Senate Bill 218 - RPS Modifications
SB 218-FN as Amended was signed into law June 19, 2012. The law creates a win-win for New Hampshire’s citizens, the electricity suppliers complying with our RPS law, and the small-scale renewable facilities located throughout the state.
The changes in Section 9 of the bill allow small-scale hydro facilities of 1 MW or less that are interconnected with the New Hampshire electric distribution system to qualify for the state’s RPS Program under Class IV (the class for existing small-scale hydro), regardless of whether or not these facilities have fish passages. GSHA estimates that approximately 50 facilities totaling roughly 20 MWs could potentially qualify.
The changes in Section 9 will increase the supply of Class IV RECs, making it easier for suppliers of electricity to purchase these RECs in the marketplace and thus avoid the most expensive form of compliance, Alternative Compliance Payments. The changes also mean that more of the money spent on Class IV RECs will go to small-scale hydro facilities right here in New Hampshire. These locally distributed generation facilities provide many benefits including enhanced local reliability and avoided transmission and distribution costs including line losses.
Click here to open a PDF file that contains the bill's language.
Click here for the New Hampshire PUC application to qualifiy as a Class IV facility in New Hampshire.
The changes in Section 9 of the bill allow small-scale hydro facilities of 1 MW or less that are interconnected with the New Hampshire electric distribution system to qualify for the state’s RPS Program under Class IV (the class for existing small-scale hydro), regardless of whether or not these facilities have fish passages. GSHA estimates that approximately 50 facilities totaling roughly 20 MWs could potentially qualify.
The changes in Section 9 will increase the supply of Class IV RECs, making it easier for suppliers of electricity to purchase these RECs in the marketplace and thus avoid the most expensive form of compliance, Alternative Compliance Payments. The changes also mean that more of the money spent on Class IV RECs will go to small-scale hydro facilities right here in New Hampshire. These locally distributed generation facilities provide many benefits including enhanced local reliability and avoided transmission and distribution costs including line losses.
Click here to open a PDF file that contains the bill's language.
Click here for the New Hampshire PUC application to qualifiy as a Class IV facility in New Hampshire.
