Bill > HB1095

This bill promotes thermal energy efficiency by encouraging the development and use of combined heat and power (CHP) systems, which generate both electricity and useful thermal energy from a single fuel source, thereby increasing overall energy efficiency and reducing emissions. It mandates that CHP systems be considered in the construction of new critical governmental facilities, which are defined as buildings or district energy systems owned by the state or local governments that are continuously occupied, operate at least six thousand hours a year, have a peak electricity demand over five hundred kilowatts, and serve a critical public health or safety function during emergencies. The bill also requires electric utilities with over twenty-five thousand customers to value CHP systems for both their energy and capacity contributions when setting rates and developing integrated resource plans, and encourages them to offer power purchase agreements for CHP systems with a minimum term of fifteen years. Furthermore, it aims to streamline the permitting process for stationary natural gas engines used in CHP systems by establishing a general permit or permit by rule for air contaminant emissions, and requires owners of certain industrial boilers and process heaters to submit information on thermal efficiency opportunities and barriers to implementation.