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Committee approves RPS change to return $5.7M to ratepayers after heated debate
Summary
The Finance Committee voted to report House Bill 219 as 'ought to pass as amended' after debate over whether changes to the renewable portfolio standard would lower costs for ratepayers or weaken renewable-energy investment; the committee vote was reported as 14 to 11.
The House Finance Committee voted on Oct. 30 to report House Bill 219, as amended, to the regular calendar. The amendment (2988) would return an estimated $5.7 million a year from the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) fund to ratepayers.
Representative Campbell (division lead) framed HB 219 as a way to help New Hampshire households facing high electricity costs. "When this bill takes effect, it'll, in essence, return approximately $5,700,000 a year from the RPS funds... and that amount of money will be returned to the ratepayers," Campbell said.
Representative Munz opposed the motion, arguing the change would weaken long-term incentives for renewable generation and reduce investment in existing and new renewable projects. "If we pass this bill, it will do the exact opposite," Munz said, warning that lowering the value of renewable-energy certificates would discourage investment and could harm energy resilience.
Representative Papavichi Miller and other supporters argued the amendment reduces costs for consumers. "If other forms of energy were cheaper, I would be more than happy to support them, but I don't see how you save the people money by buying more expensive energy," Papavichi Miller said.
After debate, the clerk reported the committee vote as 14 to 11 in favor of 'ought to pass as amended' on HB 219. The committee sent the bill to the regular calendar for House consideration.
The committee record shows split views among members about short-term consumer savings versus long-term renewable development incentives; the bill's fiscal and policy impacts will be part of further House consideration.
