NEXT STEPS ON SITE EVALUATION COMMITTEE REVIEWS
Governor Maggie Hassan signed Senate Bill 99 into law, setting the stage for the Governor’s Office of Energy and Planning to launch studies to review:
* The statute governing the NH Site Evaluation Committee (RSA 162-H) and
* Recommendations for new rulemaking by the NH SEC to formally create comprehensive criteria for the siting of new energy facilities within the SEC’s jurisdiction.
OEP Director Meredith Hatfield is preparing requests for proposals to hire vendors to assist OEP’s efforts on both studies. The vendor(s) hired will organize and conduct public stakeholder forums where any and all interested groups and individuals will be able to weigh in on both topics.
The goal on the SEC review is for OEP to report back to the Legislature with recommended changes to the SEC authorizing statute by the end of this year, so the 2014 Legislative session can consider any proposal changes to the law. The goal of the siting criteria review is for OEP to report back to the SEC by January 1, 2014 with recommendations for comprehensive siting criteria for all new energy facilities to be incorporated into SEC’s administrative rules.
SB 99 requires the SEC to adopt new rules by January 1, 2015, which include comprehensive criteria for siting new energy facilities. Look to future Forest Society emails for details on how and when to participate in both studies.