Local Groups hold Mock Hearing to Improve State Energy Strategy
Joint Press Release from NH Sierra Club & 350NH
Concord, NH - A collection of concerned residents called for the New Hampshire Department of Energy (DOE) to improve energy policies and programs to better serve ratepayers’ needs. We in New Hampshire pay some of the highest electric rates in the country, currently ranked 8th highest average rates. The state agencies responsible for ensuring rates are ‘just and reasonable’ have failed us. The mock hearing was hosted in part because the NH DOE did not offer any public hearing or information session themselves.
Twenty NH residents attended the mock hearing to voice their concerns about high prices, aging infrastructure, and the need for NH leadership to step up. Residents cited concerns over offshore wind bans in the legislature, increasing utility costs that get approved every year, a lack of support for new clean energy projects, and the DOE’s neglect of working with the public to ensure a just and reasonable energy system.
“Instead of looking out for the interests of ratepayers,” said Catherine Corkery, Sierra Club NH Chapter Director, “the NHDOE has sanctioned huge transmission costs without review and allowed utilities to shift the risks of the energy market on to retail ratepayers.”
Utility obstruction makes access to clean and renewable energy difficult for consumers and utilities have dragged their feet in connecting renewable energy projects to the grid. Residential and commercial projects have dealt with long wait times to connect to the grid, which also disincentives people from investing in clean energy projects. The NH DOE has not addressed these problems in their 10 Year strategy.
“New Hampshire has no concrete greenhouse gas emission reduction goals or legislative-mandated climate action plans,” said Rebecca Beaulieu, Communications Director with 350NH. “That said, it’s in the best interest of the Department of Energy and the general public to ensure our energy policy meets the needs of Granite Staters in an affordable, safe, healthy way that also addresses the problems facing our current energy system. We need investments in our transmission system and to stop putting up guardrails that make it more difficult for clean energy to get plugged in.”
“The NH Department of Energy has the statutory responsibility to ensure that electricity rates are just and reasonable,” said Arthur Cunningham, a lawyer and resident of Hopkinton, NH and Sierra Club Member.
“I would urge the Department of Energy to schedule its own hearing to learn more about what residents experience around energy issues in the state. No department or committee that walls itself off from information can do an effective job of planning,” said Laura Magzis, a Member of The Third Act and the Sierra Club NH Chapter who lives in Concord, NH.
DOE opened the comment period on the 10 Year Energy Strategy, originally published in 2022, to provide a platform for improving energy policies and programs. The NH Sierra Club, 350NH, The NH Network, League of Conservation Voters, and Third Act NH encourage consumers to send in their comments and demand improvements in our energy plan to SESComments@energy.nh.gov. The comment period closes on March 31, 2025.
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