Committee Summary for Senate Energy and Natural Resources (04/08/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB416 00:16:24.160 - 8:16:01 AM	Public Hearing	prohibiting the intentional disposal of yard waste into the surface waters of the state.	Rung, Rosemarie(D)[CT]2024
HB416 00:22:33.240 - 8:22:10 AM	Executive Session	prohibiting the intentional disposal of yard waste into the surface waters of the state.	Rung, Rosemarie(D)[CT]2024
HB690 00:37:32.720 - 8:37:09 AM	Public Hearing	directing the department of energy to investigate the state's withdrawal from ISO-New England and other strategy decisions that impact ratepayers in relation to New England's environmental policy.	Summers, James(R)[B+]2024

HB416: Representative R Support00:16:24.160 - 8:16:01 AM; Representative R introduced HB416, which aims to prevent the disposal of yard waste into lakes and rivers to mitigate cyanobacteria blooms. The bill has been amended to be included in Chapter 45A of the state laws, which deals with water pollution and waste disposal. The amendment explicitly adds 'yard waste' to the list of prohibited items to be disposed of in waterways, enhancing public awareness and compliance. Representative R emphasized the educational value of the bill and its potential to reduce nutrient pollution in lakes.
HB416: Andrea, President of New Hampshire Lakes Support00:21:01.120 - 8:20:38 AM; Andrea expressed support for HB416, highlighting the importance of explicitly listing yard waste in law to aid lake associations in their outreach efforts. She noted that many people are unaware that disposing grass clippings and other yard waste into lakes is harmful, and this bill would help educate the public and prevent such actions.
HB416: Committee Vote00:22:33.240 - 8:22:10 AM; The committee moved to pass HB416 as amended without further discussion or opposition, indicating unanimous support for the bill.
HB416: Ted Deers, Assistant Director of the Water Division, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Information Only00:22:48.000 - 8:22:25 AM; Ted Deers discussed the Department of Environmental Services' stance on HB416, stating that they did not take a position on the bill. He highlighted that existing laws cover much of what the bill addresses, particularly concerning yard waste disposal. He mentioned the bill's three main actions: specifically calling out yard waste, identifying associated fines, and empowering municipalities to enforce the statute. Deers also touched on the criminal justice implications of the bill, noting its transition to the House for further review. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between minor yard waste disposal and significant environmental damage, suggesting technical corrections to better reflect this differentiation.
HB416: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only00:25:41.120 - 8:25:18 AM; The committee member expressed concerns about the language used in the bill, particularly the term 'intentionally' and its absence in the statute, which instead uses 'purposely', 'recklessly', and 'knowingly'. The member questioned the appropriateness of using 'knowingly' for a felony charge, suggesting it might be a lower standard than intended for such a serious offense. The member proposed changing the language to 'purposely' to align with the statute's hierarchy and requested a review of this change with legal counsel.
HB416: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only00:27:58.480 - 8:27:35 AM; The committee member discussed the impact of the bill on lakefront property owners, particularly those with sloped properties and the use of leaf blowers for maintenance. The member sought assurance that minor yard maintenance would not lead to felony charges or fines, emphasizing the importance of education and neighborly disputes. Ted Deers responded, explaining that DES prioritizes education and handles complaints through dialogue, rarely escalating beyond that stage. He reassured that minor leaf blowing activities are low on their list of environmental concerns and unlikely to result in legal action unless they involve significant and repeated environmental harm.
HB416: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only00:33:47.720 - 8:33:24 AM; The committee member questioned the enforcement authority outlined in the bill, particularly the extension to all peace officers in New Hampshire. They asked whether DES would educate all police officers on handling potential violations or if the bill should specify that enforcement is upon DES's request. Ted Deers clarified that DES did not request this provision but would handle enforcement through community outreach, similar to other statutes. He noted that the authority might only extend to ordering the removal of waste from the lake, not new enforcement powers.
HB690: Representative Dr. James Summers, Rockingham District 20 Support00:37:32.720 - 8:37:09 AM; Representative Dr. James Summers introduced HB690, which aims to investigate the costs and benefits of New Hampshire's membership in ISO New England through an investigatory docket by the Department of Energy. He highlighted the bill's focus on understanding cost shifting due to other states' legislative changes, the power generation and utilization within New Hampshire, and the potential savings for ratepayers. The Department of Energy and the Consumer Advocate supported the investigation, although ISO New England expressed willingness to participate if formally requested by the state.
