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Bill > HB710
NH HB710
NH HB710Enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources, and relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities and limitations on community customer generators.
summary
Introduced
01/22/2025
01/22/2025
In Committee
05/14/2025
05/14/2025
Crossed Over
03/24/2025
03/24/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill: I. Defines "advanced nuclear resource" (ANR) and includes ANR options alongside renewable energy sources for utility services. II. Sets limitations and guidelines for investments in distributed electric generation. III. Clarifies the coordinator's duties in nuclear development and regulatory activities. IV. Allows the department of energy or the electric distribution utilities, or both, to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for multi-year agreements for energy, in conjunction with or independent of any attendant environmental attributes from electric energy sources, and coordinate with one or more New England states in issuing this RFP. V. Modifies the scope and capacity limits of community solar projects, including expanding the annual cap for low-moderate income community solar projects from 6 MW to 18 MW. VI. Allows group net metering members to sign agreements with multiple group hosts, as long as their combined allocated load does not exceed their total load. VII. Expands the definition of "political subdivision" to include public housing authorities and explains eligibility for participation in group net metering.
AI Summary
This bill addresses several key aspects of electric utility services and renewable energy in New Hampshire, with a primary focus on expanding energy options and reducing electricity costs. The bill defines "advanced nuclear resources" (ANRs) as next-generation nuclear technologies including small modular reactors with generating capacities between 0-300 megawatts, and allows electric distribution utilities to develop and issue requests for proposals for multi-year energy agreements. The legislation extends the deadline for these proposals from 2025 to 2040 and permits utilities to procure up to 3 million megawatt hours annually, with advanced nuclear resources allowed to procure up to 2 million megawatt hours. Additionally, the bill modifies net metering regulations by increasing the capacity threshold for simplified metering from 100 to 500 kilowatts, expands the annual cap for low-moderate income community solar projects from 6 to 18 megawatts, and broadens the definition of "political subdivision" to include public housing authorities. The bill's underlying motivation is to address New Hampshire's high electricity costs, market volatility, and the need for diverse, reliable, and long-term energy sources, with a particular emphasis on supporting innovative nuclear technologies and community-based solar projects.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry
Sponsors (9)
Michael Vose (R)*,
Keith Ammon (R),
Lex Berezhny (R),
J.D. Bernardy (R),
Tim Lang (R),
Donald McFarlane (R),
Jeanine Notter (R),
Howard Pearl (R),
David Watters (D),
Last Action
Conference Committee Report: Not Filed House Journal 17 (on 07/08/2025)
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