SR 14 - AS INTRODUCED
2000 SESSION
03/09
SENATE RESOLUTION 14
A RESOLUTION relative to heating oil prices and the state match requirement for the federal Weatherization Program.
SPONSORS: Sen. Trombly, Dist 7; Sen. Pignatelli, Dist. 13; Sen. McCarley, Dist. 6; Sen. Wheeler, Dist. 21; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Johnson, Dist 3; Sen. Roberge, Dist 9; Sen. Cohen, Dist 24; Sen. Eaton, Dist 10; Sen. Gordon, Dist 2; Sen. Disnard, Dist 8; Sen. Francoeur, Dist 14; Sen. Brown, Dist 17; Sen. Klemm, Dist 22; Sen. J. King, Dist 18; Sen. F. King, Dist 1; Sen. Squires, Dist 12
This senate resolution urges the United States Department of Energy, Congress, and the White House to address escalating heating oil prices by assuring adequate inventory levels in the Northeast, repealing the state match requirement for the federal Weatherization Program, maintaining pressure on OPEC to increase production, and increasing funding for certain federal assistance programs.
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00-2829
03/09
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand
A RESOLUTION relative to heating oil prices and the state match requirement for the federal Weatherization Program.
Whereas, prices for home heating oil, kerosene, and diesel fuel spiked dramatically this winter in New Hampshire and reached record highs in our state and throughout the Northeast; and
Whereas, heating oil prices in the state rose to prices which were well over $1 per gallon higher than last winter's fuel prices; and
Whereas, kerosene prices in the state rose to well over $2 per gallon; and
Whereas, gasoline prices have skyrocketed, and threaten to reach or exceed $2 per gallon in the coming season; and
Whereas, households across the state struggle to pay their necessary heating and transportation fuel costs; and
Whereas, New Hampshire citizens remain vulnerable to future fuel price volatility; and
Whereas, tight fuel supplies and very low supplier inventories exacerbated the price volatility problem; and
Whereas, sustained below freezing temperatures this past winter and during typical New Hampshire winters make this situation of particular concern as a health and safety issue for our citizens; and
Whereas, 75 percent of all home heating oil used in the United States is used in New England during 12 weeks of winter; and
Whereas, the federally-funded Low Income Weatherization Program last year provided approximately $870,000 to New Hampshire to enable cost-effective energy conservation investments for the neediest households to reduce their energy consumption and heating bills; and
Whereas, the Weatherization Program is one of the most effective means of reducing low income homeowners' reliance on imported heating fuels, and resultant energy cost burdens, while also advancing health and safety goals; and
Whereas, the federal State Energy Program enables states like New Hampshire to target all sectors of the economy - including schools, municipalities, business, industry, state facilities, non-profits, and the residential sector - with energy saving and renewable energy initiatives, education, and creative solutions to energy problems, and further permits the state to monitor and track key trends in fuel prices and supplies so as to foster emergency preparedness; and
Whereas, the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) afforded New Hampshire over $17 million this year ($8.5 million base grant plus $9.1 million in emergency funds) for income eligible households to pay essential heating costs, thereby averting hardship and crisis for thousands of elderly, disabled, and families with young children; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the senate hereby urges the United States Department of Energy to take all available measures to assure adequate inventory levels in the Northeast, including re-examination of regional heating oil reserve options, as well as minimum wholesale inventory requirements; and
That the senate hereby urges Congress to repeal the new 25 percent Weatherization Program match requirement scheduled to go into effect in 2001, which would place states like New Hampshire at potential risk of loss of all federal funding for this valuable program; and
That the senate hereby urges the White House to maintain pressure on OPEC to agree to increase production levels when they meet on March 27, 2000, to increase petroleum product supplies available throughout the region in order to reduce prices; and
That the senate hereby urges Congress to support increase funding for much-needed federal programs, at proposed national levels of $1.4 billion for LIHEAP, $175 million for the Weatherization Program, and $44 million for the State Energy Program, so that states can best assist residents and businesses to decrease their fuel consumption and afford essential heating costs; and
That the senate clerk transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice-President of the United States, the Secretary of the Department of Energy, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation.