Legislation: Bills to follow in Green 2019
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PUBLIC HEARING
Wednesday, January 30th, ...
January 30, 2019
HB 735 - Carbon Pricing
PUBLIC HEARING
Wednesday, January 30th, 1:30 pm, Room 304
NH Legislative Office Building
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SAY YES TO PUTTING A PRICE ON CARBON IN NH!
KEY POINTS
• It ensures that the required emission reductions will take place to keep carbon emitters within their pre-allocated carbon budget or pay for carbon credits.
• A price on carbon helps shift the burden for damage from greenhouse gas emissions back to those who are responsible for it and who can reduce emissions.
• A cap-and-trade system – caps the total level of greenhouse gas emissions and lowers the cap over time. Companies are allowed a limited, and falling, number of emissions permits. Those industries with low emissions are able to sell their extra allowances to larger emitters. By creating supply and demand for emissions allowances, an ETS establishes a market price for greenhouse gas emissions.
• A carbon tax directly sets a price on carbon by defining a tax rate on greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon content of fossil fuels. It is different from an ETS in that the emission reduction outcome of a carbon tax is not pre-defined but the carbon price is.
• NHDES and the State of New Hampshire are participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) with other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. RGGI is a regional plan to implement a flexible, market-based program to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – a major cause of global warming – from power plants in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. New Hampshire and nine other states have adopted laws and/or regulations to establish a framework for implementing RGGI in their respective states.
NOTE
When you write to the senators sponsoring this bill, please thank them for their support of a carbon fee, let them know you're an ECHO Action member and ask them to rescind their support of the Granite Bridge Pipeline and LNG tank.
WHAT IS A CARBON FEE?
Want to learn more about the carbon fee & dividend law Citizens Climate Lobby is working to achieve nationwide? (and globally!)
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/carbon-fee-and-dividend/
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http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/bill_status.aspx?lsr=765&sy=2019&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2019&txtbillnumber=HB735
https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/HB735/2019
BILL SPONSORS
Rep. Lee Oxenham
Sen. Martha Fuller Clark
Sen. David Watters
EMAIL the Science, Technology & Energy Committee plus the bill sponsors
• Copy and paste this list into your email and send!
Lee.Oxenham@leg.state.nh.us, david.watters@leg.state.nh.us, Martha.FullerClark@leg.state.nh.us, Bob.Backus@leg.state.nh.us, Howard.Moffett@leg.state.nh.us, Lee.Oxenham@leg.state.nh.us, cali0917@aol.com, john.mann@leg.state.nh.us, staterep27@myfairpoint.net, KVincentNHrep@comcast.net, Chris.Balch@leg.state.nh.us, Kat.McGhee@leg.state.nh.us, Rebecca.McWilliams@leg.state.nh.us, George.Saunderson@leg.state.nh.us, Ken.Wells@leg.state.nh.us, harringt@metrocast.net, jeanine.notter@leg.state.nh.us, glenaldrich@gmail.com, doug.thomasnh@gmail.com, merner08@aol.com, thud007@hotmail.com, james.webb@leg.state.nh.us, Fred.Plett@leg.state.nh.us
January 30, 2019
HJR2 - Exclude NH from offshore oil & gas drilling
HJR 2 - EXCLUDE OFFSHORE DRILLING FROM THE NH COAST
PUBLIC HEARING
Rescheduled to Wednesday, February 6th, 1 pm
Legislative Office Building, Room 206
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HEARING
• Attend the hearing if possible.
• Send an email to the State/Federal Relations and Veteran Affairs Committee in support of this bill.
KEY POINTS
• Workers, water, sea life, the fishing industry and coastal economies are at risk of blowouts, explosions, and disastrous spills
• Burning oil & gas (fossil fuels) contributes to increased CO2 levels that are causing climate change, warming our oceans, raising sea levels, threatening our communities and coasts and intensify dangerous extreme weather incidents.
EMAIL
Patricia.Klee@leg.state.nh.us, Linda.Massimilla@leg.state.nh.us, Amanda.Bouldin@leg.state.nh.us, Latha.Mangipudi@leg.state.nh.us, Joyce.Fulweiler@leg.state.nh.us, Josh.Adjutant@leg.state.nh.us, Ryan.Buchanan@leg.state.nh.us, Fred.Davis@leg.state.nh.us, Israel.Piedra@leg.state.nh.us, Craig.Thompson@leg.state.nh.us, Anne.Warner@leg.state.nh.us, Al.Baldasaro@leg.state.nh.us, Qtipnh@aol.com, armlaw@hotmail.com, pkatsakiores@comcast.net, skip@lavalleys.com, richard.lascelles@leg.state.nh.us, Reed.Panasiti@leg.state.nh.us, Joel.Desilets@leg.state.nh.us, JP.Marzullo@leg.state.nh.us
https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committeedetails.aspx?id=16
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A RESOLUTION recommending and requesting the President of the United States and the United States Congress to exclude the state of New Hampshire from offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Janvrin, Rock. 37; Rep. Khan, Rock. 20; Rep. Loughman, Rock. 21; Rep. Bushway, Rock. 21; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 22; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Rep. Le, Rock. 31; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
Whereas, the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program includes federal waters off the coast of New Hampshire; and
Whereas, over 13,630 jobs and more than $1.4 billion of the New Hampshire's gross domestic product depend on clean, oil-free water and beaches and abundant fish and wildlife; and
Whereas, over 53 percent of the state's ocean-derived income stems from our tourism and recreation sector, contributing over $283,000,000 to the state's economy, and this economic sector benefits from and depends upon a healthy ocean and coast; and
Whereas, offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities place coastal communities at economic and ecological risk from oil spills and the pollution brought by routine drilling operations and onshore industrialization, threatening the quality of life and livelihoods of the state's citizens and important industries, such as tourism and recreation and commercial and recreational fishing, and small businesses that rely on a clean and healthy ocean and beaches; and
Whereas, the state of New Hampshire recognizes that its communities and industries depend on a healthy coastal environment for the benefit of current and future residents, property owners and visitors; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
That the general court of the state of New Hampshire believes that offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration risks our economic and ecological health and therefore opposes any plan or legislation that encourages oil and gas exploration offshore that would negatively affect the citizens of the state; and
That the general court of the state of New Hampshire respectfully requests that the President of the United States and the United States Congress direct the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to exclude the state and its offshore areas from the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program; and
That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, to National Oil and Gas Leasing Program Development and Coordination Branch Chief Kelly Hammerle, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation.
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/Results.aspx?q=1&txtbillnumber=HJR%202&txtsessionyear=2019
January 23, 2019
HB 404 - Local Control for Liquefied Natural Gas storage facility sitings
PUBLIC HEARING
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2:00 pm
Legislative Office Building
AN ACT relative to a local option for liquefied natural gas storage facility sitings.
SPONSORS: Rep. Vallone, Rock. 9; Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. McConnell, Rock. 11; Rep. DiLorenzo, Rock. 17; Rep. Ward, Rock. 28; Rep. McGhee, Hills. 40; Rep. Andrew Bouldin, Hills. 12; Rep. Muscatel, Graf. 12; Sen. Dietsch, Dist 9; Sen. Levesque, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/HB404/2019
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This bill permits a town to vote on whether or not to site a liquified natural gas storage facility in the town.
January 22, 2019
HB 365 - Net Metering
HB 365
Relative to net energy metering limits for customer generators.
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http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/bill_status.aspx?lsr=90&sy=2019&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2019&txtbillnumber=HB365
https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/HB365/2019
January 21, 2019
H 38 - Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
H-38 (new number TBA)
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Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
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1. Maintains allocation of RGGI funds to school districts for energy efficiency projects.
2. Repeals a rebate to retail electric ratepayers. (This was under three dollars per household per year)
3. Requires the public utilities commission and the department of environmental services to submit a report with recommendations for allocations of RGGI funds
January 21, 2019
HB 558 - Restricting Distribution of Plastic Straws
HB558
Session Year: 2019
Title: restricting the distribution of plastic straws.
General Status: HOUSE
House Status: IN COMMITTEE
Senate Status: Current/Last Committee: HOUSE H43
https://www.billtrack50.com/BillDetail/1016848
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Straw use is greater than 500 million every day. They contribute to plastic pollution in forests, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Straws are not recyclable. This is not a ban, but requires straws to be requested, and requires the posting of signs explaining why they must be requested.
January 21, 2019
HB 560 - Single Use Carryout Bags
HB560
Session Year: 2019
Title: relative to single-use carryout bags.
General Status: HOUSE
House Status: IN COMMITTEE
Senate Status: Current/Last Committee: HOUSE H43
https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB560/id/1729774
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Single use plastic bags contribute to the 1.5 Million pounds of trash entering the ocean every hour.
January 21, 2019
SB 13 - Net Metering
SB13
Session Year: 2019
Title: relative to limited electrical energy producers and net energy metering.
General Status: SENATE
House Status: Senate Status: IN COMMITTEE
Current/Last Committee: SENATE S38
https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/SB13/2019
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The net metering cap means NH municipalities cannot install wind, hydro or solar to power our own municipal buildings and save taxpayers millions of dollars during the lifetime of the installation. Solar is the #1 fastest growing segment of the energy industry, providing well-paid job growth in New England.
January 21, 2019
SB 122 - Energy Efficiency Fund
SB122
Session Year: 2019
Title: relative to expenditures from the energy efficiency fund.
General Status: SENATE
House Status:
Senate Status: IN COMMITTEE
Current/Last Committee: SENATE S38
https://legiscan.com/MO/research/SB122/2019
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The Energy Efficiency Fund currently rebates the corporate auction proceeds of $10.7 million to ratepayers - comes to about $2 per year per ratepayer. Using the funds as intended would improve energy efficiency, provide jobs, add comfort to people's homes. This is a VERY wise investment - no site studies are required, no additional energy must be produced, emissions are reduced, NH's share of consumption and therefore regional rate costs go down, saving MORE than $2 per ratepayer/year.
January 21, 2019
SB 123 - Lost and Unaccounted for Gas [leaking fracked gas pipelines]
SB123
Session Year: 2019
Title: relative to lost and unaccounted for gas, and relative to electric distribution companies investment in natural gas operations.
General Status: SENATE
House Status:
Senate Status: IN COMMITTEE
Current/Last Committee: SENATE S38
https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/SB123/2019
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The unaccounted for/leaking natural gas is 86x more potent a greenhouse gas than CO2, and is currently charged off, without accounting, to customers.