Report knocks NH for “dirty” renewable energy

According to a new report, New Hampshire is giving too much help to “dirty” renewable energy sources.

About the report

The report comes from Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit organization that advocates for access to food, clean water, and sustainable energy.

They evaluated states with “renewable portfolio standards,” which require public utilities to obtain a certain percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources. Different states have different definitions of renewable energy, and require different percentages.

Click here to learn about the renewable portfolio standard in New Hampshire

The report from Food & Water Watch gave New Hampshire’s renewable portfolio standard a D grade, in large part because it includes energy sources that still generate a relative high amount of pollution, particularly biomass and methane. The group advocates for cleaner renewable energy sources, particularly wind, solar, and geothermal power.

The debate over biomass in NH

Biomass power comes from burning wood chips or other organic material. In New Hampshire, there are several biomass plants in the North Country.

Gov. Chris Sununu recently vetoed a bill that would have given biomass plants an edge in the energy market. Some legislators are planning to override that veto in September.

Click here to learn more about the biomass bill

Does NH need to strengthen its renewable portfolio standard?

The report from Food & Water Watch also knocked New Hampshire for allowing utilities to purchase renewable energy “credits” or “certificates” from out of state. In other words, utilities can pay for renewable energy that is generated in another state in order to meet the requirements of the renewable portfolio standard. However, that does nothing to restrict the amount of fossil fuel pollution still generated in-state.

Supporters of a stricter renewable portfolio standard argue that if New Hampshire really wants to decrease pollution, it must require utilities to purchase in-state, clean energy sources or pay a penalty.

Or is the renewable portfolio standard too costly?

Opponents of a stricter renewable portfolio standard argue that it is too costly for consumers. States with a renewable portfolio standard generally have higher electricity bills, and New Hampshire already has some of the highest electricity costs in the U.S.

Totally “clean” energy sources such as wind and solar are also not always a consistent source of power, so fossil fuel plants are still necessary to stabilize the energy supply.

Do you have an opinion on New Hampshire’s renewable portfolio standard? Share your thoughts in the comments below.