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Lawmakers urged not to raid Renewable Energy Fund; permitting changes draw scrutiny
Summary
A coalition of energy and conservation speakers warned House Finance members that transferring $10 million from the Renewable Energy Fund would break public trust and harm state clean‑energy investments; separate permitting streamlining proposals drew caution about unintended environmental and administrative consequences.
Energy and conservation stakeholders told the House Finance Committee that the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) — financed by alternative compliance payments collected under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) — should not be swept into the general fund.
Representative Wendy Thomas outlined how the REF collects Alternative Compliance Payments (ACPs) from electricity suppliers that fail to procure renewable energy certificates; those ACPs fund residential and commercial renewable rebates and competitive grants. She said the REF has leveraged private investment and created jobs across the state while supporting municipal and school projects.
Speakers argued transferring $10 million from REF to the general fund would violate the fund's purpose and undermine future leverage of private dollars. "By raiding the REF money and essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul, you will be taking jobs and business opportunities away from New Hampshire residents," Thomas said, noting the fund's leverage ratios.
Conservation witnesses also cautioned against moving permitting authority and staff between agencies as part of a broader permitting streamlining package. They asked the committee and relevant policy committees to take more time to review complex changes that would affect wetlands, altered terrain and fish‑and‑game functions. "Redirecting funds like this only leads to an erosion of public confidence in government fiscal responsibility," one speaker said.
Committee members said they would review the REF and permitting provisions more closely and that they appreciated the technical feedback from agencies and stakeholders on implementation and effective dates.
