House energy panel backs straw poll to extend Reigate plant efficiency deadline

The House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on May 23 took a straw poll supporting a one-year extension in H.319 that would delay the deadline for the Reigate power plant to meet a required 50% efficiency upgrade.

The move came after testimony that the plant cannot meet the current timeline because the equipment specified in its submitted plan is European-made and was financed through European banks that are not extending loans to those vendors. "That is a great question. It puts them in a really difficult position because they're not able to procure the equipment, having to do with the plan that's already been submitted," said Matt McMahon, with MMR, during the committee's discussion.

The proposed amendment covers sections 33 through 35 of H.319 and would move milestones forward by one year and change a key submission deadline to October so the plant can resubmit a plan specifying domestically sourced equipment. Committee members were told the plant has already identified U.S.-based equipment options — described as "new old stock" — that could be used if the extension is granted.

Committee members and witnesses framed the extension as necessary to preserve the plant's commercial arrangement and its jobs. A plant representative told the committee the facility employs about 20 people and last reported approximately $2,000,000 in payroll. The same witness warned the plant could stop operating if the deadlines are not extended: "they would do everything humanly possible to continue to operate," said a witness, but the power purchase agreement would lapse if the submission deadline is missed, potentially forcing the plant off the market.

Witnesses explained two distinct timing risks. One witness said the power purchase agreement would cease to operate on Nov. 1 if the construction-plan resubmission deadline is not met; the power purchase agreement itself runs through 2032. Committee members also heard that the plant must maintain long continuous run times to meet efficiency and capacity metrics, rather than frequently ramping up and down.

Representative Kathleen James, a member of the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee from Manchester, opened and moderated the discussion. She asked members to monitor the bill as it moved in the Senate; committee staff noted H.319 was on the Senate calendar for second reading that day. Several senators and staff were referenced during the discussion, and committee members said they would contact Senate members to urge support for the amendment.

The committee characterized its action as a nonbinding straw poll in support of the amendment; members voted "all in favor" to register that sentiment. The committee did not adopt a formal, binding motion on the bill during the meeting.

Committee members also noted outstanding data requests from Secretary Riley Hughes that could not be delivered because a scheduled testimony was canceled. Staff said any additional technical material from the secretary would be considered over the summer and could be acted on in January if needed.

Next steps for H.319 include the Senate's second reading and any amendments that arise there; if the Senate passes the bill it would return to the House notice calendar. Committee members said they would keep tracking the bill and encourage colleagues in the Senate to consider the one-year extension.