HB690: Senator Waters Information Only00:39:51.839 - 8:39:28 AM; Senator Waters asked about the core issue of cost shifting, particularly regarding transmission charges, due to other states' increased use of distributed energy resources. Representative Summers confirmed that the bill aims to understand why New Hampshire ratepayers might be paying more and how transmission costs are shared across all states in ISO New England. Senator Waters also raised concerns about the $200,000 cost to ratepayers for the study, questioning its potential benefits. Representative Summers responded that the investigation could lead to legislative changes that might save ratepayers money in the future.
HB690: Senator Pearl Information Only00:43:53.839 - 8:43:30 AM; Senator Pearl inquired whether the House had already included the bill's funding in their budget, to which Representative Summers replied that he was unsure if the finance committee had reviewed it.
HB690: Mark Brown, Consumer Energy Alliance Information Only00:44:43.400 - 8:44:20 AM; Mark Brown, representing Consumer Energy Alliance, stated that they were not taking a position on HB690. He provided context on the national dialogue about energy market performance and the dissatisfaction from both political parties. Brown addressed the transmission charge concerns raised by Senator Waters, clarifying that New Hampshire's lack of investment in behind-the-meter resources does not necessarily result in higher transmission charges. He suggested that the study could be beneficial in understanding the net savings from other states' investments in energy efficiency.
HB690: Wendy Thomas, Town of Merrimack Oppose00:48:15.920 - 8:47:52 AM; Wendy Thomas from Merrimack opposed HB690, arguing that it represents the first step towards a costly and misguided attempt to withdraw New Hampshire from ISO New England. She emphasized that ISO New England ensures a reliable, affordable, and stable power grid, managing electricity flow across six states. Thomas compared the potential withdrawal to Texas, highlighting the risks of isolation, vulnerability during extreme weather, and high electricity costs during crises. She criticized the bill for pretending to offer a neutral study while potentially increasing consumer rates and sacrificing reliability. Thomas mentioned that Connecticut and Maine had already explored withdrawal and found it infeasible. She argued against spending taxpayer dollars on another study, suggesting focus on renewable energy, grid resilience, and market reforms within ISO New England. She also pointed out the high cost of the proposed investigation and the lack of understanding among her constituents.
HB690: Donald Crease, State's Consumer Advocate Support00:56:12.000 - 8:55:49 AM; Donald Crease, the State's Consumer Advocate, expressed strong support for HB690, though for reasons different from the bill's sponsors. He questioned whether ISO New England serves the region's electric customers or the big out-of-state corporations dominating electricity production and transmission. Crease criticized ISO New England's governance, comparing it to the unaccountable technocrat Robert Moses and suggesting it perpetuates the economic interests of legacy owners. He proposed using existing expertise from Connecticut and Maine's studies rather than spending $200,000 on new consultants, as suggested in the fiscal note. Crease doubted that the inquiry would lead to New Hampshire leaving ISO New England but believed it would shed light on the organization's operations and accountability.
HB690: Chris Elms, Deputy Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Energy Information Only01:07:47.039 - 9:07:24 AM; Chris Elms, Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Energy, stated that the department is neutral on HB690 but ready to conduct the investigation if directed. He highlighted the importance of the bill's questions about the regulatory structure of wholesale electric procurement and membership in ISO New England. Elms discussed the potential difficulties and costs of withdrawal but emphasized the need for specific analysis to identify hurdles and opportunities. He pointed out the bill's question about alternative regulatory structures and mentioned the challenges of building infrastructure in New Hampshire. Elms argued that the cost of hiring consultants could be justified by potential long-term savings for ratepayers, referencing past successful consultant engagements. He stressed that any consultants would be hired for targeted economic or engineering analysis not available in-house.
HB690: Chris Elms, Deputy Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Energy Information Only01:13:38.080 - 9:13:15 AM; Chris Elms continued discussing the potential forward movement of the bill, ensuring that the concerns and questions raised by other representatives, specifically about the base in Connecticut and Maine, would be considered in the RFP process. He emphasized that the department would engage with all stakeholders, including ISO New England, utilities, and power generators, and would also consider national perspectives on regional transmission organizations.
HB690: Senator Waters Information Only01:15:05.840 - 9:14:42 AM; Senator Waters raised a concern about the lack of explicit reference to RSA 365:37 in the bill, suggesting its inclusion for clarity on authorization. He also expressed worries about potential increases in energy costs and questioned the allocation of $200,000 for the study, suggesting a possible cap at $100,000 to protect ratepayers. He discussed the vagueness of the study's scope and questioned the language about cost shifting in the bill, suggesting the addition of the word 'unreasonably' before 'shift costs' to align with statutory obligations.

Avard, Kevin(Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Pearl, Howard (V Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Watters, David(D)[CT]2024
Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[CT]2024	McConkey, Mark(R)