energy.
  • HB1481, relative to the net metering cap for customer-generators.

The Republican lawmakers who sponsored the measures, Howard Pearl, Tim Lang, Michael Costable and John Plumer, worked with the governor’s office to draft the legislation.

“After the Governor vetoed certain bills last session, he said he would roll up his sleeves to deliver new energy solutions – and he has,” Pearl said. “Since then, we have come to the table to craft better solutions for the people of New Hampshire. I hope my colleagues in the legislature will join this effort in a truly bipartisan fashion to advance renewable energy in the state.”

Plumer noted the bills address challenges that renewable energy resources have been fighting for years.

“I am excited to work with the Governor on this breakthrough that will help both existing renewable resources and promote responsible development of new resources too,” Plumer added.

“Conservatives have united behind Governor Sununu’s clean energy plan because it focuses on results rather than government handouts to special interests,” said Rep. Jason Osborne, Republican Policy Leader. “These bills are fair to everyone without picking winners and losers in the energy market.”

Image courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture