Sununu vetoes two energy bills

Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed two bills this week, SB 365 and SB 446.

SB 365 would have subsidized the wood-fired biomass plants in the North Country.

SB 446 would have increased the size of solar projects that can participate in net metering. Net metering pays residences and small businesses with solar panels for the electricity they contribute to the grid.

No biomass subsidy

SB 365 was intended to save jobs related to the biomass industry. Supporters testified there are roughly 1,000 jobs in New Hampshire thanks to biomass plants, but those plants are struggling to compete with cheaper energy sources.

Supporters also argued that biomass plants make New Hampshire’s energy supply more secure.

Gov. Sununu saw things differently:

“[SB 365] would cost New Hampshire ratepayers approximately $25 million a year over the next 3 years, on top of the subsidy for these plants that already became law last year… It harms our most vulnerable ratepayers and our job creators for the benefit of a select few.”

No expansion of solar subsidy

SB 446 was intended to allow schools, municipalities, and community groups to benefit from net metering.

Click here to learn about solar net metering (/issues/residential-solar-power)

Several municipalities testified that SB 446 would help them lower energy bills through solar installations, benefiting all taxpayers.

Once again Sununu had a different view:

“[SB 446] would cost ratepayers at least $5 to $10 million annually and is a handout to large scale energy developers. These immense projects should use incentives already available and compete on their own merits.”

Do you have an opinion on these two vetoes from Gov. Sununu? Let us know in the comments.