Advocates appeal to Lang to protect renewable energy measures

Sen. Tim Lang of District 2 met with local citizens engaged in renewable energy initiatives at Laconia Public Library on Monday afternoon. The roundtable discussed two bills, HB 219 and HB 224, which will be in front of the Senate Finance Committee on which Lang serves. Attendees included Wharton Sinkler of the Sandwich Energy Committee, Evan Dube and Kevin Corbett from ReWild Renewables, Paul Blemis of Air Cleaners Inc., Campton School Board Vice Chair Kelly Wieser, Lena Nirk from the Sierra Club, James Olsen of Gilford Community Power, and two representatives from the NH Climate Campaign, Forrest Rapier and Blake Ramsey. HB 219 intends to phase out the minimum electric renewable portfolio standard, a policy used to help build renewable energy initiatives. HB 224 would require the Department of Energy to rebate all funds more than administrative costs and incentive payments to all electric ratepayers. Rapier advocated against these bills, saying they will eliminate funding for renewable energy, and ratepayers will only receive about half of $0.01 back in taxes. Lang intends to propose an amendment to change the language to keep money in the Renewable Energy Fund. The proposed budget from the House will also take out uncommitted funds from the REF for the next two years. Lang said he's facing a tough decision choosing which budget cuts the committee should restore, like Medicaid. Money from the REF is used to support the Campton School District, which received $200,000 in fiscal year 2021 to construct wood chip furnaces to increase energy efficiency. Participants in the roundtable voiced support for SB 106, a bill Lang sponsored that expanded net metering in the industrial sector.