[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6632545,"mediaKeyId","2672974-c21e16efbdc66adf16541a3943dc4087","parentId",2672974,"title","NH committee hears sharp debate over bill to rebate Renewable Energy Fund to ratepayers","audioSeconds",4509,"startMs",331000,"endMs",4840000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672974-c21e16efbdc66adf16541a3943dc4087&start=331&end=4840","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672974-c21e16efbdc66adf16541a3943dc4087/thumbnail_331000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632545/New-Hampshire/NH-committee-hears-sharp-debate-over-bill-to-rebate-Renewable-Energy-Fund-to-ratepayers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632545-f3a23b8a506b2c56a8384b3d9edf76bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192271&Signature=CDe2CFooxcAzQ5H1Z7HTWmTYu6p6LFndMydL3BtfbmdExKFRcgzpOXnUhL~1S0hh2ywM9DasWJa7~kxkGZGHwa8fmy9Sr2pqFOzXLZL2Dv2YKVQxjX7dc6fshoPOIlzowtcGS42VDc~381RNrwBG-~yU~tawS1qPEVX~m3GPLN7wyq3RHJlAwGLw19wzfp~n4Cl1MHzjkUpp6oVe9drKSniRQC96~fotx0Q1vJxiwfuyku8zuw~V~uMbTkMsSPIQYueP2bGkfQ9sfZRTvklEV2YoJzWOHRC7zJe4Eplx6MxuxZL4VB7LDWESOUvfI65-lviOAWDj3jAX0TMfKn5Zag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-18T18:01:39.34Z","article","Members of the New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee heard hours of testimony March 5 on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money in the state's Renewable Energy Fund (REF) to electric ratepayers rather than use it for rebates and grants for renewable-energy projects. Sponsor Representative Jason Nader said the change would return money to consumers.

\"We need relief from energy costs now,\" Representative Nader told the committee, arguing the REF balance could be rebated and that \"the money is just sitting there ... it's just piling up. We might as well give it back.\" He told lawmakers rebates could range \"between 2.5 and $7,300,000 a year,\" a figure he and others repeated under questioning.

Supporters framed the bill as ratepayer relief. Opponents — including Department of Energy staff, renewable-energy advocates, municipal and timber-sector representatives, and several members of the Energy and environmental community — urged the committee to leave the program in place or to clarify how any rebate would work. Meg Stone, legislative liaison for the New Hampshire Department of Energy, said the bill as written is ambiguous and could contradict its stated purpose.

\"From the new language in bold, it appears the intention is to have the department still run incentive programs, but the struck out language prevents the department from running any such programs,\" Stone said. She warned the bill does not clearly define what the sponsor calls \"excess\" funds and noted the REF is funded by alternative compliance payments (ACPs) and interest, which \"fluctuate from year to year.\" The department told the committee it needs clearer language to know whether it would be allowed to continue grants and rebates under the proposal.

Committee members and witnesses pressed several practical questions: how a rebate would be calculated, whether commercial customers were included among the roughly 540,000 electric accounts cited in some testimony, and what the fiscal notes omit. Representative Kat McGee, ranking member on the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, told the panel she computed a 16-year average of REF inputs and concluded the per-customer effect would be small.

\"If you divide that by 540,000 electric customers, and then divide it again by 12, it comes to less than $10 a year per customer,\" McGee said, urging the committee to consider the fund's multiplier effect: she said REF grants historically leveraged more private investment than state spending alone.

Witnesses who administer or rely on REF grants described a different ledger. Sam Evans Brown, executive director of Clean Energy New Hampshire, said the program helps municipalities and schools pay for projects that lower local energy costs and that the fiscal note does not account for the savings those projects produce.

\"When you rebate the funds from the Renewable Energy Fund as opposed to using them for their intended purpose, you break that feedback loop,\" Evans Brown said, describing how grants can increase renewable energy credit (REC) supply and reduce future ACPs.

Multiple trade groups and wood/biomass industry witnesses warned the proposal would harm local economic activity. Jason Stock of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association and Charlie Niebling, a professional forester, told the committee REF money supports wood-heating and biomass projects that create local demand for low-grade timber and support sawmills and schools.

Environmental and clean-energy groups including Conservation Law Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and Granite State Hydropower Association urged the committee to vote ITL (inexpedient to legislate). They pointed to the DOE's recent REF report, which shows grant awards that proponents say have leveraged private investment and created jobs for electricians, plumbers and other trades.

Committee members pressed staff and witnesses for numbers. The DOE and several witnesses flagged internal inconsistencies in submitted reports: McGee said the REF had about $10 million on hand in recent months and that HB 2 (an unrelated section the legislature considered) had swept $10 million from REF into the general fund for the current year. Committee members also noted the DOE fiscal note estimated modest state savings, while witnesses described larger, long-term benefits of keeping funding for grant programs.

