374-F:10 Offshore Wind and Port Development; Commission Established. –
I. There is established a commission to investigate, in parallel with the work of the Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force established by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) study, the economic development opportunities for New Hampshire in supply chain needs, port capabilities, workforce development, energy procurement, transmission and storage, and fisheries and marine environment, to ensure the success of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine. The commission may consider, at an appropriate time, in relation to the New Hampshire state energy strategy, outlined in RSA 12-P, if contracts with developers and utilities can deliver lower costs to ratepayers. The commission may coordinate with the advisory boards established in Executive Order 2019-06 as to assist the commission in reaching its recommendations.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate who are members of different political parties, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Four members of the house of representatives, at least one of whom shall be a member of the house environment and agriculture committee, one of whom shall be a member of the fish and game and marine resources committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the house science, technology __ampersand__ energy committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The commissioner of the department of energy, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.
(e) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee
(f) A representative of the public utilities commission, appointed by the chairperson.
(g) The executive director of the fish and game department, or designee.
(h) The consumer advocate, or designee.
(i) A member of the Pease development authority, appointed by the governor.
(j) A representative of Clean Energy NH, appointed by that organization.
(k) The president of the University of New Hampshire, or designee.
(l) The chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire, or designee.
(m) Two members representing the New Hampshire commercial fishing community, appointed by the governor.
(n) The president of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, or designee.
(o) Two members representing offshore wind-related labor, one of whom shall be appointed by the IBEW and one of whom shall be appointed by the New Hampshire AFL-CIO.
(p) A representative of a New Hampshire electric transmission utility, appointed by the governor.
(q) A representative of the Rockingham regional planning commission, appointed by the organization
(r) A representative of the Strafford regional planning commission, appointed by the organization.
III. The commission shall consider and make specific recommendations on the following topics:
(a) Existing and future opportunities to establish a supply chain supporting the development of offshore wind facilities.
(b) An assessment of the capabilities of the Portsmouth Harbor to become a regional hub for offshore wind, both on and off shore, to attract developers in the offshore wind industry.
(c) An evaluation of the potential workforce and workforce housing and transportation needs of the offshore wind industry and New Hampshire's ability to provide workforce educational opportunities, training, development, and recruitment, housing, and transportation to meet those needs, and the benefits of utilizing a New Hampshire workforce to the fullest extent possible.
(d) Potential locations to interconnect offshore wind facilities to the onshore transmission grid, and the advisability of an independent transmission solicitation process.
(e) Opportunities for contracts and/or solicitations with offshore wind developers to ensure the full development of the projects and at the lowest cost to ratepayers.
(f) Opportunities for research partnerships with the University of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire on workforce development, technology, and environmental issues.
(g) Opportunities in coordination with the congressional delegation and the Department of the Navy for use of facilities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
(h) Appropriate accommodations and protections for fisheries and marine habitat.
(i) Coordination with partner states on marine surveys and studies, meta-ocean data, and transmission studies.
(j) Energy procurement requirements and schedules for public utilities.
(k) The role of energy storage in transmission procurement or energy procurement.
IV. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member and shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members at the first meeting. Sixteen members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall make an annual report, starting on November 1, 2020, to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the governor, and the chairperson of the public utilities commission. The report shall describe the activities and findings of the commission and any recommendations for proposed legislation, direction to the New Hampshire congressional delegation for items requiring federal oversight, direction to the public utilities commission to initiate a proceeding for all items requiring state regulatory review, and direction to state agencies and communities concerning economic and educational development related to offshore wind development.
VI. The commission shall receive staff support and other services, including research and facilities assessments, from the department of energy, office of offshore wind industry development established in RSA 12-P:7-b.