The NH House and Senate have delivered three ‘energy bills’ to Governor Sununu that favor so-called green generation that drives up electric rates. One (SB446) expands net metering which means more pricey power from a wider range of sources. The second (SB365) prop up wood-burning plants. The third (SB577) subsidizes the Berlin Bio-Mass plant. All three divert money via higher rates to other people’s pockets.
At least one of them claims to save jobs, but as armchair economists know this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The state through legislative force is taking money from the marketplace (job creators, consumers, and even municipalities) to prop up their mandates. Money that would otherwise find more productive uses.
Benevolent legislators think they know better how to spend your money. They do not.
In a rare act of common sense the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire,
“…contends that it (SB356) would drive up rates, which could jeopardize a portion of the states 69,000 manufacturing jobs. The bill also conflicts with the state’s 10-year energy plan, which emphasizes cutting electric rates over promoting renewable energy.
The state’s electric rates are much higher than the national average, said the BIA in a letter to Sununu, “and this is a top concern for New Hampshire businesses and large energy users, particular manufacturing … it threatens economic stability as manufacturers and businesses look elsewhere to expand their operation.”
Proponents argue that the policy is needed to stabilize the grid. Right. Because everyone keeps protesting and blocking every effort to bring hydropower and natural gas pipelines into the state to provide cheaper more environmentally friendly power that is business friendly.
Burning wood, tree debris, and solar are not stable sources of energy. They aren’t clean either. Burning wood is burning wood. And Solar is a dirty, toxic industry front to back. It’s not terribly efficient. And it is expensive.
And every extra dime sucked out of the economy to pay more for electricity we could get for less is a wasted resource, too.
The governor should veto all three, but he won’t.
And ratepayers will get screwed which is probably just as well given that power planning in New England is just as handicapped. A few years from now when supply is incapable of meeting demand rates will rise further, making solar and bio look cheap, which I presume is the point. But that’s just making the current redistribution scheme worse and making the state and the region even less desirable to manufacturing or job creation of any kind.
But not to worry. The legislative experts will find a way to solve the problems they created by creating new ones.
And the Senate loves their lobbyists. Nothing makes lobbyists faster than bad policy.