The hearing produced no committee vote; committee leadership said Ways and Means must now weigh the fiscal trade-offs, the legal status of the dedicated fund and the bill's ambiguous language before any recommendation. The public hearing on HB 224 was closed after a final round of testimony.

Why it matters: The Renewable Energy Fund finances rebates and competitive grants that the Department of Energy and multiple witnesses said have been used for municipal, school and private renewable projects. Proponents of HB 224 say returning REF money to ratepayers will provide immediate but modest bill relief; opponents say refunding the funds would undercut a program that has leveraged private investment and reduced long-term energy costs for communities.

What's next: Committee staff and the Department of Energy said they need clearer definitions in bill text about \"excess\" funds and what counts as incentive payments. Lawmakers also asked for more precise fiscal notes and broken-out impact estimates for municipal and commercial customers; committee action has not been scheduled.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Ways and Means (03/18/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the New Hampshire House Ways and Means Committee heard hours of testimony March 5 on House Bill 224, which would redirect most money in the state's Renewable Energy Fund (REF) to electric ratepayers rather than use it for rebates and grants for renewable-energy projects.","taxTitle","Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17769,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632536,"Ways and Means retains video lottery bill for further work, votes 20-0",757,12891000,13648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672974-c21e16efbdc66adf16541a3943dc4087&start=12891&end=13648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672974-c21e16efbdc66adf16541a3943dc4087/thumbnail_12891000.jpg","/articles/6632536/New-Hampshire/Ways-and-Means-retains-video-lottery-bill-for-further-work-votes-20-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632536-a815da5fcd41a00d79873adca67fab20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192271&Signature=g4Gf-UZw8Shij-lhPPY37mr66vKlFkmhV1g0etV16c9J2FXJosfzzxWiYxDIy72cCQaiKhEWDpV38N9YLsPbupxq3b4GFquztWCb6NzHu9m42NGZ5FnL8VHYYAMCUfIxdDmmvaPaHfkAyEpveNLBoqL8la8t77XBZS~gLViD5~YZ7MvFFvjX2SVCGd2AIJTF3fax0ea-7oBO7aBRD76azi7r7KgkIg~wOPBni4dfoiojfZBoUFJu4Bj~d67yp9nhrILrI7SBuAczEk4bCVVabavPUm0vBrYhOzdpdWHh-lcAgwrL6dhxQlbFk9BlNlsVzdiLHMGk4UG8uXtibxLMnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways and Means Committee voted on an executive-session motion March 5 to retain House Bill 728, a proposal to authorize video lottery terminals at charity gaming facilities and to repeal historic-horse-racing licensing. Representative Bill Ullery moved to retain the bill and Representative Robert Ors seconded the motion.

Ullery explained the rationale for retention: \"By retaining this bill at this point, it gives the house a bill that we can do in to, zap in at the beginning of next year if we decide we want to disagree with what happens over the next couple of months,\" he said, arguing that retention would allow additional discussions with the Finance Committee on allocation percentages and problem-gaming planning.

After discussion, the committee recorded a roll-call vote of 20 in favor, 0 opposed; the clerk reported the names and the tally on the record. Committee members said retaining the bill will allow negotiators and staff to refine the allocation structure and to consider an amendment that redirects certain state shares to the Education Trust Fund rather than other statutory allocations.

Why it matters: Retaining HB 728 keeps the measure active in Ways and Means and preserves options to amend percentage allocations and problem-gaming provisions before the House takes a final position. Several committee members said they plan to meet with Finance Committee counterparts and stakeholders to finalize revenue and allocation assumptions.

What's next: The bill was retained in committee; proponents and opponents will have time to continue discussions with Finance and leadership on allocations and problem-gaming programs before any house-floor action.","The committee voted 20-0 to retain House Bill 728 (authorizing video lottery terminals at charity gaming facilities), giving the House additional time to work on a problem-gaming plan and funding allocations tied to education and other priorities.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632540,"Providers and insurers oppose bill to abolish New Hampshire Vaccine Association; sponsors say federal rules could replace role",1663,4970000,6633000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672974-c21e16efbdc66adf16541a3943dc4087&start=4970&end=6633","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672974-c21e16efbdc66adf16541a3943dc4087/thumbnail_4970000.jpg","/articles/6632540/New-Hampshire/Providers-and-insurers-oppose-bill-to-abolish-New-Hampshire-Vaccine-Association-sponsors-say-federal-rules-could-replace-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632540-1f5b4e069fbbfbaa16b766fedf9ecb34/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192271&Signature=EXQSDimeBLxskgtRP7HqTO2ghYXPy6VceTzKVAvS4ODY0EtPxJ6ij5j5a3Y9CCe6IAS~M8Ma8AEvwSu4GH4Ei-ZRF8cTJj8RywlpgRX07lC9eTkTI4EhO4R1a4ILl2cL8-5V-bXUY-R2Oe7ZrBwSjavwlz5VPdVlXZ3Sk8TcmQSZAzcs3A-HcQ~CpN2CAOoN~r9ku3FfbThiIFAZDzpwEC~5u-68XU9XOB7D9x3nsTAbPzI7yu5fZHLQDxgrfHF9X2jy3cG5hw4A0IwOu-ItSrOjJpkNA6eux8BxRMAnGQgGhd1jtwc0JPG4pdN39CbfCgcYzysxjYPcMYNF5kdeeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways and Means Committee heard sharply divided testimony March 5 on House Bill 524, a proposal to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA) and change how vaccines for commercially insured children are purchased and paid for.

