Address Barriers to Low- and Non-CO2-Emitting Electric Generation (EGU Action 2.4)

Identify and remove obstacles to siting and constructing low- and non-CO2-emitting energy facilities and transmission infrastructure in the state. These actions would better facilitate the development of new low- and non-CO2-emitting facilities in the state, to enable the state to move away from carbon-based supply-side resources (i.e., fossil-fuel-fired power plants) while offsetting the impact of any potential load growth. The development of the new low-and non-CO2-emitting facilities could enable older high-CO2-emitting facilities to be gradually retired and facilitate the achievement of New Hampshire's Renewable Portfolio Standard targets and the goal to meet 25% of the state's energy from renewable power by 2025. However, to do so it is imperative that electrical transmission capability within the state also be enhanced to enable power to be exported from those areas where hydro, solar photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, tidal and biomass technologies could best be deployed in order to serve the New England load. These two goals could be accomplished by seeking methods to expedite the ISO-NE interconnection application review and approval for these types of facilities, and by establishing appropriately streamlined state and local permitting processes. In addition, New Hampshire's planning efforts cannot stand in isolation and should be coordinated with other states and Canada.