NH House Committee petition on establishing siting criteria for wind-powered energy facilities
David Borden, Chairman |March 3, 2013
This petition by the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee asks the State's Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) to adopt rules establishing comprehensive procedures and siting criteria for applications for certificates for wind-powered energy facilities. The SEC which is authorized to certificate projects greater than 30 MW must respond to the petition within 30 days.
This petition by the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee asks the State's Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) to adopt rules establishing comprehensive procedures and siting criteria for applications for certificates for wind-powered energy facilities. The SEC which is authorized to certificate projects greater than 30 MW must respond to the petition within 30 days.
Commissioner Thomas Burack
Chairman
New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee
Concord, NH 03302
Dear Commissioner Burack:
On behalf of the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, I am writing to petition the Site Evaluation Committee per RSA 541-A:4 to adopt rules establishing comprehensive procedures and siting criteria for applications for certificates for wind-powered energy facilities.
Many NH residents question the impact of industrial-scale wind power facilities on New Hampshire's scenic and rural character, their own property values and tourism. We have also heard from project developers who are supportive of consistency in state policy and siting criteria for wind projects, so that they don't invest millions of dollars in a project that is unlikely to be approved.
The Committee believes the guidelines developed by a number of stakeholders in 2007 (on the SEC website) are a good starting point for the SEC in developing rules, but they need updating in light of technological developments and more experience with siting than was the case in2007. We strongly encourage you to develop a public stakeholder process for the purposes of finalizing your presentation to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules.
Our desire is that project developers and the citizens of the State of New Hampshire have clearly defined boundaries for siting these renewable energy facilities in our state, so that we can protect both our environment and quality of life as we grow our clean energy economy. Indeed, there may be reason to look beyond each single site and evaluate full build-out of all energy facilities and its likely impact on New Hampshire.
On behalf of the Science, Technology and Energy Committee, I thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to assisting in whatever capacity I can.
Sincerely,
Rep, David Borden, Chairman
Science, Technology and Energy Committee
And
Members of the Science, Technology and Energy Committee