Laura Condon, who told the committee she was appointed to the NHVA board and served five years, urged repeal. \"I do not believe that DHHS should be in the business of buying and selling vaccines for commercially insured children,\" she said, arguing that private purchasing would be cheaper and more efficient.

But dozens of providers and insurers said removing the association would raise costs for practices and families, increase administrative burdens and, in some cases, force small practices to stop offering vaccines. Patrick Miller, executive director of the New Hampshire Vaccine Association, described the association's role and its finances.

\"The New Hampshire Vaccine Association is an independent not for profit 501(c)(3) voluntary corporation ... to ensure stable and equitable contributions from all health insurers and third party administrators,\" Miller testified. He told lawmakers the state purchases vaccines using a federal discount program only available to governmental entities, and the NHVA's collections allow the state to provide those discounted vaccines to providers for all children. \"Our administrative costs are less than 1% and they're borne 100% by the payers, not the state,\" he added.

Insurers including Harvard Pilgrim, Anthem and Centene told the committee the association helps keep premiums lower by pooling purchasing and avoiding higher commercial prices for vaccine doses. Harvard Pilgrim's representative said vaccines bought through the NHVA are roughly 30% cheaper than commercially purchased doses and warned that higher provider acquisition costs would translate into higher claims and ultimately higher premiums.

Physicians and practice owners described the immediate cash-flow and operational challenges of a switch. Several pediatricians said they do not have the capital to buy months of vaccine inventory in advance and that private purchases would require new staffing, new billing negotiations with dozens of payers and extra refrigeration and inventory management.

Concord pediatrician Dr. Christine Snow said her small, independent practice faced a $26,000 increase on a single monthly order if it had to buy at commercial prices. She and other clinicians said the short timetable in the bill (60 days after enactment for some changes) would be unworkable.

Department of Health and Human Services officials told the committee they are opposed as well. Bureau chief Colleen Smith and legislative liaison Abby Rogers said HB 524 would upend a long-standing public-private purchasing partnership and could increase state costs in a public-health emergency because the state would lack an appropriation mechanism to purchase vaccines for insured children on short notice.

The committee heard direct, practical examples: a pediatric practice owner said an older single-doctor office could face a six-figure upfront bill to stock routine childhood vaccines, a change that could reduce access in rural areas where pharmacies do not provide pediatric shots. Other witnesses noted that the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and state immunization grants would continue to cover uninsured and Medicaid children; the association facilitates using the VFC buying power to supply providers for all children.

Opponents urged the committee to vote ITL (inexpedient to legislate). Supporters said a private-market approach would restore competition and reduce perceived government overreach. The committee took testimony from more than 40 speakers and did not vote during the hearing.

Why it matters: The NHVA funds vaccine purchases that are delivered to providers at a federal government discount that, witnesses said, is not available to private purchasers. Testimony from pediatricians, nurse practitioners and pharmacy advocates focused on access and cash-flow implications for small practices and families; insurers highlighted premium effects.

What's next: The Ways and Means Committee closed public testimony and has not scheduled action. Committee staff and witnesses said they need more detailed fiscal and operational modeling: how many providers would need help financing upfront inventory, how quickly insurers would reimburse, and whether the VFC and state grant mechanisms would require additional state appropriations if the association were dissolved.

","More than two dozen medical providers, insurers and public-health officials told the House Ways and Means Committee that House Bill 524, which would dissolve the New Hampshire Vaccine Association, would raise costs and disrupt vaccine access for families. A supporter said the association duplicates private purchasing and should be repealed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

NH committee hears sharp debate over bill to rebate Renewable Energy Fund to ratepayers

Ways and Means retains video lottery bill for further work, votes 20-0

Providers and insurers oppose bill to abolish New Hampshire Vaccine Association; sponsors say federal rules could replace role