Susan Richman

The Renewable Energy Fund was established to enable New Hampshire homeowners, businesses, schools, towns, non-profit organizations, and other eligible entities to undertake energy projects they could not otherwise afford to implement. Those projects then reduced energy bills and increased energy independence for communities throughout the state. Thus the funds were an investment that paid back many times over. HB224 would use these funds for a purpose OTHER than what they were designated for. It would simply give a rebate on energy bills. It would deplete the funds without any investment or leverage, counter to the purpose of the Renewable Energy Fund, It is also exceedingly troubling that the State has failed to put these funds to use on the very real project proposals that have come before them. Why has the Dept of Energy allowed over $20M of funds to accumulate rather than spend them on the energy projects they were intended for. In the past the REF has successfully supported nearly 10,000 rebates for renewable energy systems. It has been a successful program. Why is it being zeroed out?