December 28, 2012
New Hampshire

Lawmakers want to reshape energy permitting in New Hampshire

By Sam Evans-Brown | New Hampshire Public Radio | December 27, 2012 | nhpr.org

Proposed energy projects are causing a stir among New Hampshire lawmakers. Lawmakers will consider a raft of bills that would change how the state considers and approves such installations.

Grafton Republican Skip Reilly has proposed putting a temporary stop on new transmission or wind-farm projects.

Not every lawmaker has come on so strong. Weare Republican Neal Kurk would like to let every community that can see a proposed energy project vote on whether or not they want it.

But the bill that perhaps has attracted the most buzz is from Republican Senator Bob Odell: he wants the state to redo its energy plan for the next ten years.

Odell: I think we have to recognize New Hampshire is now a net exporter of energy. My legislation will set out the goals, provide a vision for what we want the plan to look like.

Expect to hear about the high cost of electricity in New Hampshire, the coming retirement of some of the state’s aging power plants, and how electricity generation factors into climate change in the debates over all of these bills.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/28/lawmakers-want-to-reshape-energy-permitting-in-new-hampshire/