[{"_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",6611382,"mediaKeyId","2896953-f9aba12629617c96d4b3320dc50fef83","parentId",2896953,"title","Lawmakers hear proposal to direct state DOE to study leaving ISO New England; consumer advocate and DOE weigh costs and governance","audioSeconds",2746,"startMs",2249000,"endMs",4995000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896953-f9aba12629617c96d4b3320dc50fef83&start=2249&end=4995","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896953-f9aba12629617c96d4b3320dc50fef83/thumbnail_2249000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611382/New-Hampshire/Lawmakers-hear-proposal-to-direct-state-DOE-to-study-leaving-ISO-New-England-consumer-advocate-and-DOE-weigh-costs-and-governance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611382-b7ecf0e8aedb4e7d89fff532503feff4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184449&Signature=jt-yW5PMBMGRt~ew~ccomqZ79sJqNRJUYoFpxMrIupxomEmJVNeKn2kAYRu3EDZNBowAxL75zrfatdi2yF~jBy8AzIPYZq5WhkmFW1veKXBZsP4OiiEqCbxgnrOZT4aH2p74iISzs7GGQZp0d6O~v995CcSrCQaVckpMly1-QWXe8ux2x7r9UV5wCJ-fBGIaA70me0x8Kd9YvRNitMa0fOLblymL~NeV0ZVwUdW6NW3n~shF2BC0jDBKDGoIzpIuATnQ8ImASTm-9TjbLPkIu-iGL7AiQWsONx2BalXQp2xdd7q3kXV7snDYpiw0sQCKReMvNM1VQ3c7iwlw08vPWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-04-08T14:43:56.733Z","article","House Bill 690, which would direct the New Hampshire Department of Energy to investigate the costs, benefits and feasibility of withdrawing from ISO New England or otherwise changing the state's participation in regional market structures, drew a full hearing in front of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Testimony ranged from categorical opposition—citing Texas’s 2021 winter failures—to support for a study of ISO governance and cost allocation.

Representative Dr. James Summers (prime sponsor) told the committee the bill would create an investigatory docket to quantify generation, transmission and market costs and to evaluate whether New Hampshire is bearing costs from other states’ policies. \"It looks at the different costs and benefits of being a member of ISO New England,\" Summers said, adding the Department of Energy had signaled it was neutral and willing to investigate if directed.

Several witnesses recommended study but warned about cost and scope. Mark Brown of the Consumer Energy Alliance said conversations about regional market design and cost allocation are ongoing nationwide and that an independent inquiry could be useful. Donald Kreece, the state's consumer advocate, testified in strong support of HB 690, saying the inquiry should examine governance and whether ISO New England serves ratepayers’ interests; Kreece named large transmission and generation companies as stakeholders with outsized influence and urged transparency.

Opponents including Wendy Thomas warned the study is a first step toward a costly and risky withdrawal from ISO New England and cited Texas’s ERCOT experience in 2021 as a cautionary example. Thomas told the committee that the bill’s title and scope suggested withdrawal, and she questioned the fiscal note, saying $200,000 would be insufficient to buy the necessary legal and engineering expertise.

Chris Helms, deputy commissioner of the Department of Energy, told the committee the department is neutral but capable of conducting the investigation if the legislature directs it. Helms said the department expected to procure specialized consultants if required and noted the region is facing roughly $10 billion in transmission investments over the next 7–10 years; New Hampshire would be assigned roughly 10% of those costs under current allocation methods. He and other witnesses discussed how the study’s upfront cost (the fiscal note indicates a consultant cost estimated at about $200,000) might produce information that yields longer‑term savings for ratepayers.

Committee members probed drafting questions, suggested clarifications (including whether to cite RSA 3:65‑37 for the department's investigatory authority) and discussed whether the bill’s questions should be narrowed to avoid a sprawling, expensive engagement. The transcript records no committee vote on HB 690 during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Energy and Natural Resources (04/08/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 690 would direct the New Hampshire Department of Energy to investigate the costs, benefits and feasibility of withdrawing from ISO New England or altering the state's participation in regional wholesale markets; the committee heard competing views on feasibility, costs and governance.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources, Senate , Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",29507,"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},6611386,"Committee hears bill to add 'yard waste' to water‑pollution law to curb lake nutrient runoff",1217,991000,2208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896953-f9aba12629617c96d4b3320dc50fef83&start=991&end=2208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896953-f9aba12629617c96d4b3320dc50fef83/thumbnail_991000.jpg","/articles/6611386/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-add-yard-waste-to-waterpollution-law-to-curb-lake-nutrient-runoff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611386-83235db17afa3995004cddcc8f31200e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184449&Signature=cIWEBU7m9I8uOUtQUw60tHiuzNAdIUwqpC2UfTDQ2237ktprAvgrXrOcgsE1wr5jgvr9dr0pQCowdnogW42saaPReXJt4Ty9HRnPllVZl~dB5dwxEnCaF97QTI8TTHeH-A3b9NFYMyxFm3xZGmtQpJwRQxZkzz8zHuUI40PZMROWA69ah3b0W6sZ8R~5zl99jcN03GtXX8xi6fBlWlhwoKCNuEiNIkz878RF8XYw-bZDvbyqG9YiTpBDoKoWvS4IGmYVT~p2SCEPZK4MZq1DrUrvXRyqmiDF4LDERsk8t18rA77Jm7k9ARdpU0LbQ4iMuogIuUqyTutmBQ7ROLP2rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives, lake associations and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that expressly listing \"yard waste\" in the state water‑pollution statute would help lake associations educate residents and reduce nutrient inputs that can fuel cyanobacteria blooms.

Representative Rung, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the committee that much of the proposal is an educational clarifying change to chapter 45‑A (water pollution and waste disposal). \"One of the most important strategies for mitigating cyanobacteria blooms is to keep nutrients out of lakes,\" Rung said, describing a practice in some lakeside neighborhoods of blowing leaves and yard debris directly into surface waters. Rung said the amendment inserts \"yard waste\" into the chapter’s existing definition of litter so that outreach materials can tell residents explicitly that dumping yard waste is against the law.

Andrea, president of New Hampshire Lakes, said lake associations support the bill and that explicitly naming yard waste would help outreach to residents who do not realize grass clippings and leaves add phosphorus and nitrogen to lakes.

Ted Diers, assistant director of the DES water division, told the committee that DES believes much of the conduct is already covered by the existing statute (which lists \"trees or parts thereof, or similar litter\") but that explicit language could be useful because the current wording may not be obvious to the public. Diers outlined three components of the original bill: (1) explicitly call out yard waste, (2) identify fines, and (3) provide municipalities enforcement authority. He described DES’s typical enforcement approach as primarily educational and said that minor, inadvertent leaffall would generally be handled through outreach rather than penalties.

Committee members raised concerns about mens rea and penalties. Senators questioned why the bill’s language struck the word \"purposely\" in one place while retaining standards such as \"purposely or recklessly\" and using \"knowingly\" in another; witnesses agreed to check legal language because criminal penalties and interpretation depend on those terms. The transcript records that the bill had amendments recommended in the House criminal justice committee and that the sponsor acknowledged DES had proposed technical language.

No committee vote to advance HB 416 was taken during the hearing; the chair closed the hearing and said the committee would not act that day.","Sponsors and lake advocates told the Senate committee that adding 'yard waste' to chapter 45‑A would clarify that leaves, grass clippings and similar debris cannot be dumped into lakes and streams; the Department of Environmental Services said existing law covers the conduct but supported clarification and educational enforcement.",{"_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},6611389,"Senate committee passes ban on PFAS-containing ski, boat and board wax",282,120000,402000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2896953-f9aba12629617c96d4b3320dc50fef83&start=120&end=402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2896953-f9aba12629617c96d4b3320dc50fef83/thumbnail_120000.jpg","/articles/6611389/New-Hampshire/Senate-committee-passes-ban-on-PFAS-containing-ski-boat-and-board-wax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611389-ea2ff4c7c787f01649d8366fc78e8d20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184450&Signature=PLrrS88Wh6dnpW73wPhx7CNGHTIUadsqdGJwx2w5DqzFZjDNGIB6Z1JGp8UXP2ti4Y3g2TyjOxBuJClmHUWupQChrKEnqprx8xUOx~LkrfjVZgVxcaPjwrvIUtuSCa5QSDWsLqE4zhaoCvtTpI5cn4iyyY3atA9UtUj9r1PbznZekEZymazlHFJhhDU8z-umuV7esNv1sdAjmh2-5DzmfUM2x5EFfznpNEL4-YvEtraKTyK4Dcc5gEjw9cyTLJOTguENQNuPJa2UFofwSlQ5B~gyI7O3XnyEOvVzg4ak0r17nkpmKFc1cqTS2L1Ax8dJ4JgeQii63aTB5dpGGsyYRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on a voice vote approved a bill to ban the sale in New Hampshire of ski, boat and board wax containing PFAS following testimony from a Merrimack resident who described local water contamination and the availability of non‑PFAS wax.

Wendy Thomas, who identified herself as a Merrimack resident and a local \"water warrior,\" told the committee that the town has long struggled with PFAS contamination and that the state previously passed a law banning specific consumer products containing PFAS. Thomas said non‑PFAS wax is already sold in New Hampshire and described PFAS entering waterways when wax on skis, snowboards and boats breaks down in ice and water. \"This is not a nuisance chemical. This is a deadly chemical that if you are exposed to it long enough, it will harm you,\" Thomas said.

Committee members asked whether the products are still sold in New Hampshire; Thomas said they are, and gave an example of a skier who had to find a different local shop that carried non‑PFAS wax. Senators on the committee offered few questions and moved the bill forward. After no substantive committee discussion, a motion to pass the bill was made, seconded and approved by voice consent.

The committee record shows the bill was placed on the consent calendar and approved without roll call. The transcript does not show a recorded roll‑call tally by name.

The bill’s sponsors said the measure aims to stop PFAS from entering lakes and water supplies from degraded wax on recreational equipment. The committee did not reopen the bill for additional testimony and moved on to other agenda items.

A copy of the sponsor’s written materials and the department correspondence are included in the hearing file.

The committee’s action advances the measure to the next step in the legislative process; the transcript indicates the committee approved the bill by unanimous voice vote/consent during the hearing.","The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved, by voice consent, a bill to prohibit the sale of ski, boat and board wax containing PFAS after testimony about local contamination and available non‑PFAS alternatives.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers hear proposal to direct state DOE to study leaving ISO New England; consumer advocate and DOE weigh costs and governance

Committee hears bill to add 'yard waste' to water‑pollution law to curb lake nutrient runoff

Senate committee passes ban on PFAS-containing ski, boat and board wax