SB 168  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2023 SESSION

23-1053

10/08

 

SENATE BILL 168

 

AN ACT relative to participation in a low-moderate income residential customers community solar project.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

 

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill allows for participation of certain large electrical generators in low-moderate income community solar projects and expands the eligibility of residents to benefit from community solar additions.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-1053

10/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT relative to participation in a low-moderate income residential customers community solar project.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Net Energy Metering; Low-Moderate Community Solar Projects.  Amend RSA 362-A:9, XIV(d) and (e) to read as follows:

(d) The electric distribution utilities with assistance from the department of revenue administration shall establish a list of potential low-moderate income residential customers who qualify to benefit from the low-moderate income community solar addition. This list shall consist of residents who have enrolled in or are on the waitlist for the state Electric Assistance Program and residents whose household income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or less than 80 percent of area median gross income.

(e) Within 90 days of the effective date of this subparagraph, the department of energy shall develop a process by which community solar developers can apply for designation as a low-moderate income community solar project. Such projects designate their production for the benefit of households on the list required in subparagraph (d). Such projects will qualify for the low-moderate income solar addition as established in subparagraph (c) and shall specify the amount of on-bill credit they can offer to low-moderate income homeowners. Annually, the number of projects designated as low-moderate income community solar shall not exceed a total nameplate capacity rating of 6 megawatts in the aggregate. If more than 6 megawatts of projects apply for designation, the department of energy shall select the projects that offer the largest on-bill credit.  Projects that have a nameplate capacity one megawatt AC to 5 megawatt AC may participate if they designate 50 percent or more of their offtake to low-moderate income customers; projects between one megawatt AC to 5 megawatt AC shall not be eligible for the low-moderate income solar addition as established in subparagraph (c), and shall not exceed a total nameplate capacity of 230 megawatts AC of aggregate capacity.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.